The Wellspring

Since its modest beginnings in 1991, The Wellspring has been serving homeless and vulnerably housed men and women in Stockport, 365 days per year. We provide a warm, comfortable environment with nourishing meals, hot showers, a place to relax, and increasingly, a place to access information about services such as housing and health care. Our work is wholly dependent on the invaluable contributions and commitment of our volunteers without which we would not be where we are today.

Additional services also include support from a Health Worker on a diverse range of physical and mental health issues. It is estimated that the Wellspring provides a service to over a hundred people every day of the year. We offer an "open door" policy with a non-judgmental approach to all visitors.

The Wellspring is a resource centre for Homeless and Disadvantaged people, and is open everyday of the year from 11.30am until 2pm and 6.30pm until 8pm on Monday to Thursday evenings.

Educational courses take place at The Wellspring most weekdays, including Maths and English classes, IT training & art groups

Housing services are available to people who are Homeless or rough sleeping, over the last 3 years staff at The Wellspring have supported over 300 people into housing, all of these people were sleeping rough on the streets of Stockport or Manchester at some time.

Volunteers are always needed, people can apply via phone on 0161-477-6344 or email or apply online at www.thewellspring.co.uk Volunteers work in the kitchen preparing, cooking and serving food and drink to the Members of The Wellspring, volunteers are also needed for Building maintenance, fundraising, admin, P.R, IT skills, Volunteers to run craft groups or to offer training classes are also needed. The Wellspring often takes students on placements, placements are always available at any time of year.

Fundraisers are always needed, The Wellspring website has a facility which lets people build there own fundraising webpage for The Wellspring. The website is also able to receive secured donations via any credit or debit card www.thewellspring.co.uk

Health services are available at The Wellspring for people who are Homeless or rough sleeping, currently in the UK people need a address to register with a GP, homeless people can not register with a GP, but they can receive a full GP service at The Wellspring.

More information about The Wellspring and the work that goes on can be found at www.thewellspring.co.uk

If any one who reads this information ever encounters someone sleeping rough or homeless then please let them know about The Wellspring, or phone the Wellspring on 0161-477-6344 and the project staff will endeavour to engage with the person to see if we could offer any assistance.

Our present accommodation is now very dilapidated and too small to allow for an expansion of our services in line with our visitors' needs. Since the building appeal began we have collected in excess of £200,000 towards the new building. Our success is directly related to the generosity of the people of Stockport and surrounding areas, especially from schools, churches and local businesses.

Key fund raising events include sponsored bike rides, the annual 'Spirit of Christmas' variety show at the Plaza and "The Wellspring Factor Quiz" at Stockport Grammar School, the latter events were hosted by one of our patrons, Gordon Burns from BBC News Northwest.

We still have a long way to go before the dream of a larger building becomes a reality but we are more than halfway there. Lottery and other funding applications are being made again this year and we are actively searching for a suitable building to purchase and convert. We have complete faith that the tremendous support we have seen so far and which has been our greatest encouragement will continue.

Patrons: Rt.Rev Brian Noble, Bishop of Shrewsbury. Rt.Rev Nigel Stock,Bishop of Stockport. Rev David Willie, Chairman of Manchester & Stockport Methodists. Rev Peter Brain, Moderator of the North Western Synod of the URC. Gordon Burns, BBC News Northwest