Colchester Engagement & Next Steps

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Colchester Engagement & Next Steps Colchester Engagement and Next Steps is a registered charity which has been helping homeless people since 1984. www.cens4homeless.org.uk

The Shelter is wholly owned by the charity, having been purchased from Colchester Borough Council using funding from the National Lottery. We underwent a refurbishment last year and are now open and accepting residents. For more information, you can phone, email us, or go to our website.

Did you know? A meal can be about much more than food!At CENS, our wonderful chef Emma makes sure residents enjoy a fres...
24/10/2026

Did you know? A meal can be about much more than food!

At CENS, our wonderful chef Emma makes sure residents enjoy a freshly cooked, nutritious dinner every evening.

But mealtimes are about more than food! They’re a chance to relax, chat, share a laugh and feel part of a community.

We also encourage residents to get cooking themselves, building confidence, learning new skills and having fun together.

A big thank you to everyone who donates food, including FareShare, for making this possible!

Good food, good company and a sense of belonging. Sometimes it’s the simple things that matter most.

Getting someone off the streets is just the beginning.At CENS, our aim isn’t simply to find someone a place to live. It’...
22/10/2026

Getting someone off the streets is just the beginning.

At CENS, our aim isn’t simply to find someone a place to live. It’s to help them build a future where they can stay there.

That means working with residents on the things that really matter — budgeting, everyday life skills, physical and mental wellbeing, confidence and building positive support networks.

And it works! Our figures show that 77% of residents who stayed with us for more than 28 days achieved a positive move-on in 2024/25.

We know that lasting change takes time, which is why our support goes well beyond providing a bed for the night.

Because helping someone out of homelessness is important. Helping them stay out of homelessness is just as important.

That’s what our Protect. Progress. Prevent. approach is all about.

Please share and help spread the word about the work we do here in Colchester.

Did you know? Homelessness is rarely just about housing.Losing your home is often the result of several challenges comin...
20/10/2026

Did you know? Homelessness is rarely just about housing.

Losing your home is often the result of several challenges coming together. Poor mental or physical health, relationship breakdown, unemployment, debt or bereavement can all play a part.

At CENS, we know that simply providing a roof over someone’s head isn’t always enough.

In fact, 77% of our residents reported mental health issues in 2025/26.

That’s why we take a different approach. Alongside a safe place to stay, we provide practical and emotional support, helping residents rebuild confidence, develop life skills, improve their wellbeing and prepare for independent living.

Because our aim isn’t just to help someone out of homelessness. It’s to give them the best possible chance of never experiencing it again.

💙 Protect. Progress. Prevent.

Please share — you never know who might need to know that CENS is here.

💙 A little thank you that means so much!One of our residents surprised the CENS team with this beautiful orchid as a tha...
10/10/2026

💙 A little thank you that means so much!

One of our residents surprised the CENS team with this beautiful orchid as a thank you for the support he’s received during his time with us.

And there’s even better news! He’s now taking the next step on his journey, moving from our emergency shelter into our move-on accommodation next door.

It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do.

We wish him every happiness and success as he takes this next step towards independence.

Good luck from all of us at CENS!

Making the most of this lovely extended summer weather!Our residents have been busy getting their hands dirty in the CEN...
08/10/2026

Making the most of this lovely extended summer weather!

Our residents have been busy getting their hands dirty in the CENS garden, planting some lovely flowers kindly donated by our community.

A bit of fresh air, sunshine and gardening can work wonders for wellbeing. It’s therapeutic, rewarding and a great way to spend time together.

A big thank you to everyone who helps keep our garden blooming!

Shop online? You could be supporting CENS at the same time!CENS is registered with easyfundraising and Give as you Live....
21/09/2026

Shop online? You could be supporting CENS at the same time!

CENS is registered with easyfundraising and Give as you Live. Simply choose CENS as your charity, shop online through the platform and participating retailers make a donation to us — at no extra cost to you.

Sign up here: https://www.giveasyoulive.com/join

Sign up here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/create-an-account/

Same shopping. Extra support for CENS. It all adds up!

Real people. Real stories. Real progress. 💙When this resident first arrived at CENS, he told us he was “very stressed, a...
19/09/2026

Real people. Real stories. Real progress. 💙

When this resident first arrived at CENS, he told us he was “very stressed, anxious, mentally drained” and felt as though he had nowhere else to go and no one to turn to.

But from the moment he arrived, things began to change.

“From day one my worries and tension started to heal and I knew I’d made the right decision.”

For us, that’s what CENS is about. Providing somewhere safe and welcoming, but also giving people the time, support and stability they need to start looking forward again.

And perhaps the most powerful part of his story?

“CENS really have changed my life.”

That’s why we do what we do. 💙

PROTECT. PROGRESS. PREVENT.Three simple words that sum up what CENS has always been about.PROTECT - providing a safe roo...
17/09/2026

PROTECT. PROGRESS. PREVENT.

Three simple words that sum up what CENS has always been about.

PROTECT - providing a safe room, a warm meal and somewhere to feel secure when someone needs us most.

PROGRESS- working alongside each resident to rebuild confidence, tackle the challenges they face and take their next steps towards independence.

PREVENT - helping people build the skills, support and stability they need so that, when they leave CENS, they have the best possible chance of never experiencing homelessness again.

We’ve been doing this in Colchester for over 40 years.

Now we have three little words that say it perfectly.

PROTECT. PROGRESS. PREVENT.

DID YOU KNOW?Sometimes the biggest changes start with something very simple: time.When someone arrives at CENS, getting ...
17/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Sometimes the biggest changes start with something very simple: time.

When someone arrives at CENS, getting them safely through the door is just the beginning.

There may be confidence to rebuild. Health or financial problems to tackle. Skills to develop. Trust to regain. And, ultimately, a safe and sustainable home to find.

That doesn’t happen overnight.

That’s why this statistic means so much to us: 77% of residents who stayed at CENS for more than 28 days achieved a positive move-on.

Give someone safety. Give them support. Give them time. And you give them a much better chance to move forward.

That’s what we mean by:

PROTECT - People from the dangers of homelessness.
PROGRESS - Towards a safe, independent future.
PREVENT- Homelessness happening again.

And every person we help to move forward is one more positive story for Colchester.

Please share — you never know who might need to know that CENS is here.

Here’s this week’s menu at CENS A big shout-out to Emma, our kitchen co-ordinator who plans and cooks nutritious meals e...
16/09/2026

Here’s this week’s menu at CENS

A big shout-out to Emma, our kitchen co-ordinator who plans and cooks nutritious meals every day, making the most of pantry supplies, generous donations and FareShare produce.

But mealtimes are about more than food. They’re a chance to sit down together, relax, chat and enjoy some company.

Thank you Emma — and thank you to everyone whose donations help keep our kitchen cooking. 💙

Address

39-41 Alexandra Road
Colchester
CO33DF

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