Do you know anyone sleeping rough in this cold weather?

Published: 19 November 2025

With temperatures forecast to drop below freezing, Redbridge Council has put extra measures in place to make sure anyone sleeping rough can access help and support.

These measures are part of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) – a national initiative that councils activate during extreme weather to provide emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough.

If you see someone sleeping rough

• Encourage them to go to the Welcome Centre during the day.
• Outside these hours, you can make a referral online at www.streetlink.org.uk.
• If you’re worried about someone’s immediate health or safety and it could be life-threatening, call 999.

If you are sleeping rough

• You can visit the Welcome Centre during the day to be assessed and referred for emergency accommodation.
  Phone: 0208 514 3283
  Email: info@thewelcomecentre.org.uk
• After 5pm and until 9pm, you can call 0208 708 4002 for out-of-hours support.
• You can also self-refer through StreetLink by calling 0300 500 0914 or visiting www.streetlink.org.uk.

Other support

• If the Welcome Centre is busy, rough sleepers will be supported to access other warm spaces across the borough.
• Redbridge Libraries also offer warm spaces and a wide range of activities at 11 locations.

Our emergency accommodation

• We currently have space for 41 people:
• Ryedale Court: 33
• In-borough provision: 8

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has limited overflow spaces for London councils, but we expect to meet local needs without using these unless absolutely necessary.