A GROUP of Barnsley volunteers who support homeless people across the town are now just weeks away from having to leave their own home and they’ve issued a desperate appeal for help.

Action for Barnsley Homeless has been running for the last 12 years and is currently based at The Dining Room on Sheffield Road.

It is run entirely by volunteers who support the borough’s homeless community but they also help people in need.

They are open every Tuesday and on average feed, clothe and support around 80 to 120 people each night.

They were dealt a blow when they would find out they would have to leave their home last month and Jill Martin, who helps run the group, says they will now have to move out within the next month.

She told the Chronicle: “We’re still not sure exactly where we stand.

“We know that we’ve got up to a month here but we’re not entirely sure what’s happening.

“The landlady has been really good with us.

“But we’ve had no response from anyone who might be able to help us.”

The group have been offered Worsbrough Community Centre but Jill says it is not an ideal long-term solution for the group.

She added: “There were 82 people here this week and a couple of weeks ago we helped 108.

“It shows that we’re still helping a lot of people.

“But we need to find a space that’s big enough.

“We’ve been offered Worsbrough Community Centre but there’s no storage so we’d have to be bringing items to and from there every week.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to keep the group going by going to Worsbrough.

“But it’s about how long we’d actually be able to be there.”

Jill and the group of volunteers are now pleading with residents to support them in any way they can whether that be paying for rent or offering them some storage.

“We’ve seen a couple of cafes but they’re asking for £9,000 in fixtures and fittings and then £1,000 in rent,” she added.

“We just can’t afford that.

“We’re self-funded.

“If anyone can help out we would really appreciate it.”