The Booth Centre is trialling open hours on Thursdays, opening until 6pm, and Saturdays, 10am – 2pm, to expand access to vital support services in Greater Manchester.

Over the last few years, the nature of homelessness in Manchester has changed. More people who are experiencing homelessness in Greater Manchester are working, in education, or volunteering during the Booth Centre’s traditional opening hours. As many of our community are not able to access the Centre during our usual opening hours, we have chosen to stay open slightly later on Thursdays and open for a half-day, on Saturdays

People that come to the Centre have expressed to us that weekends can also be particularly difficult for people who are sleeping rough, with fewer services available and limited places to go, many people face long weekends without any meaningful human connection. Extending our opening hours also allows us to respond directly to this gap.

Visitors to the Centre on Saturdays can expect the same welcoming environment that runs throughout the week, a space which offers somewhere safe to be and to feel part of the community. Having an additional day open each week creates more opportunities for people to build connections with our community and team.

This change has been made possible through the dedication of our staff and volunteers, as well as the ongoing support from the wider community. Their commitment allows us to reach more people and provide consistent, reliable space across the week.

As demand for homelessness services continues to increase, extending our opening hours is one step towards meeting the growing need in Greater Manchester. We are focused on creating a community where people feel safe, supported, and able to take positive steps at their own pace.”