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Wimbledon: Working with other Faith Groups

Wimbledon and District Synagogue has been involved with the Faith In Action Homeless Project for many years. FIA is a charity made up of a team of three part time staff and over 40 volunteers, many of whom are from different faith groups in the community. They work with a range of agencies to support homeless, precariously housed and other marginalised people within the London Borough of Merton.

The project runs a twice weekly 'Drop In' in South Wimbledon which offers a variety of services and resources including breakfast, a freshly cooked meal, shower and laundry facilities, clothing, food parcels, an I.T. project and support in accessing vital services. And not least, it offers friendship and moral support.

Faith In Action is also involved in working to establish a winter night shelter in Merton. The need is clear. Approximately half of those who use the services of the 'Drop In' are street homeless and many sleep in parks, sheds, car parks, appalling squats and garages. Extreme winter temperatures which have been experienced in recent years are a real threat to the safety of many.

The idea for the shelter is that faith communities open their doors to the homeless for a pilot project of 4 weeks this winter over the coldest months. The shelter would rotate between the premises of different communities, each community providing the shelter for one night each week, offering a meal, a safe, warm place to sleep and breakfast. This model is already in place in many other London boroughs and has been of great benefit to service users.

Nicki Zisman- Co project manager and a member of Wimbledon and District Synagogue said: "The work of Faith In Action is very much valued by our service users. We would struggle however, to continue to offer such a good service without the continued support of the different faith groups, individuals and business in our community. It is hugely rewarding to be involved and I would encourage communities across the Movement to explore the possibilities of working together with other faith groups on similar projects".

Find out more about Wimbledon and District Synagogue