AN EAST Oxford homeless centre supporting the city’s rough sleepers is calling on the community to join their battle to tackle the crisis.

The Porch Steppin’ Stone Centre urgently needs at least 30 volunteers to devote their time to the charity and help launch new services.

Director Jon Fitzpatrick said the five-strong team of staff members at their Magdalen Street base needed help so they could continue running their "massively beneficial" centre.

He added: "We are a very small charity. Without the help and support of volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to provide the range of activities in the city that we do.

"We see lots of people who live their lives quite excluded from mainstream society. They say that without being able to come here, they would live very solitary lives and watch the world go by. I’m sure no one would wish that upon anyone.

"It feels like it is a bit of an uphill struggle at the moment but it’s great that we are here."

The Christian-based organisation has been supporting homeless and recently re-housed people for almost 30 years.

It inspires people to move towards a "more positive" lifestyle, free from addiction and dependency, by encouraging them to get involved with the running of the centre.

The day centre offers members nutritious low-cost meals twice a day, laundry facilities, a shower and a clothes store, as well as morning and afternoon activities.

People are also offered help with medical needs, housing referrals to hostels, their CVs and job searching.

Mr Fitzpatrick said the team see about 50 people walk through the centre’s doors on each of the six days it opens.

Project worker Esperanza Collado Gonzalez said volunteers can get stuck in with any activities including sitting and chatting with members, helping in the kitchen, reading and cleaning.

She said volunteers able to spare a few hours of their time each week are also needed to help run arts and crafts activities, sports sessions, and IT training.

The team wants to run informal English language, maths and literacy sessions for those in need, as well as cooking classes, and is on a special search for a qualified and practicing counsellor, chiropodist and acupuncturist.

Mr Fitzpatrick said the centre also runs its Porch Preserves initiative, which sees members work on the charity’s 12 allotment sites to produce tasty jams, chutneys and pickles for sale.

Last year, the volunteer-led scheme brought in £5,000 for the charity.

Mr Fitzpatrick added: "If we did not have volunteers running that, it would never have happened."

To get involved call 01865 251 798 or contact esperanza@theporch.org.uk