Bosco Benefits From Clothing Donation

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Jay Matthews

Residents of Bosco are wrapped up nice and warm for the start of the new year after a massive donation of hoodies from local skate park Rampworx.

The donation of nearly 100 hooded tops, all brand new, was the brainchild of Rampworx employee, Jay Matthews. Jay said: “We had a lot of old stock that was taking up space in our storeroom, so I thought we could donate it to various charities. I checked with my boss, Paul, if this would be OK and he agreed.”

Jay added: “We have distributed lots of the hoodies to other local charities, but I thought it would be a great idea to donate some to the homeless. That’s when I got in touch with Bosco House. I just thought, who would really benefit from some nice warm tops at this time of year and, of course, the homeless and rough sleepers came to mind. I hope they get well used and make a difference.”

Rampworx boss, Paul Hunter, said: “I thought it was a great idea of Jay’s. The tops were just lying around, taking up space, so we were glad to help. I’m sure the homeless will appreciate them as it gets colder.”

The hoodies were welcomed at Bosco, as support worker Louise confirmed: “I think it’s great, and very generous, of Rampworx to donate these hoodies. They’re really good quality and nice and warm.”

Louise added: “We often have to give out emergency clothing to our residents, particularly the rough sleepers that use our sit-up service. Each person that used the sit-up last night got one and they were made up!”

Rampworx originally opened in 1997 but, within two years, it became so successful they had to relocate to larger premises. In 2000, they had to expand again and opened on their the current site that, at 55,000 square feet, is the largest skate park in the UK. In 2013, they expanded the site to 70,000 square feet, making it one of the largest indoor skate parks in Europe.

Rampworx is also a registered children’s charity. They work with 1000 young people each week through a range of developmental activities and sports, BMX, Inline Skating and Skateboarding all under one roof. You can find out more by searching rampworx.com.

Homeless Charity Boss Under Fire Over Union-Bashing Email Blunder

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Unite union has called on the CEO of homelessness charity St Mungo’s, Howard Sinclair, to step down immediately after a misdirected email revealed the charity had worked with a top London PR agency on a strategy to stop people joining the union and ‘erode [its] support’ during this summer’s industrial dispute.

The email which was accidentally misdirected by Sinclair to a Unite official and was also sent to employees of BLJ London, a PR consultancy which specialises in crisis management communications. In it he writes: ‘No need to change tac (sic). Our strategy should be to…stop more people joining and erode support.’

The call for Sinclair to go comes as Unite gets set to re-ballot the union’s members for strike action, after failing to reach the 50% threshold required by law by one single vote in September. The new ballot will open on January 6 and close on February 3.

St Mungo’s provides help and support to vulnerable rough sleepers across the South of England, including Brighton, Bristol and London. But staff are angry over the way bosses are forcing through changes which threaten to reinstate ‘race to the bottom’ terms and conditions that will lead to pay cuts, job losses and de-skilling.

Unite regional officer Tabusam Ahmed said: “Christmas is a time for giving, but donors and funders of St Mungo’s are unlikely to be thrilled that the charity has paid for the services of a top London PR agency ‘to break’ the union during this summer’s dispute. This email blunder has exposed Sinclair’s true colours. He must now do the decent thing and step down immediately to clear the way for negotiations to re-start with a clean slate.”

“It is deeply regrettable that Unite has had to re-ballot members. But senior management’s continued refusal to row back on plans to tear up the junior staffing cap agreement, unfair sickness policy and heavy-handed use of disciplinary procedures remain a major sticking point for our members.”

“Members fear that the move to tear up the union-negotiated junior staffing cap agreement is the thin end of the wedge and will lead to job losses, pay cuts and a deterioration in the quality of services delivered to some of the country’s most vulnerable people.”

Mr Ahmed concluded: “Unite’s door remains open, but we would urge Howard Sinclair to step aside at once so that negotiations can re-start and trust rebuilt.” Mr Sinclair is due to stand down in the autumn of 2020 after six years at the helm.

An ‘Angel From Above’ Helps The Homeless Of Liverpool

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A nine-year-old boy left a homeless couple in tears when he gave them food and clothes from his trolley.

