Thousands of pounds have been awarded to a much-needed group to help its work supporting rough sleepers.

The £10,000 grant will be used to fund the Daytime Hub at Gravesend Methodist Church which provides those in need with a cooked breakfast, showers, laundry, a food bank, and help with paperwork.

The church works with the council’s rough sleeping team to support those without a roof over their heads..

Community centre manager Vicki Clarke said: "This grant allows me to continue the great work we are doing. It is vital we keep a high standard of professionalism to ensure all safeguarding is adhered to and clients are kept safe.

"It is also important to have consistency with our staff to help gain trust with clients and ensure we can monitor if their mental health deteriorates or their personal appearance. This can only be achieved by having consistency and professionals employed long term.

"Volunteers are unable to commit to working here on a long-term basis and so paid staff are necessary. We still rely on volunteers for other areas of the work we do and by having a mixture of paid and voluntary staff we are able to achieve great outcomes for our service users.

"I would like to thank Gravesham Borough Council and South East Consortium for acknowledging the great work we do and helping us to maximise our clients’ potential with the grant from SEC. Partnership working is the key to success."

The hub in Wilfred Street regularly sees anything between 22 and 34 guests and requires multi-agency help, such as homeless support experts Porchlight and Serveco, and national health and social care charity CGL.

The grant from South East Consortium (SEC) – a non-profit organisation created to aid the housing sector – ensures that the help and support offered by the Daytime Hub continues as demand increases.

Cllr Jenny Wallace, cabinet member for housing services, said: "We are so grateful to all partners who work with us in supporting rough sleepers.

"The Daytime Hub at Gravesend Methodist Church is a beacon of light for those in need and provides food and drink, warmth and companionship for those who need it the most.

"We are thankful to the South East Consortium for the funding which we are pleased to be able to pass onto the wonderful team at the church."

Last year, Gravesham council also secured new settled accommodation for rough sleepers, bridging the gap to help people move onto permanent homes of their own in the future.

The facility – based in the former Alexandrias Residential Home in Wrotham Road, Gravesend – provides safe beds for up to 10 people and there are also beds available for those in urgent need of somewhere to stay in an emergency.