Holmes Chapel Methodist Church

Life at Barnabus

Barnabus are a Christian Homeless Charity, based in Manchester, providing hope and a lifeline to the homeless through their drop-in, health and wellbeing suite, street outreach and collaborative projects.

The Testimony of Mike
Mike was sleeping rough when he first came in for support. He had lost everything due to gambling and alcohol addictions. We secured shelter for him, provided help practically, prayed with him for a breakthrough and helped him in his search for jobs. Mike recently became a Christian and has been baptised. He often shares his testimony of how God saved and changed his life, with others at our Drop-In Centre, Footsteps course and God Slot. He is now a volunteer for Barnabus.

Normal Activities and Special Challenges

Barnabus offer a wide range of recreational and educational classes, connections to training and employment, and one-to-one support.

Since the recession began, there has been a dramatic increase in homelessness. Barnabus are now visited 500-600 times each week by homeless and vulnerable people, many of whom have poor mental health or addictions, or have suffered some kind of abuse.

The Barnabus administration team have now completed a move to a new, larger office – with a basement for safer storage of donated items.  They have been busier than ever helping people to become rehoused and beat addiction, and have also been advising on benefits and access to health care. 

So many people are losing their benefits or being 'sanctioned' – where the Job Centre stop payments because people don’t attend an appointment.  One man was sanctioned for attending a hospital appointment where he was told he had 2nd stage lung cancer!

As a result, Barnabus are giving out more and more food parcels to people who are in accommodation but simply don’t have the money to heat their premises or feed themselves, and are at risk of homelessness.

Please Help

If you can possibly help, these are the items urgently needed to continue the work:

• Men’s jeans 30”/32”/34”
  Men’s shoes,
  boots and trainers, size 10 and up (smaller sizes would be good too)
  Men's and women’s coats
  Gloves
  Men’s new boxer shorts, medium (trunk style)
  Men's and women’s new socks
  Women’s underwear, especially in size 10-12
  Women’s shoes, trainers and boots, especially size 5
  Shampoo
  Shower gel
  Roll-on deodorant
  Shaving foam and disposable razors
  Tinned and packeted food items such as ham, corned beef, tuna
           and indeed anything we can make sandwiches from
  Long life milk and cereal
  Tinned meat (for giving out in food parcels, eg Irish stew)

Please consider supporting Barnabus with a monthly donation or one-off gift, and/or fundraising for them. 

 To find out more visit www.barnabus-manchester.org.uk
or phone 0161 237 3223

"With blessings from the Barnabus Team for your generosity.
We couldn’t continue without your help."