A grassroots organisation helping rough sleepers is launching in Finsbury Park tonight.

Streets Kitchen wants people to come down to its temporary hub – the Nag’s Head Solidarity Centre – at 48 Seven Sisters Road with sleeping bags, hats, scarves and anything else that will be helpful to people sleeping outside in the freezing conditions.

Two rough sleepers have already died in Islington this winter, founder Jon Glackin, revealed, and he said now the mission was to keep people alive.

“We’ve had a good response and we’re getting support from local people which is great,” he told the Gazette. “We’d ask people to bring sleeping bags, warm jumpers, socks – essential items. Anything that will be of use for a rough sleeper.”

Food and drink are being prepared at the solidarity centre, which Islington Council has given to the group free of charge until at least the end of the year.

Jon has also written to Islington, Hackney and Haringey councils pleading for them to offer up free space that his team can set up as shelter for rough sleepers.

“I haven’t heard anything back yet,” he said. “What we want is the visitors’ centre in Holloway Prison. We’re the only people who want to be in jail this Christmas.”

Streets Kitchen have asked people to head to Seven Sisters Road for 7pm.