Please telephone the Office or send us an email.

We have very good links with other local organisations in relation to matters where our interests overlap. Our links with local schools are not as strong as we would wish, although some secondary schools have been very active in supporting us and we are always willing to provide speakers for assemblies.

In a sense we all are. More formally, public relations are the responsibility of the Executive, with help from the trustees and managers.

We have our own volunteer Webmaster.

Owing to space restrictions, there are no car parking spaces available for service users at Night Shelter. The parking arrangements at our other residential buildings are the same as those for other local residents.

The Night Shelter does have a secure cycle storage space but this is in an uncovered area.

CHESS is a very social place! Special social activities, such as sports events, are organised from time to time.

Service users can and do often step in to do various unpaid tasks for CHESS, such as cooking, painting and helping out with the IT.

We are always delighted to welcome former service users back as regular volunteers. However, we recommend a break of three to six months before returning as a volunteer, so that you can become established in your new home and lifestyle first.

All our job vacancies are open to formerly homeless people with the right skills. Our present staff include people who were formerly homeless; one of them used to be resident with us. As with volunteering, though, we recommend a break of three to six months before applying for a job with CHESS.

All residents are charged a rent but, for those who are not working, this is normally paid by Housing Benefit. There is also an additional charge of up to £3.50 a day to cover extra costs.

Residents in the Night Shelter are expected to keep their rooms tidy and take turns at washing up. Residents in the Annexe and the move-on houses are responsible for their own cooking and cleaning. Residents in the move-on houses are also responsible for looking after the gardens.

Over the years we have established sets of rules to help keep things running smoothly. We will explain them to you and give you a copy when you move in.

Your benefit entitlement depends on your circumstances. CHESS service users can obtain advice on their own cases either from us or from the Job Centre.

If you are in receipt of other benefits you may be entitled to Housing Benefit, although while you are resident with us it will be paid directly to us.

The parking facilities at the Night Shelter are limited. You may be able to use a parking space when you are on duty but please speak to the relevant manager first.

The Night Shelter does have a secure cycle storage space but this is in an uncovered area.

Our annual general meetings, which usually take place in the autumn, provide a good opportunity to meet other volunteers. We organise other social events for volunteers from time to time.

We do not have training courses of our own but there are a number of short external training courses on specific topics. If you would like to learn more about something you encounter or do as part of your work for CHESS, please speak to the relevant manager.

By prior agreement.

We do not operate a buddy system but you will have a named staff member with whom you can discuss any issues.

Any answer we gave you this week would be wrong next week. At any one time we normally have between fifty and sixty active volunteers. It is not unusual for us to have a shortage of volunteers for particular tasks (eg sleeping over at the Night Shelter).

Volunteers are required to sign the same written code of practice as the staff members. Our Volunteer Co-ordinator will give you details when you first meet her.

Once you have signed up as a volunteer, a staff member will show you round the building where you will be working, explain where things are and what you are expected to do, introduce you to other people and answer any questions you may have.