SMART CJS

SMART CJS Our Charity provides safe spaces and support for a wide range of people who, for all sorts of reasons are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Our teams empower people to improve their situation and live the life they want to lead SMART is proud to run the Prebend Day Centre. We offer support and services for vulnerable individuals facing homelessness or who are currently homeless or rough sleeping. The Centre is open to adults needing support 365 days of the year.

The right support, at the right time, can change everything.When someone is struggling with their mental health, practic...
29/05/2026

The right support, at the right time, can change everything.

When someone is struggling with their mental health, practical support matters.

A safe place to go. Someone to listen. A hot meal. A chance to wash, rest and breathe. Support to take the next step forward.

That is what sits behind our One Door at the Prebend Centre.

The SMART 500 campaign is helping us build the regular income needed to keep that support available for people facing homelessness or crisis in Bedford.

By joining SMART 500, you can help us keep trusted, practical support in place all year round.

Link to sign up to the SMART 500 in the comments below ⤵️

A regular gift can do more than you think.This World Hunger Day, we are reminding people that hunger is often just the v...
28/05/2026

A regular gift can do more than you think.

This World Hunger Day, we are reminding people that hunger is often just the visible part of a much bigger crisis.

When someone comes to the Prebend Centre for food, they may also be facing homelessness, poor health, isolation, exhaustion or uncertainty about what happens next.

That is why the SMART 500 matters. A monthly donation helps us provide not just meals, but the wider support that can sit around them. Showers, clothing, housing advice, healthcare access, benefits support and trusted one-to-one conversations.

It is about more than responding to hunger in the moment.
It is about helping people find safety, stability and support.

👉 Join the SMART 500 and help keep our One Door open (link in the comments).

A huge thank you to SEVA Trust UK for their kind donation of canned foods, long-life milk, cereals, body wash and other ...
28/05/2026

A huge thank you to SEVA Trust UK for their kind donation of canned foods, long-life milk, cereals, body wash and other essential items for the people we support at SMART. 💙

Donations like this make a real difference at the Prebend Centre, helping us provide practical support to people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping, poverty and hardship in Bedford.

SEVA Trust UK is a charity committed to transforming lives through education, health and wellbeing, social welfare and environmental action. Their mission is to empower, inspire and uplift disadvantaged communities, vulnerable individuals and those facing inequality both in the UK and overseas.

Their motto of “Working Together to Inspire, Support and Lift Others” really reflects the spirit of this donation. These essential items will go directly to people who need them, offering not only practical help but also dignity, care and reassurance.

Thank you for thinking of SMART and for standing alongside our community. Your support is truly appreciated. 🙏🙏🙏

A meal is never just a meal.This Thursday is World Hunger Day, a day that highlights hunger, food insecurity and the wid...
27/05/2026

A meal is never just a meal.

This Thursday is World Hunger Day, a day that highlights hunger, food insecurity and the wider inequalities that leave people without the basics they need.

At the Prebend Centre, we know that food is often the first reason someone walks through our door.
A hot meal can offer comfort, dignity and a moment of relief. But it can also be the start of something much bigger.

Behind our One Door, people can access food bank parcels, showers, clean clothing, laundry, healthcare, housing advice, benefits support and trusted 1-1 conversations with staff who take the time to listen. For someone facing homelessness, hunger is rarely the only issue. It often comes with exhaustion, poor health, isolation, trauma, money worries and the uncertainty of not knowing where to turn next.

That is why the Prebend Centre matters.

Because when someone comes in for a meal, they are not just given food.
They are given time.
They are given support.
They are given a safe place to be seen, heard and helped.

☀️ Can you help us support people during the hot weather?We are kindly asking for donations of:🧢 Sun hats🧴 SPF 50 sun lo...
27/05/2026

☀️ Can you help us support people during the hot weather?

We are kindly asking for donations of:

🧢 Sun hats
🧴 SPF 50 sun lotion

These will be given out to people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in Bedford, helping them stay safer in the heat.

Donations can be dropped off at:

📍 SMART CJS, 12 Prebend Street, Bedford, MK40 1QW
🕘 Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm

Thank you for helping us look after people in our community. Every donation makes a difference. 💛

⚠️ Amber heat-health alert for the East of England ⚠️An amber heat-health alert is now in place across the East of Engla...
26/05/2026

⚠️ Amber heat-health alert for the East of England ⚠️

An amber heat-health alert is now in place across the East of England until 5pm on Thursday 28 May.

