A8 nationals sleeping rough in Bedford

Bedford Borough Council secured £15,000 from the Migrant Impact Fund to enable them to offer the following services to Central and Eastern Europeans sleeping rough in the area:

  • Reconnections service
  • English classes
  • Employment preparation (including NI number, WRS, registering with employment agencies and CV writing)
  • Funded beds at the Nightshelter and support to the emergency cold weather provision for costs incurred.
These services have resulted in 6 rough sleepers from A8 countries being accommodated in the Nightshelter while engaging with the English classes and a pathway to employment; 4 have been reconnected to Poland and they are now down to 5 A8 migrants rough sleeping.
 
All of these services have been dependent on this crucial extra funding, which lasts until March 2011.
 
For more information contact Mike Milner, Rough Sleepers Coordinator, at Bedford Borough Council.