Dawn Prosser, of Swindon Night Shelter and Renew Swindon CIC, rounds up our September business profiles!

It’s the final day of September and what a month it has been! We’ve been talking to business owners about how September has been for them both professionally and personally.

Finishing off for September is Dawn Prosser who is the manager of Swindon Night Shelter and a director of Renew Swindon CIC.

Swindon Night Shelter is a Christian charity that works with other organisations to break the cycle of homelessness through our 3 core services, a day centre, emergency accommodation and our food pantries.

Based in Penhill, Renew is a community “shed” where people come together to have fun, share or learn skills and knowledge and find renewed purpose and well-being through practical activities such as woodwork and upcycling.

How was your summer as we go into autumn? Any highlights for you or your business? 
It was busier than expected and disappeared far too quickly! One of the highlights at Swindon Night Shelter was the restoration of our community garden and at Renew, we have been busy renovating our kitchen in our community centre and restoring an old wooden aircraft bench for Wroughton Parish council.

What happened for your business in September?
Swindon Night Shelter have been preparing for our emergency accommodation becoming accredited, welcoming in lots of volunteer teams and planning our activities at the day centre over the winter period.

At Renew we will be sending the wooden aircraft bench we have been restoring back to the people of Wroughton to enjoy.

It was also the Paralympics which ended on September 8. Did you watch, what do you think of this tournament? Were there any stand out moments for you? 
Yes, I watched the highlights most evenings. I find the athletes ability to overcome adversity and push through their challenges to represent their country and achieve amazing things very inspiring.

September is also known as ‘organic’ month. When it comes to your business/organisation/personal life what do you do to be ‘more green’? If it’s in business, do you work with other brands to be more sustainable?
At Swindon Night Shelter, our community garden project includes an organic kitchen garden. It’s run by volunteers, and the produce is then used in our kitchen for our guests and residents. We also reduce tonnes of food waste by using surplus food from supermarkets, turning them into nutritious meals in our kitchen at the Haven and then offer the surplus food to all those who attend our food pantries.

World Gratitude Day took place this month (Sept 21). What are you grateful for in your business/organisation/at home?
I am grateful for the constant provision of money, food, clothes, tents etc and for all the time volunteers put in, both at Swindon Night Shelter and Renew as we could not provide the service without all of that help.

There are many other ‘points of interest’ during September which could be relevant to you or your business. Here are five, pick any which are personally or professionally relevant to you?

*Sept 6 to 15 – Heritage Open Days 2024.
*Sept 18 – Read An Ebook Day.
*Secondhand September
*Sept 27 – World Tourism Day
*Organic Your September.
Secondhand September is very relevant for Renew Swindon as our whole emphasis is on renewing, repairing and re-using materials which would otherwise go into landfill. We also upcycle furniture and give it a brand new lease of life using an award-winning and eco-friendly range of chalk and mineral paint, called Frenchic paint, which we sell to help keep us going!

What are your hopes for business for the rest of this year? Are you launching a new product, service, running an event or something else later in the year? 
My main hope for our residents and guests and all those we serve would be that lives begin to be transformed and people overcome life’s challenges.

Have you got any services or special offers you’d like to mention?
Every month Swindon Night Shelter sell brand new items from a large retailer approx. 75% off, at a tabletop sale to raise funds to keep their day centre going. There’s always household and food items along with canned drinks of every kind, 10 for £1!!  Our next public sale is at Crowdys Hill school, on Saturday 28th September between 10am and 12pm. Our October sale is at Freshbrook church, Worsley Road, Freshbrook .SN5 8NU