High temperatures can be dangerous for anyone, but people who are sleeping rough, sofa surfing, living in insecure housing, or spending long periods outside are at much greater risk.

During this hot weather, please look out for people in our community who may be struggling.

You can help by:

💧 Offering bottled water if you see someone outside
☀️ Encouraging people to stay in the shade where possible
🧴 Donating sun cream, bottled water or summer essentials
🧢 Offering hats or light clothing if you are able to
📞 Calling 999 if someone appears confused, faint, very unwell, or is struggling to stay awake
🚪 Letting people know that the Prebend Centre is open Monday to Friday for support

At SMART, we will be supporting people through the heat with access to water, showers, shade, sun cream, ice lollies, food, and a safe place to come indoors.

❗ Please share this post so more people know where to get help.

Mental Health Awareness Week is over. The need is not. For people facing homelessness, poor mental health is not limited...
26/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week is over. The need is not. For people facing homelessness, poor mental health is not limited to just one week of the year.

At the Prebend Centre, we see how much it matters to have a safe, welcoming space where people can pause, breathe and feel human again.

Our art therapy sessions are a big part of that. For some people, it is a chance to be creative. For others, it is a quiet moment away from crisis. Sometimes it is easier to express something through colour, shape or drawing than it is to say it out loud.

Behind our One Door, people can access hot meals, showers, clothing, laundry, healthcare, 1-1 support, mental health support links, activities and day beds where they can rest during the daytime.

Art therapy may look simple from the outside, but for someone who is exhausted, isolated or struggling with their mental health, it can be a powerful first step towards trust, confidence and support.

Our door remains open for anyone who needs food, safety, dignity, advice or a trusted place to turn to.

Bank holidays can feel very different when you have nowhere safe to go.For many people, the May bank holiday means time ...
25/05/2026

Bank holidays can feel very different when you have nowhere safe to go.

For many people, the May bank holiday means time off, family plans or a long weekend. For someone who is homeless, at risk of homelessness or facing crisis, a bank holiday can feel isolating. Services may be harder to reach, routines change and the pressure of not knowing where to turn can feel even heavier.

At SMART, we know how important it is that people have somewhere safe, practical and welcoming to access support. Behind our One Door at the Prebend Centre, people can find hot meals, showers, clothing, laundry, healthcare links, housing advice, 1-1 support, activities and a safe place to pause.

Because crisis does not stop on bank holidays.

Our door remains open this May bank holiday.

A heat-health alert has been issued for the East of England, with hot weather expected to continue until Wednesday 27 Ma...
22/05/2026

A heat-health alert has been issued for the East of England, with hot weather expected to continue until Wednesday 27 May.

For people who are homeless, rough sleeping or spending long periods outside, heat can be dangerous. There may be very little shade, limited access to water, nowhere cool to rest, and a higher risk of dehydration, sunburn and heat exhaustion.

Here are a few simple ways you can help:

If you see someone rough sleeping or struggling in the heat, please let them know that the Prebend Centre is open Monday to Friday and they can come to us for support.

You can also help by offering a bottle of water, checking whether someone is okay, and encouraging them to get out of direct sun where possible.

At the Prebend Centre, we will be supporting people with water, sun cream, ice lollies and a safe place to come inside.

Small acts of kindness can make a big difference in hot weather.

We’re pleased to share that SMART has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.This funding will he...
22/05/2026

We’re pleased to share that SMART has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.

This funding will help us develop new projects within the Prebend Centre, building on the support already available behind our One Door.

The Prebend Centre is often the first place people come when they are facing homelessness, rough sleeping, poverty, poor health or difficult circumstances. It is where people can access practical support, trusted advice, and the wider services they need to move forward.

This new funding will help us look at how we can develop our work even further, creating new opportunities, strengthening what we already offer, and helping us achieve more meaningful outcomes for the people who use our services.

A huge thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund, and to everyone who plays the National Lottery, for helping make this possible!

Practical support. Real impact.

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Bedford

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 2pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 2pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 2pm
Thursday 9:30am - 2pm
Friday 9:30am - 2pm

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