Because the weather is expected to fall to zero degrees Celsius or lower overnight, the South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) was activated yesterday, 16 January 2023.

SWEP is a voluntary process that is put in place by district housing authorities to ensure that people sleeping rough are not at risk of harm or, in the worst case, of dying during periods of extreme cold or severe weather.

The seven Lincolnshire Districts have arrangements in place to prevent and respond to rough sleeping at all times of the year. The purpose of SWEP however is to ensure that a place of safety is available during severe weather conditions for those people sleeping rough who may not normally be eligible for statutory services.

It also includes those people who have a long history of sleeping rough and have refused previous interventions from homelessness and support services, or who choose to continue sleeping rough.

If you are concerned about somebody who may be rough sleeping please call SKDC free on 0800 121 4430. If it's outside normal office hours, please call 01476 59 00 44