Dylan O’Neil, from Norris Green, is only nine but has been out in the city centre delivering food and supplies to homeless people every week over the festive period. His family have been inundated with donations from people across the country after they shared a photo of Dylan out with his trolley at night. One homeless couple described him as like ‘an angel sent from above’ for his generosity, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Dylan’s mother, Jade Nesbitt, 27, said that Dylan first decided he wanted to do something to help the homeless when he went with his granddad to hand out food at the Cotton Street Exchange. She told the Echo: “When he went with his granddad that night it really opened his eyes. Now, one evening a week he takes a car full of stuff to hand out to homeless people.”

“He’s been working tirelessly to help clothe, feed and water the homeless. He wants to try and make a difference even though he’s only small. He really likes doing it. He walks round town with a trolley giving out supplies. At Christmas he went round handing out toothpaste, toothbrushes and tampons to the homeless.”

Mum Jade said that Dylan goes out with his friends and family to hand out the donations, and that she hopes her son has shown that even kids are “trying to make a difference”. She added: “He works alongside his family and friends and he wants to carry on helping the homeless. I just want the city to know that there are kids out there that are trying to make a difference in homeless people’s lives.”

Jade said that there had been an overwhelming response to Dylan’s generosity on social media with one of her posts sharing Dylan’s actions going viral. She said: “I shared some photos of him handing out supplies on Facebook and so many people shared it and we’ve been contacted by lots of people wanting to donate. One post I did got over 3,000 likes and 1,000 shares. It was overwhelming. Everyday we are getting donations sent to our house which Dylan then gives out to the homeless. My hallway looks like a storage unit.”

Stepdad, Daniel Hesketh 24, said that Dylan’s work helping the homeless is a good example of how young people are doing good things in the community. Daniel, who was previously homeless himself, said that Dylan gained an understanding of the problem while he was sleeping on the street.

He added: “There was a time when I was homeless myself. I was sleeping on the street. I think Dylan began to understand then how much of a problem this is. He really understood. I remember he used to try and give me his piggy bank. He really cares about other people and wants to do good.”

Bank Accounts For The Homeless

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For the first time, not having a fixed address won’t prevent you from being able to open a bank account, thanks to a new bank account from HSBC.

In partnership with Shelter, a UK charity dedicated to helping people struggling with bad housing or homelessness, HSBC has launched a new bank account. It’s called the No Fixed Address Service and it’s a specialist service available in selected branches. Through this scheme, people without ID or a fixed address can gain access to a bank account.

Shelter CEO Polly Neate said, “It’s hard enough if you’re homeless, living day-to-day on the streets in the freezing cold or trapped with your children in a hostel, but not having a bank account can make life even tougher. That’s why Shelter is pleased to work with HSBC UK on this game-changing product. Having a bank account not only allows people who are homeless to receive wages and claim benefits, but it also gives them their independence back.”

Maxine Pritchard, Head of Financial Inclusion and Vulnerability at HSBC UK said: “At HSBC UK we’re committed to offering support to those who would otherwise be excluded from banking. No one in today’s society should be without a bank account and it’s up to financial organisations to make banking more accessible. Opening a bank account can give homeless people a true sense of independence. Not only is it required in order to receive benefits and wages, but it’s also a secure mechanism for looking after their money rather than having pockets of cash, which makes them vulnerable.” People who may have previously struggled to open an account can now do so when accompanied to an HSBC UK branch by their Shelter caseworker.

Firstly, if you have internet access, visit the Shelter website or the website of the charity that is supporting this scheme where you’re based. If you don’t have access to this information, you can visit an HSBC UK branch and ask a member of staff for help.

Next, a representative from Shelter (or other charity, such as Crisis) will help to arrange the support required. Once you’ve received this support and an account has been opened, any correspondence from HSBC UK will be sent to the local charity address, which includes: Bank cards, PIN notifications and other updates.

These are all the branches that the ‘no fixed address’ service is currently offered in: Liverpool Lord Street, Belfast City, Bishopsgate City of London, Birmingham New Street, Blackpool Oxford Square, Bournemouth Old Christchurch Road, Bradford Market Street, Bristol Cabot Circus, Bristol Filton, Cardiff Queen Street, Croydon Central, Dover Enfield, The Town, Glasgow City, Hull, Hounslow High Street, Leeds City, Manchester St Anns, Middlesbrough St Alberts Road, Newcastle City, Nottingham Clumber Street, Palmers Green, Peterborough, Sheffield City, Southampton, Stratford, Swansea, Swindon, Walthamstow, and Wrexham.

The Cost Of Cuts To Homeless Services

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Support services for nearly 9,000 homeless people have disappeared following a decade of cuts, charity St Mungo’s has said.

