HOMELESS people in York will now be able to get a shower thanks to a new wetroom opened by the Lord Mayor of York.

Cllr Keith Orrell and the Civic Party attended the official opening of the the newly refurbished Carecent centre for the homeless, unemployed and socially excluded, including its brand new wet room.

The breakfast service at the Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, central York can now give homeless people the chance to have a shower and a spruce up.

It is currently gearing up for its busiest time of the year.

“It’s made a huge difference,” said manager Nicky Gladstone.

“Obviously we can give them clean clothes and toiletries, but there are very few options for homeless people to have a shower before they put the clothes on.”

The wet room is in constant use during the centre’s opening hours, between 8.45am and 10.30am six days a week.

It has already helped one homeless person hold down a job, because he can now give himself a wash before he goes to work, and is boosting other homeless people’s self-esteem.

The centre included the wet room in its refurbishment earlier this year at the request of its customers.

Nicky and the 70 volunteers who man the service are now entering the busiest time of the year as they prepare to receive donations from Harvest Festivals from churches, schools and other local organisations which will be used over the months ahead.

“People are very, very concerned about homeless people and they put their hands in their pockets,” she said.

“It is overwhelmingly positive how people are so very, very good.

“The 70 or so volunteers work so hard, it is nice to for them to have civic recognition.”

The centre’s website carecent.org.uk has a list of the kind of foods it uses and wants in donations. It uses items with a long shelf life, such as tins and staples.