AN AWARD winning homeless charity is to set up its latest night shelter in High Wycombe this week - days after being praised for its work in Parliament.

Steve Baker MP said homeless people in the town would suffer without the important work of the Wycombe Homeless Connection.

With temperatures sent to plunge during the coming months, the charity - named Community Group of the Year at the Wycombe Community Champions Awards - is to open its annual Wycombe Winter Night Shelter on Thursday, January 2.

A new venue has been added to the rota of the charity - which opened a new advice and support centre in Castle Street in November - with the Wycombe Community Church in Victoria Street offering its premises to welcome homeless people one night a week over the next three months.

Mr Baker, a former volunteer with the charity, said during a House of Commons debate on homelessness: "Were it not for Wycombe Homeless Connection, my goodness - the number of people who would suffer in Wycombe."

Chair of Trustees Dr Sheena Dykes said of the charity's recent work: "Our new centre has allowed us to offer a more flexible service for homeless people in High Wycombe.

"The key impact is that clients can be helped on the spot, rather than having to make appointments which often prove hard to keep. As a result more work can be done, which is great as each person we help is at crisis point in their lives."

A total of 54 homeless people attended the charity’s annual Christmas party on Thursday December 19 at The Hub in Easton Street. Volunteers from Waitrose Gerrards Cross and BMW Sytner served up a traditional Christmas feast of roast turkey and all the trimmings, followed by party games and gifts donated by generous-minded staff and students from Bucks New University.

For more information on the Wycombe Homeless Connection go to www.wyhoc.org.uk or their advice and support centre at 8 Castle Street in High Wycombe.