The charity has called on the next government to guarantee funding for homelessness services after new analysis found that there were 8,755 fewer places in accommodation services for people compared with nine years ago. Bed spaces in accommodation services aimed at helping people off the street fell from 43,655 in 2010 to 34,900 in 2018, according to the research.

Previous research by St Mungo’s found that spending by councils on single homeless people fell by 53% between 2008/09 and 2017/18. The total spent by local authorities on homelessness services has dropped by £1bn in total in a decade. The Office for National Statistics also revealed recently that the number of people dying while sleeping rough or in emergency accommodation in England and Wales has risen by 51% since 2013.

Howard Sinclair, chief executive of St Mungo’s, said: “It’s clear that years of cuts to local authority budgets have devastated crucial services supporting people who are homeless. The human cost is a national tragedy. Last year, an average of two people died every day while rough sleeping or in emergency accommodation. This has to be a wake-up call for politicians and the communities they represent.”

“The next government must take urgent action to end homelessness now and prevent people rough sleeping by guaranteeing long-term funding for services. Without this, no government will get close to their goal of making rough sleeping a thing of the past.”

Andrew Teale, outreach manager at St Mungo’s, said: “My team and I work every day, in all weathers to help people sleeping rough. Last year, in Bournemouth and Poole, we helped nearly 300 people come off the streets. And yet we find new people every day.”

“The problem is finding the long-term housing and support, to help with challenges like poor health, substance use, low income and abuse, that people really need in order to escape homelessness for good. If hostel, supported housing and addiction services had been as stretched when I was homeless, the story could have been very different for me.”

Putting An End To Homelessness

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“Homelessness is a barometer of social justice that reflects a serious problem in our society, the remedy to which is within our grasp”, writes Rob Aldridge in The Lancet.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in the UK has dramatically increased since 2010, In the autumn of 2018, 4,677 people in England were estimated to be sleeping rough, a worrying increase from 1,768 in 2010. Although these numbers almost certainly underestimate the total number of people affected, the trends in these data are important and unsurprising, given that one in five bed spaces for single homeless people have been lost during the same period, a reduction from 43,655 in 2010 to 34,900 in 2018.

Rough sleeping is at the extreme and visible end of homelessness, and estimates of the total number of people affected by the UK’s housing crisis highlight an even larger problem. Data from 2019 suggest that around 250,000 households and 400,000 people are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Homelessness can have fatal consequences. The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that 726 people experiencing homelessness died in England and Wales in 2018. These figures represent a 22% year-to-year increase and are the highest since these estimates began in 2013. The ONS data suggest that most deaths among people who were homeless were caused by drug-related poisoning, suicide, and alcohol-specific deaths. Like estimates of the number of people who are sleeping rough, these data are likely to underestimate deaths, but the trend is important and provides a rare insight into the precarious health of this population.

Our recent study of deaths among people experiencing homelessness showed a different pattern of deaths to that of the ONS data. We examined the causes of death among people previously admitted to hospital and seen by specialist integrated homeless health and care schemes. Similar to the ONS data, we found high numbers of deaths caused by drug-related poisoning, suicide, and alcohol.

However, our study highlighted the importance of chronic and potentially preventable diseases, such as coronary heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. Crucially, after adjusting for age and sex, nearly one in three of the deaths among people who were homeless in our study were due to causes that are amenable to timely health care.

Collectively, this evidence demonstrates a public health emergency that we already know how to tackle—but have failed to do so. Most people experiencing homelessness had been admitted to hospital in acute health crisis. Their health needs represent a system failure to intervene early and prevent serious harms. Evidence from England, corroborated internationally, highlights multiple missed opportunities for timely intervention.

First, the unsafe discharging of patients who are homeless must be stopped. Safeguarding Adults Reviews into the deaths of people who are homeless have highlighted poor hospital discharge practices, including people being discharged back onto the street. Health-care professionals have a duty of care and should apply the same standards of quality and safety to all patients; for example, discharge should be delayed when it is not safe. Discharging a patient without them having somewhere safe to stay is a safeguarding issue.

Second, specialist integrated homeless health schemes are more effective and cost-effective than standard care. Despite large increases in homelessness and deaths among people who are homeless, many of these specialist schemes closed because of an absence of sustainable funding. The case for reinvesting in and scaling up these services nationally is clear.

