“I didn’t think it was that bad but my goodness…just one night sleeping rough...I cannot appreciate enough what they did for me that night." A comment from someone who stayed at the Watford Winter Shelter

What makes New Hope, New Hope? 💙 We are: Inclusive It's not 'them' and 'us; - it's together we make a difference.

With temperatures so low, New Hope will be providing extra bed spaces to keep people safe. If you see someone sleeping rough, please recommend they get in touch with New Hope on 0300 012 0168, by visiting the Haven during opening hours or through contacting Watford Borough Council on 01923 226 400.

🥶 Brave the cold. Earn the hoodie. Sleep out and make a difference. When you raise £350 for the Stadium Sleep Out 2026, you’ll take home an exclusive Sleep Out hoodie – a well-deserved reward! 👉 Hit your fundraising target and wear your impact with pride: register.enthuse.com/ps/event/Sta...

THANK YOU to all the volunteers who are helping today in our different services! (And the ones who helped yesterday too!) We are so grateful to everyone (staff and volunteer) who gives up their time to ensure that Christmas is well-celebrated in our services! 💙

The story of Christmas began with someone in desperate need of shelter. Today, we continue that story by offering warmth, nourishment, compassion and a safe place to stay for those who are facing homelessness in our community. Wishing you and your loved ones a Christmas full of hope and joy.

We were so pleased to have BBC Three Counties Radio's Roberto Perrone feature the Watford Winter Shelter, the staff and volunteers who make the service possible, and the people for whom the shelter has been life changing. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

"I hardly ate for three days last December. I didn't where to go until someone told me about the Haven." Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated to our Christmas appeal. There's still time to give, newhope.org.uk/appeal.

Thanks to Costco's Watford office for their bountiful Christmas donation of food and toiletries! 💙 Our local community is incredibly generous! 😊

Presents from Little Green Junior School to families in temporary accommodation in Three Rivers! This Christmas, we are delighted that once again children and parents generously donated gifts for every family (every mum, every dad, and every child!) we support! Thank you so much!

And now the tree is up at New Hope House and decorated beautifully by one of the residents. They've actually got three trees up this year! Christmas can be a particularly challenging time for people in recovery with memories of Christmases past, good and bad, triggering difficult emotions.

Celebrating our Fundraising Heroes who walked, ran, cycled, scrambled over inflatables, and played board games all night to raise money to help people experiencing homelessness in Watford! Read more in our latest newsletter, newhope.org.uk/newsletter

As Labour unveils homelessness strategy, Shelter reveals a total of 382,618 people in England will spend Christmas without a home.

Big thanks to Bombay Kitchen in #croxleygreen for hosting an amazing night of food while raising money to support people experiencing homelessness. Thanks too to anyone who popped in for a meal on the night as you were ultimately helping us to support some of the most vulnerable people in our area.

New Hope's Cultivate service is making a real difference at Acacia Avenue (homes for up to 38 vulnerable families), empowering families living in temporary housing to build friendships, nurture wellbeing and generate community spirit... Read more in our latest newsletter, newhope.org.uk/newsletter

We were at St Andrews Church in Watford last night for Carols around the Tree! 🌲 We decorated our trees with keys 🔑 - a poignant symbol of what the people we help long for: a home of their own. #watford #charity #home

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We are pleased to announce that the Haven has just been awarded (again!) a five star food hygiene rating! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎄Step into Christmas this Saturday at St Mary's Church, Watford! Tickets are £12 with children under 16 FREE! It's a wonderfully, festive occasion to get you into the Christmas spirit! Saturday 6th December, 6.30pm

For the next few days, donations made to our Christmas appeal "Home for Christmas" will be doubled for free meaning that your generosity will have double the impact on the lives of vulnerable people facing homelessness in Watford. lf you could support our work, please click the link below.

The Christmas tree is up at the Haven! 🌲 Don't forget to make a donation to Home for Christmas, New Hope's Christmas appeal, which is raising money to keep this vital and wonderful service going! Just click the donate button on our website 💙

We all need kindness in our lives 🌻 This sunflower collaborative artwork is an ongoing activity at the Watford Winter Shelter, led by our wellbeing team. The shelter is open EVERY NIGHT until mid-March, providing a safe, warm, and relaxing environment to have a hot meal and a night's sleep.

Could you join us for an hour or two on Saturday, December 20th, for a heart-warming day of gift wrapping and fundraising at The Harlequin Shopping Centre in Watford? If you'd like to help, please send us a message or email Frazer on [email protected] 🎁

Step into Christmas with the Phoenix Choir! 🎶 The annual concert of carols and more contemporary and familiar festive songs will once again raise vital funds for New Hope. Tickets cost £12, which includes refreshments. Accompanied children under 16 go free. www.newhope.org.uk/concert

Thank you to everyone who has already purchased essential items from our wishlist, such as these two flasks for hot drinks so we can take hot drinks to people sleeping rough 💙 www.newhope.org.uk/wishlist

Huge thanks to HSS UK (Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh) for their generous donation of food to the Haven last week! 💙

The Watford Winter Shelter opens tonight! This unique provision will run every night until mid-March where people facing homelessness receive a warm welcome from our team of volunteers and staff, a hot, delicious and nutritious meal, and a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

As Christmas presents for our residents, we'd like to give vouchers so they have the choice to buy what they need or a treat they would like. Donations can be dropped into the fundraising office upstairs at 67 Queens Road, Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm. Get in touch on 01923 227132 to find out more.

