You can read the full version of the e-bulletin here.

Our Action Groups and ongoing work

Prevention Action Group
The Prevention Action Group met in February and discussed the development of case studies using lived experience to demonstrate the work of members and the impact their work has for people experiencing homelessness. Jack from Mustard Tree has offered to support the formatting of case studies and he can be contacted at jack.barton@mustardtree.org.uk

No Wrong Door Action Group
The No Wrong Door action group met several times throughout January and February 2025, analysing feedback from the event held last year. This is being completed ready to update the self-assessment for organisations and agreeing the terms of reference for the action group. New members have joined from Change Grow Live and Reaching Out to the Community, as well individuals who have an interest in this work. This action group is being led by Shelter and if you are interested in finding out more, please contact John at john_ryan@shelter.org.uk 

Accommodation and the Co-production Action Groups 
Two insight sessions have taken place with the two action groups working together to better understand the lived experiences of people who are
 – using temporary accommodation and unsupported temporary accommodation in Manchester at a neighbourhood level
– accessing Severe Weather Emergency Protocol accommodation in Manchester 
Feedback from both sessions is currently being typed up with recommendations to share with commissioners and wider partnership members. 

Women’s Homelessness Involvement Group (WHIG)
This group is led by Manchester Women’s Aid and we are looking for a co-chair from a women’s led organisation to work with members. The organisation must work with women experiencing homelessness in Manchester.  If you organisation is interested, please email val@macc.org.uk
This group is also open to women with lived experienced of homelessness. WHIG meet monthly at the Booth Centre. If you are interested in joining this action group, please email womencochairs@gmail.com for further information. 

Activities and Wellbeing Action Group
Thank you to the members of Withington Baths for their second donation at sports clothing, trainers and football boots. This donation has been shared with a member to help people participate in sports activities across Manchester. 
If you are part of a sports club in Manchester, can your members help and make a donation? 

Health and Homelessness

Clinical care for people experiencing homelessness with diabetes: new resources
New article in the Journal of Diabetes Nursing from Sam Dorney-Smith, London Network of Nurses and Midwives Homelessness Group and others on how to support people experiencing homelessness with diabetes. This work was led by Pathway UK and funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing. 

My Right to Healthcare cards
Everyone has a right to healthcare. But registering with a GP can be very difficult when you are homeless. ‘My right to healthcare’ cards can help people register. Find out more here.

What is TB?
TB is an infectious illness caused by airborne bacteria. It can cause serious health problems – particularly if it is not caught early. But TB is curable, and testing and treatment are free in the UK.
The most common symptoms of TB are:
– a cough for three weeks or longer
– weight loss
– loss of appetite
– high temperature or fever
– night sweats
– extreme tiredness or lack of energy.
If you are concerned about tuberculosis (TB), or symptoms that could be TB, this website can help, from TB Alert.

Article:Pathway Medical Director’s article on how you can help a patient experiencing homelessness published in this month’s edition of Royal College of Physicians magazine. Providing expert guidance on the advice and resources available to support your practice, read Dr Chris Sargeant’s article here.

Neurodevelopmental conditions and homelessness: call for information
People with neurodevelopmental conditions face hidden barriers to homelessness support. A new research project is gathering evidence to improve best practices and would like your input. The deadline for input is 28 February 2025.

