“One of my most treasured experiences with St Mungo’s” – The Client Challenge 2023
Person-centred support is so important when helping people recover from homelessness, engaging people in ways which bring out their unique talents and interests. We run events throughout the year so that the people we support can experience new things and explore what matters to them outside of homelessness. Here, Regional Fundraising Coordinator Alexandra Henden talks about one of our most recent events, a camping and walking weekend in Dorset. This weekend I supported on the St Mungo’s Client Challenge which is an annual event where we bring together staff, volunteers and clients from all areas of the charity. We camp together and organise a walking challenge on both days with the option to stay behind enjoying other activities if walking isn’t for you, so it’s completely accessible. This year the challenge took place in Dorset and brought together our services in Bristol, Bournemouth and London. On the walks, we got to see some wonderfully picturesque spots in the wooded lowlands and the coast of Lulworth Cove, and in the evenings, there were creative activities including illustration and T-shirt printing, skill-building workshops on bushcraft, and music around the campfire. I have to say it will be up there as one of my most treasured experiences with St Mungo’s; discovering somewhere new, joining together in an activity and connecting a wonderful array of people from the charity across two days. Clients were also really enthused, and you can read a few of their quotes below: “A massive thanks to you and the rest of the staff as it was the best camping trip I’ve been on and my anxiety didn’t bother me all weekend” “I’m glad I went. And I’m also proud that I managed to travel home from Waterloo by myself, that’s boosted my confidence as well.” “Thanks for a great weekend really enjoyed it can’t wait for next one” To keep up to date with all our events, and the incredible work of our colleagues, volunteers and clients, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also find out about how you can get involved and support us in our goal of ending homelessness.
“Although my contribution can feel small, it has a big impact”
James is a Web Developer volunteer with our arts magazine, Homeless Diamonds. To celebrate our 50th Edition launched this summer, James shares his experience of volunteering with us and how the magazine has changed his perspective on homelessness. I’ve been volunteering as a web developer for Homeless Diamonds, an arts magazine which features a compilation of writing and art by people associated with St Mungo’s, for the past 8 years. I started volunteering as I was looking for something to do, to use my skills and give a little bit back, so the role within Homeless Diamonds was perfect for me! I built the website that hosts the digital copies of the magazine. When I first started, I had a backlog of past issues to upload. Now I help out three times a year, when the magazine comes out. My role is to make sure the latest edition is up on the website, formatted correctly and all the content links to the contributors are included. It’s fantastic being able to help, and although my contribution can feel small, it has a big impact in spreading the reach of Homeless Diamonds – and the wider the spread, the greater the impact! I always look forward to hearing when the latest edition is about to drop and feel privileged to get a sneak preview of the magazine before it’s printed. Through my volunteering with Homeless Diamonds, I’ve learnt that homelessness isn’t just a point in time, it’s a journey. When you see someone homeless, it’s easy to think there’s a quick fix – put them in a house – however there’s often a whole range of things that have got them to that point. To that end, I think there’s a lot of blame the individuals get for this, which is unduly put at their door, when it is often not something that they can fix independently. That’s why how St Mungo’s intercepts this journey and supports people in their recovery is so important. Homeless diamonds provides a lens on the thoughts and lives of St Mungo’s clients. The magazine gives a voice, which may be difficult to get out otherwise. I’d really encourage everyone to read even just a single edition as I know you will find it eye-opening. Check out the 50th edition here.