Happy new home! We're delighted to share that three people are moving from our Emergency Accommodation into our HopeHomes this week! 🎉 And this is because three people have moved on from HopeHomes into their own independent accommodation! 💙

On Saturday, December 20, we’re looking for volunteers to help us wrap gifts at the wrapping station in the Harlequin and share the spirit of Christmas while raising vital funds for those in need. If you'd like to help, please send us a message or email Frazer on [email protected] 🎁

With the Easyfundraising app, shopping online can generate donations for New Hope at no cost to you or us! Sign-up using the link below and, before the end of November, you’ll help us to secure a bonus donation! www.easyfundraising.org.uk/easyfundrais... and choose New Hope Trust as your charity.

New Hope’s latest Impact Report is available now, showing New Hope’s impact, stories and statistics of changed lives. The impact of our day-to-day work is only made possible because of the tenacity and compassion of our team and the generosity of our supporters. newhope.org.uk/impact

Taking place at Vicarage Road Stadium on Friday 27 February, the Stadium Sleep Out shines a light on homelessness and supports the organisations working tirelessly to provide hope and help where it’s needed most. 💛 👉 Sign up today and make a difference: register.enthuse.com/ps/event/Sta...

Thousands of homeless people will be able to open a bank account and five major banks as part of a strategy to improve financial inclusion.

Recently, residents from the Recovery Service visited Aldenham Country Park where they fed and stroked lots of animals. “Had fun at the farm today. Nice little morning out.” “It was a bit of freedom. Nice to be out in the country air. Got some duck eggs. Brought back memories of home.”

There’s a new sense of calm and quiet excitement at New Hope’s Haven thanks to newcomers who have taken up residence - in the garden pond. The newcomers are a school of 10 hardy red goldfish. They are shy and small at the moment, but their presence has already made a big impact.

What makes New Hope, New Hope? 💙 We are: Persistent We never give up.

Do we take donations of pre-loved clothes? Yes - we do! Pre-loved clothes in good condition (this is important - we treat the people we help with dignity and respect) can either be given directly to people in need or sold in one of our two shops.

What makes New Hope, New Hope? 💙 We are: Hopeful We believe in hope.

We are looking for volunteers for the Watford Winter Shelter from mid-November to Mid-March. Volunteers will help set up the shelter, welcome people, prepare and serve hot drinks, clear tables, wash up and just generally help out! More info on our website at newhope.org.uk/volunteer

"Staff are just guests in the residents' home." Making our accommodation services 'home' is paramount for our support workers.

We often advise against giving cash directly to people begging. Instead, consider a hot drink or sandwich. Giving money may provide momentary relief but doesn't help resolve deeper issues like homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges, or unemployment.

We recently took some residents to Stanborough Lakes for a Wellbeing Watersports activity! "Really fun morning!" "It was brilliant! I would go again in a heartbeat!" Trips like this are incredibly beneficial to people rebuilding their lives.

What should do I do if I see someone sleeping rough in Watford? If they're in immediate danger or unwell, or are under 18, call 999. For non-emergencies, contact Streetlink via their website, or our emergency line 0300 012 0168. You can also refer people to the Haven, 4 Whippendell Road, Watford.

As the temperatures drop, it's vital that New Hope's support can find its way to people who need it. Atria have kindly let us use their ad space on Queens Road, meaning even more people will know who to contact if they are homeless themselves or have seen someone who may need our services.

We thrilled to announce that New Hope is one of Everyone Active's Community Champions! Last week, Ian and Lee met the team to discuss how we can break down barriers and make gym and pool facilities more accessible for people recovering from homelessness in Watford.

Save the date 2026's Stadium Sleep Out will take place on Friday 27th February at Watford FC's Vicarage Rd Stadium! We'd love to see you there! This event is great for youth groups, cadets, Scouts, Guides etc. so please pass the information on to any group leaders you know! #watford #sleepout

How big a problem is homelessness in Watford? In the past year 133 people were given a safe place to stay for at least one night. Watford has one of the highest rough sleeping rates in Hertfordshire - with 3.5 rough sleepers per 10,000 households.

We love Secondhand September! Say no to new clothes and say yes to sustainable shopping! Visit one of our two charity shops, 67 Queens Road in Watford and 165 New Road in Croxley, for pre-loved fashion that makes real community impact! 💙 #secondhandseptember #sustainableliving #prelovedfashion

"The wings of transformation are born of patience and struggle.”— Janet Dickens The residents in our Recovery Service have been nurturing caterpillars and witnessing their transformation into butterflies. A living metaphor to encourage the residents in their own journeys of change.