Although the fund-raising shop in Trimley remains closed due to the Covid-19 lock down, the work being done by the Bus Shelter project continues, with a different focus for now.

Instead of dealing with rough sleepers, the staff and volunteers have been putting together food parcels for the needy and vulnerable on the Felixstowe peninsula and beyond, and the demand has been huge.

Gareth Brenland, joint-founder of Ipswich's Bus Shelter project, along with partner Sarah-Jane, revealed Tiffers staff had been handing out a staggering 80 food parcels a week, over the past month.

Supermarkets have been supplying the project with food and other items, but social distancing has meant the Tiffers' shops in Trimley, and Wherstead Road, cannot be accessed and the project still needs funding to operate.

He believes that may not have been possible if they did not have new premised, in the previous home to a car rental firm, just off the A14 before the Orwell Bridge at Wherstead, handy to reach Felixstowe and Ipswich.

The Bus Shelter project is waiting on planning permission to be able to house people on the new site, however, the logistical skills, experience and contacts have proved important in another way for project workers.

"If it was not for this site then we would be struggling," admitted Gareth. "There is no way we could have helped the amount of people we have been able to help where we are now handing out 80 food parcels a week, all over the place.

"We always point people to their most local groups, for example Basic Life charity in Felixstowe, but we are still be asked to deliver parcels out there.

"A lot of the parcels are to working families who really just don't have the money right now. Also, the elderly and anyone else who needs them."

That doesn't mean Tiffers' has forgotten is original purpose and still goes out to help rough sleepers when needed.

Jay Hornsby, is a former rough sleeper whose life was turned around by the help he received by Tiffers. He now works with the project helping others, usually by going out in a van.

"We are still doing the outreach if we get call outs. Jay was out to one in Felixstowe recently," said Gareth.

"We were approached by the local council there but the person didn't want to do anything so he is staying put. He is on his own, he keeps himself to himself. He is not a danger to himself, he is not a problem, he is not a beggar, he just prefers to keep himself to himself."

Like everyone else, the Bus Shelter CIC is desperate for the Covid-19 virus to be brought under control, but Gareth is convinced the homeless issue will return, and Felixstowe will always be magnet for rough sleepers, possibly due to easy access.

He said: "Felixstowe has its challenges. If there is anyone new rough sleeping it is usually Felixstowe where they pop up.

"We are not sure why. It could be the isolation, where they can go to the beach huts for example and keep out of the way."

Although the government has ensured councils put a roof over everyone's head during this crisis, Mr Brenland is not optimistic that will be a permanent solution.

"As for the rough sleepers in general, I believe that will just go back to how it was," he said.

"There will always be relationship that break down, there will always be mental health issues and even though the council has duty of care right now to hose them, once this is all over it will just go back to how it was.

"People will be back out on the streets. There will be begging, drug issues, and life like that goes on.

"When that happens, we will be ready to roll. The busses will be taxed and insured to go back on the road."

Tiffers, part of The Bus Shelter community interest company, first moved into Freston layby two years ago, after being converted in Woolverstone, from an old Stephensons passenger bus, to a homeless shelter.

The search for a new home took much longer than anticipated and late last year outreach bus Chey joined Tiffers at Freston, before these new premises were leased.

Gareth explained there are two main reason for moving, one being financial and by moving, and essentially grounding the busses it saves the project more than £400 per month.

Secondly, with foodbanks in the region being broken into, it protects the stock and property as there is always someone securing the site.

"We were a bit exposed at Freston and this move is vital for those two reason, but I'm going to miss the layby," admitted Gareth. "A lot of people are going to miss us being there too.

"Moving is something we have always wanted to do and now it is a question of us having to, in order to ensure we can carry on doing what we need to do.

"The number of people on the streets is a lot lower now, although there are still some on there, simply because they do not want to be housed in any way.

"They may have mental health issues, they prefer the isolation factors like that.

"The majority are now in some sort of shelter, whether that is a hostel bed and breakfast whatever."

To donate or for more information email: [email protected] or Bus Shelter Just Giving