Brett Foundation transforms Kindness Shop into Drop-in Centre

A charity which helps homeless people and disadvantaged families in the town is hoping to improve its service with the launch of a new service.

On Monday, the Brett Foundation closed its Kindness Shop, in King Street, and transformed it into its new Drop-in Centre.

The Kindness Shop, which opened in August, stocked everything from school uniforms to white goods such as washing machines, and was available to families simply by filling out a form.

But, according to Sue Brett, the charity’s founder, it was felt there were better uses for the space.

“People are still going to be able to come in but what we had found was that people were coming in more for a coffee or coming in for help, rather than just to get things, so things evolved from that,” she said.

“Now we’ve got more tables and chairs and a separate office and counselling room.

“We’ve also got more counsellors too, so they’re able to take people to one side and help them decide if they need help or need to go to hospital or anything like that.”

The new scheme also puts more of an emphasis on food than the Kindness Shop did.

Breakfasts for the homeless will be served on Mondays and Fridays between 8.30 and 9.30am.

The Drop-in Centre will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am till noon, during which time people in need will also be able to get meals.

The old services run by the Kindness Shop will still also be available.

Visit www.thebrettfoundation.org.uk or www.facebook.com/TheBrettFoundation to find out more.