Salvation Army staff join Swindon Borough Council-led homeless count as winter approaches

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With cold and wet winter nights drawing in-and the potential for the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to be activated-two Salvation Army staff members at Swindon Booth House Lifehouse have taken part in Swindon Borough Council's annual Homeless Count, helping to build a picture of homelessness in the town and ensure support reaches those who need it most.

Booth House Lifehouse is a Salvation Army run 50-bed, 24-hour direct-access hostel on 1 Spring Close in Swindon providing resettlement accommodation with medium to high support needs for single adults aged 18+ experiencing homelessness.

Emma Climpson-Boddy, Facilities & Administration Manager at The Salvation Army's Booth House Lifehouse in Swindon, and colleague Tim Swinburn, a Support Worker, volunteered for the count in the early hours of Friday 23 October.

Working alongside Swindon Borough Council's Rough Sleeper Team and other partner charities, they helped search for and identify people sleeping rough across the town, providing additional support for safety and ensuring the count could be carried out effectively. Last year, 12 people were counted as sleeping rough in the town. The latest figures have not yet been released.

Both Emma and Tim brought valuable experience to the exercise, having previously worked in the council's rough sleeping outreach team themselves.

Emma said: "Behind every statistic is a person with their own story, challenges, and circumstances. Taking part in the count is about more than collecting data. It's about ensuring people are seen, recognised, and that services have the information they need to provide meaningful support to those who need it most. Locations and details are recorded for every person met, with the council's Outreach Team following up to link them to support services-from the council itself to the Haven Day Centre and other local organisations.

"For a person facing a night on the streets, the worry is not just about the cold. It's about the creeping damp and the hopelessness that sets in when the rain soaks through their only protection, usually a sleeping bag. At The Salvation Army, we are partnering with the council and other community groups to ensure a safe and dignified night for everyone by providing night shelter and beds for those among us experiencing homelessness."

Sixteen volunteers took part in the exercise, mapping out and walking targeted routes across town centre streets, parks, known hotspots and secluded areas to ensure as complete a picture as possible was captured on the night.

As well as supporting the count, The Salvation Army's Booth House Lifehouse provides four extra beds when the SWEP is activated, with referrals made through the local council.

Underpinned by its Christian ethos, Booth House provides accommodation, education, training and work opportunities to people who are experiencing homelessness. Providing a pathway to long-term housing, Booth House Lifehouse on 1 Spring Close in Swindon supports single men and women over 18 through accommodation and resettlement support. Residents receive practical help-including life skills, access to healthcare, addiction recovery programmes and employment guidance-in a safe and structured environment. To learn more about Swindon Booth House and their programmes visit their website: Booth House Swindon Lifehouse | The Salvation Army.