Recognising the past when planning for the future
An advance statement for people who have experienced homelessness Compassion in Dying and St Mungo’s, in partnership with their residents, have developed an Advance Statement for people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness. Why We know that when people are able to consider and record their preferences for treatment and care, and are supported to do so, it can have a positive effect on their end-of-life experience. It also provides peace of mind and reassurance to people in the present, knowing that steps have been taken to ensure their wishes will be respected in the future. For people experiencing homelessness, there is often little support available to plan ahead. As the CQC reported, the needs of homeless people are not well understood or considered by health and care services and where services do exist, they are often fragmented and work in relative isolation. In light of this, Compassion in Dying and St Mungo’s worked in partnership at their registered care homes, to co-develop the advanced statement for people experiencing homelessness. St Mungo’s care homes provide care and support to individuals with a range of complex needs, all of whom have experience of homelessness. The aim was to work with St Mungo’s residents to find out what information they needed to enable them to make a decision about if planning ahead was right for them, and what support they needed to do so. A form that resonates and better conversations Through a series of workshops and one-to-one conversations with residents at two St Mungo’s homes, we learnt a lot about how people who have experienced homelessness feel about the notion of choice and making decisions about the future. Some people found thinking about advance care planning hard and others felt it was pointless. Some people did want to plan ahead because they had been affected by the deaths of others, and found doing so gave them confidence in what might happen in the future. People shared deeply personal experiences and insights into what would make an advance statement feel relevant to them. We are publishing the form so that other people who have experienced homelessness can have access to a way to record their wishes that has been designed by people who have walked in similar shoes to them. And so that professionals who might be having such conversations understand how some people who have experienced homelessness perceive advance care planning, and why some might not want to have such conversations. Starting a conversation by exploring identity We asked people to bring one thing to a conversation that was important to them and their identity. Suggesting day-to-day items like warm socks if they feel the cold, a favourite record or a book they’ve enjoyed. People spoke passionately about what mattered to them. They discussed music they enjoyed and watching TV: “Things like having access to TV and Wi-Fi can make a big difference to our lives”. They also chatted about the foods and drinks they liked, this was particularly important to many: “I like Strongbow and a large Whiskey.” The importance of the past Talking about the important things in their lives now, made many people reflect on their history and experiences. Some shared stories from before they became homeless and the important parts of their identity back then, such as religion, family and socialising. Some talked about their achievements and the people they had met along the way. Times they were proud of were important to share. One person spoke about spending time writing about their past as a way of processing and that looking back was a cathartic way of living in the present: “I write autobiographical stuff, people I have met in my life.” Other people mentioned their addictions, and one talked about how his experience as a homeless person made him realise he likes to help other people. Current needs were often more important than thinking about the future When thinking about their health and care wishes for the future, many people instead wanted to talk about their current needs. A common theme was how they struggled to get the care they needed and suffered from ill health with little support: “at the moment some people don’t feel listened to and feel that their needs are not being fulfilled”. This often led on to speaking about the multiple struggles people were contending with, such as financial troubles and benefit support: “people have a lot of different problems to cope with right now”. For some advance care planning was, understandably, low on the list of much more pressing things that needed addressing in their lives: “What’s the point? We need to change the bigger picture”. It’s important to acknowledge that for many people who have experienced homelessness, advance care planning may be challenging and emotive and they may not want to engage in it. This should always be respected. The absence of choice The concept of having choice felt alien and therefore difficult for some people to engage with. For most, they said that they are not offered a lot of options in their life, be that where they live, what they eat or how they choose to spend their time. A common response to questions about what matters to them was “I don’t mind”. The sessions also brought out some deeper feelings that people were grappling with, with many reflecting on the independence they once had: “Independence is very important to people, and it can be frustrating to feel you may have lost some control of your life”. Similarly some talked about the lack of agency they continually felt. For some people, being asked about what they would want to happen to them in certain situations in the future therefore felt more like a confrontation of choice, rather than the considered process of planning that was intended. The feeling of absence of choice is not unique to those experiencing homelessness when it comes to health and care services. This
Lettuce in! Comedian Kerry Godliman and ITV visit Putting Down Roots
The actor, Kerry Godliman, got her hands dirty yesterday when she visited our Putting Down Roots garden in Cedar’s Road, Clapham along with an ITV London crew. Kerry, who is an avid gardener, met with our Horticulture Skills Manager, Matt Woodruff, who gave her a tour of the garden and talked about the aims of our Putting Down Roots project. Matt introduced her to some of the clients who are benefitting from the project including Lily, the ‘compost queen’, who harvested a great selection of fruit and vegetables for Kerry to take away as a memento of the day. Kerry spoke to ITV about her love of gardening and how it has helped her wellbeing, whilst Lily explained how Putting Down Roots has helped her to find her focus. The filming was packaged into a news piece, and was featured on ITV News London, across both the 6pm and 10pm news! Great awareness of the amazing work at Putting Down Roots, which you can view here. Putting Down Roots is a horticultural therapy and training project, using gardening as a way of helping client’s in their recovery. The programme teaches clients the practical skills needed to grow and maintain a wide selection of plants, including flowers, fruit and vegetables. Over the past 21 years, the programme has supported hundreds of people in their recovery from homelessness and supported them to build their confidence, learn new skills and provide a sense of routine. Kerry is a loyal supporter of our work and has helped to raise awareness of what we do. She has participated in our Take the Lead fundraising campaign, and last year she visited our award-winning Putting Down Roots garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.
