The donation St Petrocs needs in Truro and Penzance this winter

Somewhere in a loft or under a spare bed there is probably a sleeping bag that hasn’t seen a campsite in years. In Cornwall this month, it could get someone through a freezing night.

Homelessness charity St Petrocs has put out a call for warm sleeping bags for people experiencing homelessness in Cornwall, as the nights get colder.

📷Credit: St Petrocs

Where to drop a sleeping bag off

The charity is asking for sleeping bags in good, clean condition. They can be handed in to its teams at either of its two resource centres:

• Truro Resource Centre, 8 City Road, Truro, TR1 2JJ
• Breadline Centre, Bread Street, Penzance, TR18 2EQ

“Thank you,” was the charity’s simple sign-off on the appeal.

What happens at the two centres

Both centres are drop-in spaces for people who are sleeping outside or at risk of it. The Truro centre sits on City Road, and the Breadline Centre is tucked away on Bread Street in Penzance.

At Breadline, people can get hot food, warm clothing and sleeping bags, along with a wash and laundry service. The team there also helps people find accommodation through advice and support. Breadline has been in Penzance for decades and became part of St Petrocs in 2005.

A Health for Homeless clinic also runs out of both resource centres.

Why winter matters so much

St Petrocs says winter is a particularly unsafe time for anyone without a home, with freezing temperatures and harsh weather putting people at serious risk of harm.

Each year the charity runs its Winter Services, offering emergency accommodation through the coldest months so nobody is left outside alone. Over the winter of 2024 to 2025, 538 people were supported through those services, with essential supplies, emergency beds and access to longer-term help.

A busy year for the charity

St Petrocs has been working with people experiencing homelessness in Cornwall since 1986, and 2026 marks its 40th year.

Its own figures for 2025 show:

• 1,504 people supported across all its services
• 515 experiences of homelessness ended
• 317 people who stayed in a St Petrocs house

Alongside the resource centres, the charity runs supported accommodation across Cornwall, an outreach team, and skills and employment support.

Other ways to help

People who don’t have a spare sleeping bag can still give. The charity suggests £10 covers food, showers and laundry for people sleeping outside, £30 pays for advice sessions in the resource centre, and £50 funds tailored support in supported accommodation. Regular giving and fundraising are also options through the charity’s website.

The charity’s annual Winter Appeal is launched each year at its Carol Service, which takes place on Thursday 10 December at Truro Methodist Church.