Guardian angels keep homeless hydrated in heatwave

Rough sleepers have been given essential supplies and a bed for the night as England continues to swelter in scorching temperatures.

Councils across the eastern region have activated their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (Swep), which means they have a duty to support rough sleepers and provide overnight accommodation.

Teams in Ipswich and Luton handed out water, suncream and ice pops, with one homeless man, Ricky, describing them as "guardian angels".

"Most of them are sunburned; a lot of them are struggling [due to] health conditions and other aspects," said Gareth Brenland, who has been out helping the homeless in Ipswich.

"Obviously they haven't always got somewhere where they can get shaded."

Brenland has upped his support this week, handing out water, wet wipes, ice lollies, suncream, snacks and basic toiletries from The Bus Shelter Ipswich.

Parked up in a sheltered spot in the town centre, it also offers the chance for shade and a cooling shower.

"We just do what we can," added Brenland, who founded the community interest company.

"Members of the public are generally kind enough to make sure [rough sleepers] have got food and drink and the essentials, but it's always nice to have a base that they can come to if they need to."

A 34-year-old man in Ipswich, who did not want to give his name, said he had suffered sunstroke twice in recent weeks.

"It's hard, especially with my fair skin," he said. "It's horrible."

Noah Enterprise - a homelessness charity in Central Bedfordshire - has been out checking on rough sleepers in Luton.

"We've healed a lot of wounds for those who would not have gone to see the GP," said district nurse Florence Lewis, who joined support worker Fiona Openy-Kawawa on her walk around the town centre.

Ricky, who was grateful for their help, said: "Not many people give you anything.

"It's not nice being out here on the concrete.

"People give us drink and that, but they keep us alive - they're guardian angels."

The local government Swep response kicks in during extreme weather to protect vulnerable people from dangerous conditions like freezing temperatures, storms, heavy rain or extreme heat.

The protocol varies slightly by local authority, but broadly it involves outreach teams working with councils to hand out supplies and, in the current conditions, provide cool spaces during the day and temporary accommodation at night.

The leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Neil MacDonald, said "Typically in the winter it's freezing cold, but obviously when it is boiling hot that is also a risk to health and we can offer people support - no questions asked.

"It's a bed for the night, T-shirts, suncream, water, that sort of support.

"It's important to have that ready at hand when the weather is bad."

He added: "As time goes on we do it more and more. That is just part of global warming."

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