LGBTQIA+ and Homelessness
At St Mungo’s, there are many reasons why promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamentally important for us. The people we support are more likely to experience disadvantage and discrimination, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+. In this blog, we look at the link between LGBTQIA+ communities and homelessness, as well as how we support people. What is the link between LGBTQIA+ people and homelessness? Many LGBTQIA+ people still experience discrimination and bigotry and this can have an effect on home environments. This can result in them needing to leave home, sometimes without anywhere to go. As much as 24% of young people who are at risk of homelessness are LGBTQIA+ (Akt, 2015). Data from the charity Akt shows that many young LGBTQIA+ people experiencing homelessness aren’t aware of what services are available to support them, or are worried about experiencing discrimination in those services. Their 2021 report shows that 50% of young people fear that expressing their identity may end in being made to leave home. Before becoming homeless, 61% felt frightened or intimidated by family members. How does St Mungo’s help support LGBTQIA+ individuals? At St Mungo’s, we make sure our services are informed about LGBTQIA+ issues, and are welcoming to everyone regardless of sexual or gender identity. When referring people to our different kinds of accommodation, we assess whether that environment is right for them, including any support needs they might have, and what will make them feel most safe. Sometimes, single gender places are the best fit for the people we’re supporting, and in these cases we always make sure that people go to the accommodation that best fits their gender identity, unless they request otherwise. Our staff are trained on LGBTQIA+ issues, and we continually assess and consider the experience of our clients through feedback forms and services. How does St Mungo’s support and welcome LGBTQIA+ staff? We work with Stonewall UK and we are 14th on their Top Employers List. Stonewall has also awarded St Mungo’s a prestigious Gold Award, which celebrates organisations that go above and beyond to empower LGBTQIA+ staff members to be themselves at work. For the great inclusion work achieved by our LGBTQIA+ Network, St Mungo’s has also received a Highly Commended Network Group award.
First Response: a great place to start
Kouame is one of our First Response volunteers in Westminster. First Response teams receive alerts from the public about the locations where people are sleeping rough. The teams then provide extra information to outreach teams, confirming that people are still there and what kind of help they might need. Here, Kouame shares his experience of St Mungo’s, both as someone who was supported by us, and now as someone who volunteers with the First Response team. I started to volunteer with First Response in July 2022 and it’s been very good for me. I’ve been learning new things. I used to volunteer many years ago with a Church organisation in South London. Their way of doing it was a bit different to St Mungo’s, as people would come to them for support. I prefer going to people who are rough sleeping to offer support because sometimes it’s not easy for some people to go to particular places. I prefer the way that the St Mungo’s outreach and First Response team does it. I used to be homeless a few years ago and I was supported by St Mungo’s until last year when I moved into my own flat. I was still living in St Mungo’s accommodation when I applied to volunteer with First Response. St Mungo’s was everything when I was homeless, they helped me with every aspect of my life and I said to myself that I would like to give back. When I was in their accommodation, St Mungo’s helped me with absolutely everything. It was like my home. It was so welcoming, St Mungo’s was my family and it still is. Every single thing was done by the team, from lawyers to accommodation to food, clothing, everything. On a typical day I go to the Westminster Outreach Office to start my shift. The team are very welcoming and tell you to feel free to get yourself a drink and relax. If the other volunteer is already there, you take the time to introduce yourself and share the experiences that we already have. Then we look at the referrals list and try to arrange them in way that would be easiest for us to go through and look for people. We can then send some feedback to the Outreach Team by text messages or sometimes by calling them. Very often we get the right guidance of what to do and I find it very helpful to speak to the Outreach Team in this way. For instance, we would tell the Outreach Team that it would be fine to call this client because we believe they need support. If you want to be a good volunteer, you need to be good at listening to people and not assuming anything. As humans we assume a lot of things but there are so many different situations that bring people into homelessness and I have seen people from all different backgrounds. But the average person when seeing people who are sleeping rough might put everybody in the same boat like, “oh they’re just lazy and don’t want to work” and pass them by. So they need people like the Outreach Team to try to talk to them. I believe that First Response is a very interesting volunteering experience for anyone aspiring to be a part of the Outreach Team or who wants to work with people experiencing homelessness in the future. It’s something that I would recommend to anyone who is willing to join as a volunteer, First Response is a great place to start.
