Supporting Vulnerable People This Summer

13th June 2025

Summer is on it’s way and with that comes an increase in temperature in our area. While the rising temperature might be good for barbeques and sunbathing, if you are experiencing homelessness this can be dangerous and potentially life threatening.

Whereas winter is a clearly dangerous time for the people that we work with, summertime can be just as concerning.

Here at The Purfleet Trust, we provide a support in a number of ways to mitigate the impact that high summer temperatures can have on people experiencing homelessness in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

Health & Wellbeing Centre

During the summer, our Health & Wellbeing Centre at Austin Fields provides:

Shelter – a cool indoor environment out of direct sunlight
Food and hydration – including lunch and free breakfasts
Showers and laundry facilities
Toiletries such as sun screen
Appropriate clothing – light and comfortable

Recognising heat related illnesses in people experiencing homelessness

Hot weather can make anyone ill, but the risk of severe illness is greater for:

Individuals with existing health conditions
Those taking certain medications
People with serious mental‑health needs
Drug or alcohol users
People without stable housing—including rough sleepers, sofa‑surfers, and hostel residents—who often cannot change their surroundings to somewhere safer.

Because they lack consistent shelter, showers, and drinking water, people experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable to heat‑related illness.

How you can help

By supporting charities such as The Purfleet Trust, you can help us to support people who need it this summer.

Below are a list of key items that you can donate to The Purfleet Trust to help us to support our clients and keep them safe.

We are currently in need of:

Sunscreen (Factor 30+)
Caps & hats
Sunglasses
Light, comfortable clothing like t shirts and joggers (both men’s and women’s)
Women’s underwear

For a full list of items we need now, please click here

Dropping off your donations!

If you’d like to support us this summer and give some essential donations to help people experiencing homelessness in our area, please drop off your items to:

The Purfleet Trust, Pathway House, Austin Fields, King’s Lynn PE30 1PH

Open Monday – Friday 9.00 – 5.00

Thank you for your support this summer!

Volunteers’ Week at Purfleet