Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is working with a local homeless charity, Breadline, with the aim of increasing the welfare and safety of rough sleepers in Penzance.

The Breadline Centre is managed by St Petroc’s Society, and caries out valuable work with homeless and unemployed people by providing practical advice and support. In a bid to help those in need, the partnership distributed welfare packs, consisting of a sleeping bag, roll mat, a rechargeable lantern and a hygiene pack containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and wet wipes, to the rough sleepers in Penzance. A further ten packs were left with the charity for distribution after the event.

Information regarding the dangers of carbon monoxide and fire safety advice was also distributed; rechargeable lanterns were given out in a bid to discourage the use of tea lights as a source of lighting in tents, which poses a major fire risk. Rough sleepers have been encouraged to visit Breadline to recharge their lanterns for free, providing an opportunity for regular contact with the charity.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Mark Grenfell said: “Through our engagement and partnership work with Breadline, we have been able to identify that Penzance has approximately 20 rough sleepers, and we thought we would use this opportunity to provide vulnerable people with information and advice, as well as the welfare packs, to increase their safety and wellbeing.”