What is the role of small, community and faith based organisations in reducing rough sleeping locally?

Event overview

Small community and faith-based organisations have a long history of offering support to people who are homeless and rough sleeping. However, too often these important services are not sufficiently engaged with or involved at a local level so they can be part of the solution to ending homelessness and rough sleeping. 

Following on from a survey that asked for their views on the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy and the challenges and opportunities they are facing, we are convening these events to share the findings, and look at the role that such organisations are playing in ending rough sleeping. We will also explore some local initiatives and approaches to joint working that are effectively supporting those who are sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness.

The events will take place in:

• London: 24 September, 12.30pm – 4.30pm
• Manchester: 26 November, 10.00am – 1.30pm
• Nottingham: 30 January , 10.00am – 1.30pm

The survey findings, as well as the outputs from the roundtables, will be shared with Government so that they will hear directly about your views, experiences and contributions to supporting people who are homeless.

Event programme

Opening plenary: The role of small community and faith-based organisations in ending rough sleeping

• Chair: Rick Henderson, Chief Executive, Homeless Link
• Understanding the Government’s perspective on the role of small, local organisations in tackling rough sleeping
  Catherine Bennion, MHCLG
  Jon Kuhrt, Specialist Rough Sleeping Advisor – Faith and Community Groups, MHCLG
• Executive summary of research findings into the role you see yourself playing
  Jacqui McCluskey, Director of Policy and Communications, Homeless Link:
• Questions and answers 

Table discussion: Self-evaluation of the survey findings

• What do you recognsie within your own experiences?
• What do you take issue with?
• What actions might you take as a result of these findings?

Coffee break

A local response to rough sleeping

• Chair: Kathy Mohan, Chief Executive, Housing Justice 
• Three case studies: learning from a local response
  Dr John Clifton, Captain, Ilford Salvation Army
  Rev Angie Allgood, Founder and Chair, NEWway Project
  Pastor Alex Gyesi MBE, Highway to Holiness
• Questions and answers

Table discussions: Driving a local response forward to make lasting change 

• Why do you feel the support and advice you provide is your biggest strength?
• How can we address the complexity of need of the individuals we are supporting?
• What response can we give to support individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds?
• What is needed for there to be good partnership working? What are the main blocks to good partnership working?

Summary and next steps

Cost and booking

There is no charge to attend this event. Please secure your places:

London
Manchester
Nottingham

Small community and faith based charities survey report

Downloads

• Small community and faith based charities survey report_FINAL.pdf | 154K