Third, intermediate care facilities in the community can prevent serious illness and unplanned hospital admissions, saving lives and money. These services play a vital role in freeing up acute beds, while ensuring that people still get the help and support they need to manage long-term conditions and plan for their future. These services need to be widely accessible to both community and hospital health-care providers as part of specialist integrated homeless health schemes, and all of these services should be designed collaboratively to ensure they are accessible to, and meet the needs of, people experiencing homelessness.

Fourth, we need to move away from emergency hostels and unaffordable or unsustainable private lettings to adopt a full housing-first approach to homelessness. People who become homeless should have rapid access to permanent housing with ongoing health and social care support that recognises the complex needs of individuals who have experienced long periods of severe adversity. This approach to housing should be accompanied by a large increase in social housing to reduce the number of people at risk of homelessness.

Finally, we must tackle the political determinants of homelessness, including child poverty, poor education and employment opportunities, criminalisation, invisibility, and stigma. Everyone has a right to dignity and respect. Homelessness is a barometer of social justice that reflects a serious problem in our society, the remedy to which is within our grasp.

Vital Information For Rough Sleepers In Sefton This Winter

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Sefton Council has a range of services for rough sleepers throughout the borough that are available all year round. This is especially important during the cold winter months between November 2019 and March 2020.

If you are concerned about someone’s wellbeing, please direct them to their nearest Sit-Up services available at both New Start in Southport and Bosco in Bootle. Services are provided at BOSCO House, Merton Road, Bootle (0151 944 1818) or New Start, Leyland Road Hostel, Southport, (01704 547 741).

Bosco’s Sit-Up provision is available nightly and people can book in between 8pm to 9pm. An enhanced Sit-Up provision, which will be open and offer more flexible presentation hours, will be offered at New Start’s Leyland Road Hostel and will be open from 8pm until 12pm the next day with light refreshments and a warm, dry, safe environment for people to access with showers and laundry facilities available to people. As part of this service, outreach teams will proactively seek out rough sleepers and encourage them to access the Enhanced Sit-Up to ensure nobody sleeps rough in Sefton this year.

The help of the public is always appreciated and to report an incident of rough sleeping in Sefton please call the Rough Sleeper Outreach Team via Light for Life on 01704 501256 or 07918 746042 outside normal office hours and weekends. Alternatively, email housing.options@sefton.gov.uk and provide details of the location and any description of the person. We will acknowledge your email and give you a response to your report.

Veterans in Sefton (ViS) have also been commissioned to provide support to people who are currently serving or who have served in the Armed Forces, both regular and reservists, their families and dependents, who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. ViS is based at The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre in Bootle. For any further information call 0151 257 6371 or attend the ‘NAAFI Break’, Wednesdays 10.30am – 12pm.

Labour Responsible For Rise In Homelessness Says Top Tory

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After nearly ten years of Tory rule, Chancellor Sajid Javid has blamed Labour for Britain’s rise in homelessness – despite his own Conservative party being in charge.

The remarks were made during an interview on 5th December, in which the former secretary for state of housing said the issue “reached its peak” in 2008 under the last Labour government. Figures from homelessness charity Shelter found the number of homeless people in the UK rose by 13,000 to 320,000 people in 2018.

As reported by 24housing, the release of Shelter’s Generation Homeless report found that 183 children lose their homes per day. 135,000 children in Britain are also said to be homeless and living in temporary accommodation – the highest figure recorded by Shelter in 12 years.

Releasing their £1bn ‘moral mission’ to end homelessness, the Labour party has pledged a £600m Modern Hostels Fund as well as an additional 4,000 ‘Housing First’ homes to meet rough sleeping targets. On the package of support, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it “shames the Conservative Party most of all” because of Conservative decisions to slash funding for hostels, housing benefit, homelessness services, and new homes – “all directly responsible for this increase in people living and dying on our streets.”

Ending the interview, TV anchor Sarah Hewson replied to the chancellor in saying: “You’ve failed because the numbers are up – you can’t dispute those numbers.”

Outrage At Removal Of Coats For The Homeless

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Shocked onlookers were left “outraged” after spare coats for the homeless that were hung on Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge were removed.

Kindhearted Dubliners began hanging the jackets up earlier this week as part of the #warmforwinter appeal. The initiative drew universal praise on social media with many hailing it as a “brilliant” idea.

