The race is on to save a lifeline night shelter for homeless people in Wisbech - and today we appeal to you to help raise funds to keep it open.

Cambs Times: A factsheet by the Ferry Project showing the gender, nationality and age of people supported by the night shelter in 2013 - and how those people were supported to rebuild their lives.A factsheet by the Ferry Project showing the gender, nationality and age of people supported by the night shelter in 2013 - and how those people were supported to rebuild their lives. (Image: Archant)

The night shelter run was set up three years ago by The Ferry Project, but with Government subsidies due to run out at the end of the month £65,000 is needed to keep it going until Christmas.

Cambs Times: Keith SmithKeith Smith (Image: Archant)

Fenland District Council has provided £5,000 and The Ferry Project is now appealing through this newspaper to charitable trusts, companies with a local presence and the public to help provide the shortfall needed to keep the emergency service open.

Cambs Times: Ferry Project, Norfolk Street Wisbech. One of the night shelter bedrooms.Ferry Project, Norfolk Street Wisbech. One of the night shelter bedrooms. (Image: Archant)

Keith Smith, director of the Ferry Project, said: “The Ferry Project has never gone to the local community because we wanted to earn our own income and not be a drain on the community.

Cambs Times: Under threat: Ferry Project, WisbechUnder threat: Ferry Project, Wisbech (Image: Archant)

“But the service is so important and such an asset to Fenland that we feel we have no choice.

“We urgently need help to save this night shelter. £65,000 will get us through to Christmas. If we can do that it will give us more time to find more funding pots and sustain the night shelter into the future.”

Last year the night shelter helped 145 people in need, from 12 nationalities. Sixty of those people supported were British - more than any other nationality.

More than 40 people found employment, while more than 50 became involved in voluntary work. But each person was provided the support they needed to rebuild their lives.

Mr Smith added: “Eighty per cent of clients of the night shelter do not return. I hope people have noticed in the last five years that there has been a significant reduction in the number of homeless people on the streets in Wisbech.”

For more information on how to help provide support, call the Ferry Project on 01945 429300 or email luke.venni@luminus.org.uk

The night shelter was created by a working party involving MP Steve Barclay, Fenland District Council, Wisbech Town Council, the police, voluntary groups and local churches.

It costs £130,000 a year to run the night shelter in Norfolk Street, Wisbech – which equates to £40 a person per night. People who use the shelter get a bed, breakfast, supper and advice from a support worker who will help in the right direction.

Fenland District Council has agreed that the shelter can claim housing benefit payments – the best part of £35,000 a year. But that is not enough to survive

The Ferry Project has looked at ways of funding the shelter itself as it is a social enterprise - it is in the early stages of creating a printing business.

This week, the printing business was awarded £24,300 of grant funding to train additional night staff and to purchase some new equipment.

But it is not expected to be fully operational for at least 18 months - and as a result the Ferry Project can not yet solely rely on its income to run the night shelter.

Mr Smith said: “We have a short-term problem – how do we find the money now to keep going to get to the stage where the printing business can fund the shelter.

“For the last few months we have been approaching all the agencies we deal with for support.

“We have been getting very friendly comments that our work is appreciated; however in the current economic climate they are not able to help us.

“We don’t need £65,000 tomorrow. It’s not like we need the money in the bank. If we got £10,000 in the next few weeks, it will keep the shelter open for another month.”