THE Trinity Centre in Winchester has launched an emergency appeal to help vulnerable people affected by coronavirus.

The charity, based at Durngate, is asking for donations to fund its services and to ensure rough sleepers can be in a safe place and able to self-isolate. Many homeless people have underlying health conditions which puts them at greater risk.

In only five days the charity has raised pre than £5,700 from 66 donors.

It is working with the city council, St Clements’s GP Surgery and other Coronavirus taskforce partners, and has developed an action plan to support all rough sleepers who have now been given access to emergency accommodation.

It is unclear how rough sleepers have been temporarily housed, something the Government advisor Louise Casey asked to be completed by last weekend.

Sue McKenna, chief executive at Trinity Winchester, said today: “This unprecedented time has highlighted the positive impact of partnership working. Trinity have experienced first-hand the generosity and willingness of the community to pull together to support the most vulnerable in our community.

"We are proud to be a key partner of Winchester City Council, who very quickly made it possible to keep all rough sleepers safe and housed.”

Homeless practitioners will be visiting the accommodation four times a day, delivering cooked lunches and breakfast packs, supplying clean bedding, clothing and hygiene products.

The charity will also offer vital human contact and counselling by phone and through delivering crisis support to those in need.

It says coronavirus is going to present the charity with a new crisis in the future with people losing jobs and income; mental health will soar, and so people are in desperate need of the charity’s support.

Donations can be made by visiting https://trinitywinchester.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/coronavirusemergency-appeal or sending a cheque to Trinity Winchester, Durngate Place, Bradbury House, Winchester, SO23 8DX.