Volunteering to Help Women Recover from Homelessness
Grace is a Gardening Volunteer at one of our Westminster Women’s services. We asked what International Women’s Day means to her, and how her volunteering has helped support women who’ve experienced homelessness. I’m a Gardening Volunteer during the spring and summer at one of the Westminster Women’s Wellbeing accommodation services. Gardening has many broad and diverse benefits which include improved mental and physical health, less social isolation and a sense of fulfilment when a plant is grown. The women I support found great satisfaction in the success of our flowers and one of them created a healthy routine which involved getting up in the morning to tend to the plants whilst getting some fresh air. I believe that all of these benefits, whilst making a positive improvement to their space, support women who are recovering from a period of homelessness. In a previous volunteering role at StreetLink, I spoke to many women who were experiencing homelessness. They didn’t feel safe bedding down to sleep rough at night due to the increased risk of abuse or violence. They were more likely to try and find somewhere to sofa surf or keep moving throughout the night which meant that they couldn’t access as many services. There are many amazing women’s specialist support services and specific times at day centres for women’s only spaces, but I don’t believe that this is enough. Women’s services need to be safe for women to attend and get support, especially if they are fleeing from dangerous situations. This means that women’s services need to be consulted on by women with lived experience, integrated into homelessness services and they need to be taken seriously. In my opinion, in order to prevent women’s homelessness, there needs to be more funding available for women’s specialist services. This would include providing safe pathways for survivors of domestic abuse to flee from perpetrators, long term accommodation options for asylum seekers as well as specialist support for LGBTQIA+ women. International Women’s Day means celebrating all women, especially those from marginalised communities, their achievements and using the space as a call-to-action to make the world a safer and more prosperous world. If you’d like to make a difference and volunteer, you can find more out here.
How Leigh Creates an Inclusive Workplace for their LGBTQIA+ Colleagues
Leigh is a Service Manager in Hither Green. As part of LGBTQIA+ History Month, we asked them about what being part of the LGBTQIA+ community whilst working with people who experience homelessness means to them. I went to school during Section 28 , so my formative years growing up were in an era when there was no positive representation for people like me. I am proud of my queer identity, and it influences every corner of my life. So for me it’s important to show that positive relationship I have with my identity in the workplace for queer staff and residents. I have had really great conversations with our residents about my non-binary gender identity, smashing the stigma about people who’ve experienced homelessness and how people assume they might respond to difference. Similarly, it feels so important to be a positive representation for young queer staff who hopefully benefit from my vision of a bold and inclusive workplace. I have always been keen to maintain a client facing role because the most rewarding part of the work for me is the relationship we build with our residents. As someone who benefited from St Mungo’s services almost 10 years ago, I understand the importance of relationship building and the importance that plays in helping our clients thrive. My first homelessness job was actually with St Mungo’s in 2016, I was a support navigator for Waltham Forest Single Homelessness Advice and Support Service. I worked assessing and supporting the single homeless population in the borough. I absolutely loved getting to know people and how fast paced the work with people who were sleeping rough was. Before coming to Spring Gardens I had taken a sabbatical. Like many others in the sector, I had found working though the pandemic difficult and prioritised my own wellbeing, so I was refreshed in my desire to help others. My previous employment was as London Services Manager for AKT an LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness charity. I managed services ranging from an advice and support service to a network of LGBTQIA+ supported lodging placements. My role predominately involves overseeing a team of four managers who manage more than twenty staff across the two sites. The great thing about the project is no one day is ever the same and there is always a challenge to find a solution for. I work really hard to set a culture that is client focused, inclusive and bold. We can’t end homelessness until we tackle the structural barriers in this country and see major changes to the way we view social needs. For me, that means decriminalising drugs, prison reform, a new asylum system, defunding the police and investing in specialist social teams and services. Most importantly the government needs to invest and build more affordable homes and supporting people into them and to sustain them.
