Homeless charity opens permanent base

Christine Price said she wanted to create a "sense of belonging" to those who used the charity

A charity that provides hot meals for rough sleepers in Hereford has moved into a new permanent home.

Lee's Place had been operating as a pop-up service near the Maylord Orchards Shopping Centre, but will now open every evening in a building on St Peter's Square.

The new HQ has a games room, a "serene" space for people to sit and an area to store donated winter clothing for rough sleepers, managers said.

Charity founder Christine Price added: "We want to make it feel like home and we want to make it feel like this is purposely made for homeless people."

"We want to really create that sense of belonging."

Lee's Place will be open seven days a week from St Peter's Square

She continued: "It's not just about having some food and going back to the life they live outside, it's much more about creating a sense of normality."

The site offered users the opportunity to connect and enjoy some leisure time, Ms Price said.

Ms Price said it was "important" the charity continued to receive winter clothing donations

She added it was "very important" the public continued to donate warm clothing ahead of the winter.

"When they're out sleeping rough, they could be getting wet or living in muddy conditions," she said.

"We have a laundry here, but they may need fresh clothes to take away while they do laundry."