Canterbury City Council has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) today, Thursday, June 19, as temperatures continue to climb. This vital support will stay in place over the coming days and will be regularly reviewed.
SWEP is a humanitarian effort designed to help rough sleepers during severe weather. While often associated with cold snaps, there’s no single definition of “severe weather,” allowing for a flexible approach to its implementation.
Given the current heatwave, Canterbury’s SWEP response means the city council’s rough sleeper team is out providing essential items like refillable water bottles, suncream, and hats, along with crucial safety advice to people on the streets.
Our outreach teams are working every day and will, of course, be speaking to anyone who needs support. If you’re concerned about someone experiencing homelessness, please encourage them to contact us at 0808 196 8140 during working hours or our out-of-hours number, 01227 781879. You can also report concerns directly using Streetlink.