MORE than 2,700 people are thought to sleep rough every night across England.

But schemes like Josie’s Kitchen, in Colchester, provide solace.

Twice a week, volunteers offer food, clothes and a listening ear to some of the town’s most in need.

The centre has been running at Cardinal Bourne Hall, in Priory Street, for about 15 years.

It was set up by Josie MacIsaac and Theresa Hole after a similar scheme at the St Mary’s convent closed.

Together, they have been helping the homeless of Colchester for 30 years.

The team of volunteers help to serve tea, coffee, biscuits and sandwiches on Mondays and Fridays.

They get as little as £300 a year in grants, so Josie, 73, uses her own money.

The centre is open nearly all year, with a month’s break in August and a two-week break in December.

Josie, who was born toahomeless family in Tangiers, Morocco, said: “At Christmas, we close for two weeks and I provide them with a big food parcel. I also provide them with jumpers, socks and gloves.

“I don’t do it for the glamour or thanks –I do it for them.

“I don’t ask for help from anybody as it is not my place to do so.

“It is my life. They are family.”

The number of people who come along to Josie’s Kitchen fluctuates.

Josie said: “On Monday, I had nine people, but before I have had up to 20. “It all depends where they are sleeping.

“I know some of them don’t need it, but if one needs it then I will do it.

“So many people do things like this –I am just a drop in the ocean. I just do my little bit to help.”

While the majority of those who attend the initiative are courteous and well behaved, Josie has been assaulted by one homeless person.

She was not injured and it did not put her off continuing to help those in need.

A PCSO now regularly attends to speak with those who come along.

In 2012, Josie’s story was featured in a book called Street Angels which spoke to 100 people who sleep rough and the volunteers who help them.

Volunteer Maggie Jones, 75, of St Johns, Colchester, helps on Fridays. She said: “A friend of mine I used to work with said they could do with another pair of hands on Fridays.

“I have now been here three years. “My job is to do the teas and coffees and chat to them. “Some of the guys live outside because they want to.

“When I first started I didn’t know if I was going to like it, but they really appreciate you. “I will continue as long as Josie will have me. “ The centre runs on Mondays and Fridays from 9.30am to 11.30am.

2,744 ARE SLEEPING ROUGH

ACCORDING to Homeless Link, 2,744 people are estimated to be sleeping rough on any one night in England.

The charity used estimates from local authorities, collected in the autumn of 2014 and published in February this year, to come up with the figure.

The figure is up 14 per cent from the estimated number of rough sleepers in 2013 and up 55 per cent from 2010.

Research by Cambridge University, commissioned by the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint, found an estimated 83,000 homeless 16 to 24-yearolds relied on the support of councils and charities in the UK in 2013/14.

It also found9per cent of young people in the UK have slept in an “outside place” in the last year, including on the street, in car parks or parks, because they had nowhere else to go.

Up to 80 per cent of homeless people have mental health problems and the average age of death for a homeless person is 47.