Croydon Nightwatch is a charity founded in 1976 by members of the community in Croydon, South London, who were concerned about homelessness.

They have no paid staff and no office premises. Their volunteers are out every night, under all weather conditions, in Queen’s Gardens, Croydon, giving food and other help to homeless and other vulnerable people.

Every day, they act as first line contact for homeless people and those in hostels and bed and breakfasts, providing necessary items of food, clothes, toiletries, and household goods to people in need. They also provide direct support to former homeless or unemployed homeless people (both financially and emotionally) to take up training and education.

They did not even stop during lockdown: Croydon Nightwatch trained new younger volunteers, with the most vulnerable shielding at home. They adapted and responded very well to the pandemic, and kept their services going throughout.

In normal times, Emmaus Lambeth and Surrey, through its Solidarity Committee formed of Companions and staff, organises solidarity events to raise funds for local and international charities.

This winter, in light of current events, the Emmaus Lambeth and Surrey Solidarity Committee decided to take up an ongoing practical volunteering commitment with Croydon Nightwatch on Saturday evenings.

Danny Daly (Chair of the Solidarity Committee) set out this new solidarity engagement:-

“Eight Companions and staff had their induction with Croydon Nightwatch, and we now have two teams of four volunteering on the third and fourth Saturday of each month with the regular Croydon Nightwatch teams. Emmaus Lambeth and Surrey has had a long relationship with Croydon Nightwatch over the years, fulfilling their resettlement orders of furniture, cookers, beds and fridges. This new volunteering commitment is important to us, as it allows us to give our time in a practical hands-on way, with an excellent local charity.”

For more info about Croydon Nightwatch and their work, please visit their website.