The Beacon
The Beacon, situated in the very heart of Manchester, is Barnabus’s daytime home. Open to men and women from all walks of life but primarily geared to serving the needs of those affected by homelessness, the Beacon functions as a drop in centre four out of five weekday mornings and opens for social and educational activities in the afternoon.
Opened in 2000, the Beacon underwent extensive refurbishments towards the latter end of 2007. The re-designed ground floor layout includes a larger area for drop in services and a bigger, and better-equipped, kitchen. Re-painted throughout, the first floor now boasts a 4-metre high mural declaring ‘Our God Rocks’. This open plan space is used for all our afternoon activities including an arts and crafts workshop, numeracy and literacy tuition, and weekly bible studies. It also hosts the bi-weekly 'God Slot', a short service held for those who lack confidence to attend a mainstream church.
The work at the Beacon focuses on both the physical and emotional needs of those who attend. Visitors can purchase breakfast for a small charge or, for those who have no income, we operate a token system which provides at least one decent meal during the course of a mornings session. Maintaining good personal hygiene is difficult for those forced to sleep rough. The Beacon is equipped with shower facilities for both men and women and, thanks to donations received, we are able to provide for the toiletry needs of our friends. A laundry service is available and a small amount of donated clothes are kept on site for those in need. A hairdresser visits once a week to provide free haircuts for both men and women.
Most of the work undertaken at the Beacon is staffed by volunteers who are encouraged to get alongside visitors to provide a listening ear and support, as well as providing the practical assistance required to run the centre.
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