London Delivery Board 'outstanding opportunity' to address needs of rough sleepers

13 February 2009

St Mungo's today welcomed the launch of the London Delivery Board, a new partnership which for the first time brings together organisations all committed to ending rough sleeping in the capital by 2012.

The Board has been established in response to the government's rough sleeping strategy 'No One Left Out - Communities ending rough sleeping', published in November 2008. The Mayor of London was asked to co-ordinate delivery in London on achieving the 2012 target of no rough sleepers on the streets.

The Board will be chaired by the Mayor's Director of Housing Richard Blakeway and comprises senior level representatives from local authorities, leading charities, central government, and a range of social, health, and drugs and alcohol support services.

Charles Fraser, Chief Executive of St Mungo's, is one of the Board members. He said: "St Mungo's is delighted that the Mayor has so readily taken up the challenge of ending rough sleeping in London.

"We see this as an outstanding opportunity to not just help people off the streets, but to also address their underlying needs for healthcare and employment, and we look forward to helping the Delivery Board in every way we can."

St Mungo's - which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary - focuses on effective and innovative ways to support rough sleepers back into homes and employment, often through projects that involve physical and mental health support.

For example, a groundbreaking pilot project to improve the health of homeless people in Lambeth was launched with Lambeth Primary Care Trust (PCT) last month. The project team will include a local GP, a PCT specialist nurse and a St Mungo's health support worker who will provide regular healthcare sessions and support to residents from the largest St Mungo's hostel in Lambeth. By providing timely and appropriate healthcare to hostel residents, they will promote recoveries that are both faster and more thorough, which in turn will help residents move towards independent living.

St Mungo's also supports many homeless people back into work with schemes such as Pathways to Employment, and initiatives such as the Bricks and Mortar brick-laying project and the Putting Down Roots gardening training.

There are an estimated 3,000 rough sleepers in London over the course of a year.

ENDS

Notes to editors

  • For further information please contact Judith Higgin, St Mungo's press office, on 020 8762 5645 or 07713 266617, email judith.higgin@mungos.org
  • St Mungo's is London's largest charity for homeless people. We run every day of the year and each night house over 1,400 homeless men and women. St Mungo's runs emergency services, supports homeless people in their recovery, and works to prevent homelessness.
  • The following organisations have representatives on the London Delivery Board: City of London, City of Westminster, Communities and Local Government, Crisis, Jobcentre Plus, Greater London Authority, Homeless Link, LB Camden, LB Hammersmith and Fulham, LB Kensington and Chelsea, LB Southwark, LB Tower Hamlets, LB Lambeth, London Development Agency, Mayor's Office, Metropolitan Police, Ministry of Justice, NHS London, St Mungo's, Thames Reach, United Kingdom Borders Agency, National Offender Management Service.
  • For further information on the London Delivery Board and the Mayor's commitment to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2012 please go to www.london.gov.uk/mayor/publications

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