Emmanuel House's Winter Shelter 2022-2023
Emmanuel House’s Winter Shelter 2022-2023

Emergency short-term accommodation for people who are homeless

At the Winter Shelter, Emmanuel House offers short-term emergency accommodation for up to 40 people per night on the University of Nottingham’s University Park.

24-hour support is provided in a university building, ensuring there are fewer homeless people sleeping on the streets of Nottingham.

The Winter Shelter offers 24-hour access, which allows support work to continue during the day as guests are helped to find work, long-term accommodation, access to other services and three meals a day.

How do I make a referral to the Winter Shelter?

If you are a member of the public and would like to make a referral to the Winter Shelter, please contact Framework’s Street Outreach Team.

If you are another organisation or agency working in the homelessness sector in Nottingham, please call our support centre to make a referral: 0115 950 7140.

Who can access the Winter Shelter?

Anyone over the age of 18 can access our services regardless of their personal characteristics, cultural identity or economic status. Support staff then continue to work with individuals to find ‘move-on’ and permanent accommodation.

How can I support the Winter Shelter?

Donate food

We provide three meals a day for every guest in the Winter Shelter. We make these meals using food that’s donated by our supporters. Here is a list of everything we’re currently in need of. Please get in touch if you’d like to make a food donation to the Winter Shelter: donations@emmanuelhouse.org.uk.

Volunteer at the Winter Shelter

Apply to volunteer at the Winter Shelter by heading to our volunteering webpage and downloading an application form.


Emmanuel House’s Winter Shelter 2022-2023

Between 17 October 2022 and 11 April 2023, the shelter on University Park Campus provided 3922 nights’ protection for a total of 107 people who would otherwise have been rough sleeping during the worst of the winter months. Each night, an average of 26 people were accommodated.

Emmanuel House supported 58 of these people into accommodation – an average of 2.4 people every week for 24 weeks. Nine people are now living in private rented accommodation, three people moved to hostels, 32 people moved to temporary or supported accommodation, four people are now living in accommodation provided by local housing associations and 10 people have re-connected with friends and family.

While staying at the Winter Shelter guests received shelter, warmth, 24-hour support and three meals a day.

Emmanuel House's Winter Shelter 2021-2022
Emmanuel House’s Winter Shelter 2021-2022

“The accommodation the University of Nottingham is able to provide enables us to build on the legacy of Everybody In when we moved 179 people into accommodation solutions.  I am very grateful to the University for all its support for this vital service as without its collaboration it is likely the service would not have happened this year.  It’s an exciting time for the project. 

“Historically the shelter has been located in a number of different residential areas around the city and has a record of being of the highest standard.  This was recognised when it was awarded the Housing Justice gold standard quality mark.” 

Denis Tully, CEO at Emmanuel House
Emmanuel House’s Night Shelter in a church hall in 2018

The legacy of the Winter Shelter

Over the past 12 years, the Winter Shelter has provided emergency accommodation for 1621 people, of which 952 were supported in finding long-term accommodation.

Prior to the pandemic, the Winter Shelter, which has been running since 2006, utilised shared spaces, such as church halls, to offer accommodation to people who were rough sleeping each night. 

At the peak of the virus and as part of the Government’s ‘Everyone In’ initiative, the Shelter provision was moved to single rooms in local hotels where guests were able to safely self-isolate. The 24 hour wrap-around support this accommodation model offered proved invaluable and a total of 178 people moved into long-term accommodation. This provision came to an end earlier this year, but Covid regulations and restricted numbers have meant that a return to previous locations is no longer feasible.

In order to find a new solution that enables us to continue with the Winter Shelter, accommodation was offered by The University of Nottingham at a cost-neutral rate. This allowed support work to continue during the day as guests were helped to find work, permanent accommodation and access other services. The Winter Shelter utilised an empty building on the University Campus. It was modified with the use of temporary walls and screens, so that each guest had their own space within current guidelines, with additional rooms on a separate floor used as isolation rooms if a guest tests positive for Covid-19. The Winter Shelter offered 24 hour access, so that if there was another lockdown, guests were able to use their rooms all day.

The Winter Shelter serves the needs of homeless and vulnerable people during the coldest months of the season. We provide them with shelter, acceptance, physical and emotional support, and encouragement in making positive changes in their lives. Anyone over the age of 18 can access the services regardless of their personal characteristics or cultural identity.

The Nottingham Winter Shelter provides a lifeline for the most vulnerable people in our society, giving them a safe space where they can find welcome, warmth and rest, food and drink and support and advice that can help them move away from homelessness to a brighter future. If the Winter Shelter is unable to operate, many needy people will be at risk, this year even more than usual. Homeless people face not only the usual dangers from cold and wet weather, but also additional dangers of catching and spreading Covid-19 whilst sleeping rough or sofa surfing and unable to readily access healthcare.


Please get in touch if you have any questions about donating food to the Winter Shelter: donations@emmanuelhouse.org.uk.