Charity gets permission for new support centre

A charity that helps homeless people and rough sleepers has been given permission to set up a support centre in Reading.

The Way Ministry is a Christian organisation that supports people who are homeless, vulnerable or at risk of becoming homeless and who need help to get back on their feet.

The charity recently won approval to convert the Cattle Market Cafe in Great Knollys Street into the support centre.

The project involves the cafe being repurposed to provide 27 seats, a toilet, a shower and a kitchen for a foodbank.

It is based close to the charity's existing base, also in Great Knollys Street.

Grace Gomez, chairperson and founder of The Way Ministry, said: "It's a change of use for a community support and wellbeing drop-in centre.

"We're going to launch a support hub for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

"We'll also be able to run The Way Ministry Reading weekly free foodbank from there too."

She said it must negotiate a lease for the building with Reading Borough Council and then raise funds and get the building open.

Gomez has also been campaigning to turn an empty building to provide a permanent night shelter for homeless people.