But footage emerged on Saturday evening of a man, believed to be working for Dublin City Council, gathering up the jackets and taking them off the bridge. Ali Nic an tSaoir, who shared the video, said: “People have been leaving coats on the ha’penny bridge for the homeless, this morning myself and hundreds of other horrified onlookers watched as DCC took them down. Happy Christmas lads.”

As the video gained thousands of shares online, she urged people to donate to the Peter McVerry Trust. Ali told Dublin Live that some people commenting on the video had told her the coats have been brought to a distribution centre.

Local charity Inner City Helping Homeless also called on the council to clarify what has happened to the generous gifts.

ICHH Head of Communications, Brian McLoughlin, said: “We would ask questions as to who in DCC authorised these jackets to be removed and where they have been removed to. The campaign captured the attention of people and highlighted the need for supports for people that are homeless.”

“Bad weather would obviously have impact on the campaign but I have spoken to Paddy Fryers, who founded the #warmforwinter campaign, and he confirmed that no one from DCC has made any effort to contact him before removing them. He would also like to know what DCC plan on doing with the items left by the public to help the homeless.”

He added: “This matter also raises further questions on orders from the council relating to homelessness as our teams have been advised that the council have removed some tents on people while they were away getting something to eat. We would ask DCC to clarify why the jackets were removed and were they donated to a homeless charity or did they simply get rid of them.”

A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council told Dublin Live: “A decision was taken by Dublin City Council to remove coats and jackets that were hung on the Ha’ Penny Bridge railings, by members of the public. The decision was made, based on health and safety concerns, in order to avoid obstruction and congestion occurring along a key pedestrian artery, crossing the river Liffey.”

“The items of clothing will be redistributed, to those in need through Homeless Services. Dublin City Council recognises the well-intentioned call to action, to which the public responded. It is the City Council’s duty to protect the public and prevent accidents from occurring on this footbridge, through any restrictions in pedestrian flow, particularly at this time of year when thousands of people use this bridge on a daily basis.”

“Crowd surges are a particular concern and Dublin City Council must, at all times, put public safety first. This is a policy that we enforce, in relation to all objects left on the bridge railings or pathways.”

She added: “With mixed weather conditions expected over the coming days, during this winter period, it is likely that such clothing could become damp, rendering them unsuitable for use by anyone. Dublin City Council are very open to coming to an alternative arrangement, recognising the spirit of giving and generosity at this time of year. Dublin City Council will work closely, through our existing channels and resources, to determine the best course of action, in assisting with this initiative.”

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words…

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A photo highlighting the huge imbalance between Britain’s richest and poorest people has gone viral on Facebook – and generated awareness of homelessness at Christmas.

Posted in the Facebook group ‘Sh*t London’, Cliff Judson’s breath-taking snapshot shows the plush and extravagant display outside House of Fraser’s flagship store on London’s Oxford Street – while homelessness in is on the increase. The 43-year-old Londoner was aiming to highlight poverty at Christmas time, when there are more visible signs of inequality.

Mr Jusdon’s startling image, posted on Wednesday, was captioned: “For me, this sums up how shit London can really be. The glitz and glamour, sparkly twinkly lights, whilst lots of money changes hands as Christmas spending dominates right about now, and homeless people are around the back in tents in torrential rain. There’s a hugely polar opposite situation going on right there! It sucks!”

His post received more than 2,000 reactions and shared nearly 1,000 times – and generated a debate about homelessness and commercialisation in the process. Speaking to Yahoo News UK, Mr Judson, who works as a contract engineer for Transport for London (TfL), says he has watched inequality in the capital rise.

He said: “As the shop lights and buildings get brighter and taller, the dark places and hidden areas become more and more populated with the homeless. Shop doors are filling up at night in many areas and yet the wealth of the richer people is more on display with super cars and technology than ever. I do stop and chat to homeless people whilst I’m working, it takes seconds to show you care.”

He added: “The post started with a conversation with my friend Tony who owns the coffee shop, the whole injustice of Christmas and the commercial aspect. I decided to try and make a difference. I’m over the moon, this is honestly one of my proudest life moments. One photo, a few words… a huge debate sparked. Never ever did I expect such a response and importantly the amount of shares it’s had has blown my mind.”

Homelessness continues to be a growing problem across the UK. According to a Shelter report in 2018, at least 320,000 people are homeless in Britain. In October, data collated by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) shows 3,985 people slept rough across the capital from July to September 2019. The figure amounted to a 28 per cent increase on the same period last year.