National Apprenticeship Week
Nine years ago Dan found himself experiencing homelessness after his Landlord sold the property he was living in. He struggled to find a new tenancy that would accept him, and his beloved dog, Moby. After sleeping rough in Brighton, he and Moby were supported into safe accommodation by St Mungo’s. Today, he works as an Apprentice Assessment and Reconnection Worker in a No Second Night Out (NSNO) service in London. We asked him about his experiences of being an apprentice at St Mungo’s: My average day as an Apprentice Assessment and Reconnection Worker is hectic. Pretty much anything that can happen, will happen , and the best laid plans sometimes have to be shelved in favour of taking a more dynamic approach. My day starts with a team handover meeting to discuss any issues that may have arisen overnight. After this, I liaise with the Duty Team for that day and we discuss anything that needs to be achieved, any clients that need special attention and which admin tasks can be covered. After this, I like to check my emails for any client referral updates and any specific tasks that have been allocated to me. Then I will turn my attention to casework, the clients that I need to see or support and of course, any referrals that need chasing up. It’s easy to get caught up with outstanding tasks in any given day, but I always try to make sure that the people we support at NSNO are at the forefront of how I organise my time and prioritise tasks. My previous career was in the hospitality industry, so undertaking an apprenticeship within St Mungo’s has helped me to develop my transferable skills in terms of working within the adult social care sector. It’s also given me the knowledge that I needed so that I have a strong foundation to build on for the future. The apprenticeship scheme has introduced subject areas that I didn’t have an understanding of previously, such as how our services are commissioned, and the effect that personalisation within care and support has had on how we deliver those services. Learning about these different areas as part of the Apprenticeship Programme has also shown me how my career could develop in the future. Overall, undertaking an apprenticeship has given me the space to learn and access to new knowledge that will make my change in career a sustainable one. My time so far at St Mungo’s has been everything I thought it would be, but one moment stands out particularly. Someone told me when I started at NSNO that I would never forget the first person that I had supported and that was true. This particular person had extremely poor mental health and required some particular support while at NSNO to manage this. They also found the environment challenging to be in. When they told me that their referral had come through and they had viewed where they would be moving, their happiness was obvious and I was so happy for them. It really is something that will never leave me and why I wanted to do this work. I would tell anyone that was thinking about doing an apprenticeship that it is more challenging than you may expect, but that it’s definitely worth the effort you put in! I have a degree in History so I thought that the written work would be easier for me but it takes lots of time to produce work of the quality to meet merit or distinction standard. You also have to be prepared to keep the boundary of taking the twenty percent protected time for the apprenticeship, because if you don’t, it’s easy to get behind! However, if you want a strong foundation on which to base your career, then it is well worth the extra effort and after all, it’s only going to be 15 months!
SWEP: what it is and why it is important
SWEP stands for Severe Weather Emergency Protocol. It is a crisis response process that helps to increase support for people experiencing homelessness. This most often happens when cold weather warnings are issued. SWEP is declared by local government when the temperature in the region falls below zero degrees celcius for three or more consecutive nights. But there are some variations to this criteria. The ‘feels like’ temperature is also considered, as well as additional factors like wind, rain and snow, which could pose health risks in temperatures exceeding zero. Cold temperatures can be fatal for anyone sleeping rough, and people are especially at risk in the winter months. SWEP is a local humanitarian response, in which the focus is getting people sleeping rough off the streets, eliminating fatalities and reducing strain on emergency services. Local councils will increase outreach shifts and open up more emergency accommodation in order to achieve this. How St Mungo’s helps during SWEP St Mungo’s outreach workers have been out every night this winter to make it someone’s last night on the streets. When SWEP is announced, we increase these outreach shifts and target areas with a high density of rough sleeping. Getting people into accommodation is critical during winter, but ongoing support is also key. Our outreach teams work directly on the streets, helping people experiencing homelessness access food and shelter. We also work closely with our clients following this, offering advice and support to help them rebuild their lives. Stories like Martin’s show how essential this support is to help someone turn their life around. How you can help If you see someone sleeping rough, you can contact StreetLink online or by calling 0300 500 0914. They will then forward the referral onto our outreach teams. Please note that StreetLink is not an emergency service. If you are concerned about someone’s health, please dial 999. St Mungo’s are always looking for volunteers to support our life-saving work. If you can spare some time to help, take a look at our current volunteering opportunities. The winter months see the highest demand for our services, and our work cannot happen without the generosity of our supporters. If you can, please make a donation, which could bring someone out of the cold and off the streets for good.
