The aim of the Centre is to enable users to find accommodation with appropriate support as soon as possible, and priority access is given to vacancies in Bristol’s direct access hostels. The Centre is intended to engage in particular with entrenched and vulnerable rough sleepers, and to this end there are very close working arrangements with the Outreach Team. A high proportion of users have substance misuse issues, and many may also have mental and physical health problems. Therefore an important role of the Night Centre is to refer users to appropriate specialist support.

Some comments made by users of the Night Centre are given below. We normally conduct a service-user survey towards the end of the project as part of our assessment of the service that we provide.

What are your thoughts about the staff and volunteers working at the Night Centre?

“Great, absolutely wonderful, fantastic job. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here.”

“Very helpful, understanding and supportive. ”

“I don't know what I'd do without their help. I've slept out all over this country and never found another centre like this, so full of respect for all involved especially the volunteers”

What do you like most about the Night Centre?

“Food, showers, opening times and laundry facilities”

“TV - but needs a better picture!”

“Somewhere safe to get your head down, socialise a bit with people in the same boat. Warm. Chilled.”

“Warm meal, people are friendly.”

What don't you like about the service?

“Only covers the worst months”

Is there anything that we could do better?

“Open earlier”

“Open for longer”