With temperatures dropping across Worcestershire, Cold SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) has now been activated.
This countywide response brings together organisations across Worcester, Malvern, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest and Wychavon to protect people sleeping rough from life-threatening cold weather.
Every year, the same questions arise:
How does SWEP work?
What do Maggs actually do during extreme weather?
How can the public help?
This guide explains everything clearly — and shows you how your actions can genuinely help save lives.
What is Cold SWEP?
Cold SWEP is an emergency response triggered when temperatures reach zero degrees or below.
When activated, local councils and homelessness services across the county work together to ensure anyone sleeping rough has the opportunity to access safe shelter.
SWEP runs from November to March, and in Worcestershire it is coordinated by our partners CCP (The Hope Service), who are responsible for:
- Booking temporary night-shelter accommodation
- Managing referrals
- Allocating placements
- Coordinating staffing and logistics
Other key partners include St Paul’s Hostel, Emerging Futures, and the district housing teams — and together, we ensure that nobody is missed when temperatures become dangerous.
How Do People Access SWEP?
There are two ways to enter a SWEP night shelter:
✔ Referral through partner agencies
Maggs, St Paul’s, Emerging Futures and the local councils submit referrals for known rough sleepers.
✔ Walk-ins
People can also arrive directly at the shelter on any open night — no appointment or paperwork required.
SWEP is intentionally low-barrier, meaning no one is turned away because of lack of ID, paperwork, or past housing history.
What Maggs Does During SWEP
Our work doesn’t stop when the shelter doors open — it intensifies.
🔹 Outreach During Extreme Weather
Our Outreach Team visits known locations of rough sleepers across the county, offering:
- Warm drinks & snacks
- Greggs vouchers
- Hats, gloves & thermal layers
- Emergency clothing
- Sleeping bags & essentials
- Transport information & directions to the shelter
- Emotional support & welfare checks
Our priority is making sure everyone we know about is safe, informed, and offered help.
🔹 Day Centre Support
People accessing SWEP are encouraged to visit our Day Centres for:
🍽️ Hot meals
🧼 Showers & washing facilities
🧣 Clothing & winter essentials
🧑⚕️ Support from staff to begin longer-term pathways
This wrap-around support helps people stabilise during the harshest weather.
Hear From Our Outreach Team
We recently spoke with the BBC about SWEP — here’s what our Outreach Team Leader, Claire, had to say:
What YOU Can Do to Help During SWEP
1️⃣ Report Rough Sleepers to StreetLink
This is the most important thing the public can do.
StreetLink sends alerts directly to the correct local outreach team, helping us find people quickly — especially in freezing temperatures.
Your report could be the reason someone finds warmth and safety tonight.
2️⃣ Donate Winter Essentials
During cold snaps, we urgently need:
🛏️ Sleeping bags
🧤 Gloves, hats & snoods
🧦 Socks & underwear
👟 Trainers (size 8+)
🔥 Hand warmers
🧻 Wipes & hygiene items
📱 Power banks
🪫 Basic mobile phones
🛌 Roll mats
Donations can be dropped at:
Maggs Clothing Project, 59/60 The Tything, Worcester WR1 1JT
Mon / Wed / Fri — 9am–12pm
Or use our out-of-hours donations bin via Britannia Road.
3️⃣ Share This Information
SWEP works best when more people know it’s happening.
A simple share on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram helps reach people who may not know how to help.
If You’re Worried About Someone Sleeping Rough
➡️ Use StreetLink immediately: www.thestreetlink.org.uk
➡️ Or call Maggs for general advice: 01905 25027
Every referral helps outreach workers locate people quickly and encourage them into safe shelter.
Together, We Can Save Lives This Winter
Extreme cold can be deadly — but SWEP saves lives every single year.
With your help, we can make sure every person in Worcestershire has the chance to get indoors, stay warm, and access the support they need.
Thank you for standing with us, caring for our community, and helping us protect people during the coldest months of the year.
