Windsor’s rough sleepers offered space on refuge bus

A homeless charity offering refuge to rough sleepers on a double-decker bus has been seen driving through Windsor ahead of Saturday’s Royal Wedding.

The Ark Project, which until recently was based solely in Reading, operates out of a bus which includes ten beds and a kitchen to prepare warm food.

The charity said it was working the streets of Windsor in an effort to give the town’s homeless a place to stay.

Windsor’s rough sleepers were the subject of a controversial suggestion by local Conservative council leader, Simon Dudley, who said they should be removed for the royal wedding. The remark, made in a written letter to Thames Valley Police, proved unpopular and created significant public backlash.

Michael Longsmith, 42, who volunteers at The Ark Project, said: “We have been working in Windsor about six months, but the bus has only just come because we have had to offload our Reading clients to come here.”

The charity have so far picked up two rough sleepers from Windsor’s main streets.

Many do not want to accept the charity’s offer of help because they fear losing money during this weekend’s popular event, Mr Longsmith said.

Commenting on the homelessness situation in the Royal Borough, he said: “It’s stayed exactly the same. Nobody’s doing anything.”