With a sunny spell predicted to hit the capital this week, Westminster City Council’s and its partners will be handing out bottles of water, energy drinks with electrolytes and sun cream to help protect people sleeping rough from heat exhaustion, dehydration and sunstroke.
Working with charity partners such as St Mungos and faith groups attached to the council’s Faith and Voluntary Network, indoor or shaded areas will also be open where rough sleepers can take shelter from the sun. St James Piccadilly church will be open from 12pm to 6pm on Thursday and Friday, the London Jesus Centre on Margaret St will be open 11am-3pm on Saturday and the West London Synagogue in Seymour Place from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
Cllr Heather Acton, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Licensing said: “The hot weather can be just as dangerous as the cold for people living on the streets and I am so pleased to see such a massive community effort to ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our society have shaded or indoor spaces to visit so they don’t suffer in the heat.”
Anyone concerned about someone sleeping rough should report it via StreetLink www.streetlink.london/Streetlink_London_HomePage
