A Christian drop-in centre for homeless women in London will soon be able to remain open on a 24/7 basis.

The Marylebone Project, run by Christian charity the Church Army, has received a £500,000 donation from Barclays and The Evening Standard that will provide funding for a year.

Sue Way, senior homeless manager at Church Army, told Premier Christian News the money has enabled the achievement of "the vision that some of us have had for many years" and added that it will be a place where women can go for safety, refuge and any help they need. 

"The service we're going to provide is all about giving, fulfilling their immediate needs of safety, shelter, food, places to shower, places to rest, somewhere to stop and stay in a safe environment. And to have a chance to breathe and consider the next step for them, wherever that might be," she said.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit almost a year ago, the shelter was forced to operate on an appointment-only basis limiting the organisation to providing very basic services. 
However, Way said the pandemic has also had a positive impact. 

"On the positive side of things, because we couldn't have many women congregated in that space, it gave us the opportunity to actually look at the centre and redevelop and refurbish it," she said. 

"So, there was a positive and a negative [impact]. And now that we actually have this funding, which will enable us to operate 24/7; our centre is now more fit for purpose than it ever was before."

The shelter will implement the changes in a phased way starting from March and will begin operating completely on a 24/7 basis from September.