AN OUTREACH service is calling on the council to provide a shelter for those who are homeless in Slough.

Slough Outreach, a community service which supports vulnerable residents and the homeless, believes more should be done in helping individuals living on the streets during this week’s heatwave.

Founder Shin Dhother said: “The heat gets to them and they get very dehydrated and try to find places of shade throughout the day.

“We really need a proper shelter, not just during the day, for those who are struggling which is a safe place for them go and stay when it’s this hot or anytime of year.”

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is usually activated during winter by London-based charity SPEAR, in partnership with local authorities, to provide emergency accommodation for those with nowhere else to go.

And in the current climate this week, Slough Borough Council have now launched SWEP to check on homeless individuals and help give out sun cream and water.

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SWEP was activated in the borough on July 12 and will run until July 20.

A council spokesperson said: “Our outreach team were out on Monday evening talking to rough sleepers providing advice and information regarding the extreme weather, sun cream and water.

“We have an excellent outreach team who work closely with many of the local services who offer suitable, appropriate and professional support services for rough sleepers.”

However Mr Dhother feels more can be done and suggested council members should visit Slough Outreach and work with them to find a solution to help the those living on the streets.

He said he is open to working with the council in order to ensure vulnerable members of the community are supported better across the borough.

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Mr Dhother said: “It would be better if we worked together, they need to come down to our daily outreach service, see what we’re about and show their faces.

“They should be offering support and not handing out eviction notices in public parks.

“They originally just put out the notices in the town but they’ve now extended that borough wide which isn't helping the people who have nowhere to go.”

Here are three ways you can help the homeless in this extreme weather, as suggested by Crisis UK:
 

  1. Donate bottles of water
  2. Offer sun cream
  3. Offer an umbrella for shade