Supporting the homeless community in Colchester and surrounding areas
What is CENS? Colchester Engagement & Next Steps (CENS), formerly known as the Colchester Emergency Night Shelter, is a registered charity which has been supporting the homeless for over 35 years, providing emergency accommodation and help to those most in need across Essex and Suffolk.
We now offer so much more than just a bed and a meal – from housing and health to learning and support, we aim to help the homeless move on to permanent, independent living. We believe that having a home is a basic human right, and since opening, we have helped hundreds of people make a fresh start in their lives. Unfortunately, at the start of the pandemic we were forced to close, but in January 2021 we underwent a major refurbishment and are now open once more, with some major improvements in place.
6 GoodGymers have supported Colchester Night Shelter - Colchester Engagement & Next Steps with 1 task.
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#CENS are one in a minion
Tuesday 18th October 2022
Written by Tav (he/him)
Tucked away off Butt Road is an extremely important charity. They have supported homeless people for over 35 years and are needed now more than ever.
At our meet up point we talked about Goodgyms Power the Good campaign (https://www.facebook.com/148934568468877/posts/pfbid02VH3Mbms1PYZRjDXcWoiPDejn64BtbL3Z2GabiFuXEJ3VTVA7CgwyVmq2bxSoEzK8l/?sfnsn=scwspmo ) as well the news that Goodgym is aiming to open new areas soon and locally we have a great tree planting community mission on the weekend https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/tree-planting-750-trees-to-be-planted-in-colchester-essex .
We set off to what was formerly known as Colchester Night Shelter and our task was to give their cute courtyard some tender loving care by painting a wall white and weeding the garden and driveway. Armed with rather tiny brushes the wall seemed big - but many hands make light work!
This was a new task and a chance to meet new local heroes - our host for the evening was a little bit sceptical that a bunch of people would turn up in the dark to help in the garden. But she was pleasantly surprised I think!
Off we trotted after a little squat hold and some photos to do some interval training on the less steep side of Balkerne Hill and end with a good stretch.
You guys rock.
PS the minion reference is due to headtorches and yellow hi-vis reminding me of Stuart the minion.😋
