New homeless treatment van opens in Brighton and Hove

Officially opened on Friday (February 28), the new specialist treatment centre is one of 50 across the country.

The mobile treatment centre has been made possible due to a grant from the Mark Master Masons Benevolent Fund to provide both first aid and primary healthcare to those in need.

Staff and volunteers from the St John Homeless Service were formally presented with the vehicle by members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Sussex. They were joined by supporters and Brighton mayor Cllr Alexandra Phillips.

Chairman of St John Sussex Dan May-Jones, said: “The donation of this vehicle is wonderful news for the Sussex Homeless Service and will significantly help enhance the care we’re able to provide to those who are homeless or vulnerably housed.

“We’re immensely grateful to the Mark Master Masons in the Sussex Province and to the Mark Benevolent Fund for their generosity and we look forward to seeing the positive impact the vehicle will have in the local community.”

The new treatment vehicle will be used on Thursday nights during St John’s outreach service on Brighton’s seafront.

This will allow the team to continue giving first aid, treating wounds, changing dressings, offering specialist foot care and carrying out health assessments and referrals.

Martin Wilson, provincial grand master of the Degree of Mark Master Masons of Sussex, said: “It is a great pleasure, on behalf of the Mark Benevolent Fund, to hand over the keys of this unique vehicle to St John to enable them to provide much needed assistance to the homeless of Brighton.”

With the arrival of the new mobile treatment centre, St John Ambulance is considering extension of the outreach service to other areas, including Worthing, Crawley, and Horsham.

St John Ambulance is a national first aid charity offering training, advice and support.

More information about St John Ambulance’s Sussex Homeless Service can be found at its website.