Young People and Homelessness Supporting Access For Everyone (SAFE) Campaign – APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation As co-secretariat to the APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation, Shared Health Foundation are launching the Supporting Access For Everyone (SAFE) Campaign.  The SAFE campaign aims to foster increased collaboration between local authorities, schools and GP Practices when a homeless household is placed in temporary accommodation (TA). Currently, the Homelessness Code of Guidance details how local authorities should be notifying receiving councils when placing households in another local area. This guidance is not always followed, which can result in households, including vulnerable families with children, becoming lost in the system. This guidance should be more strictly followed, so that we can ensure those in TA don’t become forgotten, and instead continue to receive the support they are entitled to. The SAFE campaign aims to expand this system of notification. It seeks an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would place a duty on local councils to notify GP surgeries and schools as to the status of a newly homeless family. The SAFE campaign also hopes to encourage ongoing collaboration between these services and the local council, to offer a more holistic support package for households in temporary accommodation. We can’t continue allowing our children’s health and education to suffer because of their homeless situation. We want homeless households to experience a continuity of support so that they can one day move back into settled housing. You can find out more about the campaign, as well as guidance we have developed in collaboration with local authorities, schools, health professionals and families with lived experience of homelessness, on the APPG’s website here. Report: Centrepoint: Upstream England Pilot Evaluation Interim Report There is increasing interest in the UK and across the Global North in preventing homelessness amongst young people in particular, given that the earlier someone first becomes homeless the more protracted and damaging their experience is likely to be. The Australian Geelong Project, which has successfully used a school-based survey to identify young people at heightened risk of homelessness and offer them tailored support, has therefore attracted a great deal of international attention. Centrepoint has taken up the mantle of leading the implementation of Upstream in the English context, launching a pilot initiative in six schools located across Manchester and London, surveying children aged 11 to 16. This report captures the first year of learning in a three-year evaluation of the initiative, drawing on interviews with 19 stakeholders and analysis of the first year of Upstream surveys. Blog: What is the extent of youth homelessness in the UK? – Action for Children Right now, there are record numbers of children in the UK who are affected by homelessness. Action for Children take a look at the scale of the issue and the impact it has on young people in their latest blog.  Migration and Homelessness 28 January 2025 – BBC News – Refugee support hub tells of pressure on services – Mustard Tree and Manchester City Council The latest newsletter from the Chartered Institute of Housing features an important piece by NACCOM‘s Director, Bridget Young, on how housing providers, voluntary sector services and local authorities are working in partnership to tackle homelessness among people with refugee status and people with restricted eligibility. Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN) MRSN help asylum seekers and refugees get the basic support they need to live with dignity. They strive to help them build safe, happy and productive lives in the UK. MRSN provides support to refugees living within Greater Manchester. They run a number of advice services and projects to support refugees and asylum seekers with welfare, immigration, skills learning, campaigning and wellbeing.  Interview: Boaz Trust and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit – the Importance of Legal Advice “Having a safe place to stay means that people don’t have to constantly think about where their next place of shelter is going to be. It has a positive impact on wellbeing, meaning they are more able to engage with their asylum case.” – Shakhura Dawood, GMIAU. Shakhura Dawood is a Senior Caseworker at Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU). She has over two decades of experience providing legal advice relating to immigration and asylum cases. Boaz Trust interviewed Shakhura about her work and the longstanding partnership between our two organisations. You can read the full interview here.

Blogs, Guidance, Policies, Polls, Reports and Videos
Report: Literacy, Numeracy, and Homelessness: What Do We Know?
At least 50 per cent of people with experience of homelessness have literacy needs, and many face significant barriers to accessing support. The Centre for Homelessness Impact’s latest report delves deeper into this issue.

Blog: Why the rise of the housing first philosophy matters more than the model – 29 January 2025 – Dr Lígia Teixeira,Centre for Homelessness Impact
In the collective mission to end homelessness in the UK, Housing First has emerged as a key part of the conversation. Its successes – both here and internationally – are widely acknowledged. Yet, there’s a risk of focusing too narrowly on the model of Housing First, when it’s the underlying philosophy that holds the real key to change. Click here to read the full blog. 

Report: Churchill Fellowship – Preventing homelessness and supporting safe transitions into adulthood for young people leaving care – Lauren Page-Hammick, Research And Development Manager for Children and Families and Research in Practice.

Website Page:Accessing accommodation in the private rented sector
Homeless Link has developed a webpage with top tips for engaging with landlords in order to obtain PRS accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.

Going Beyond Podcast: Homeless Link
This is a new episode of the Going Beyond Podcast on specialist care homes for people experiencing homelessness from Homeless Link. They speak to Ellie McNeil, CEO of YMCA Together, Ayesha ‘Ish’ Camp, Regional Head at St Mungo’s and Alex Dean, Head of Supported Living Services at Harbour Housing. They speak about how their specialist services differ from mainstream care provision, discuss the challenges of this service model, and share the positive outcomes for individuals supported by their services. 

Activities, Resources, Services and TrainingMHP Homelessness Safeguarding Awareness Session
This awareness session is being led by safeguarding leads from Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Homelessness Team and Adult Social Care, Manchester City Council. It will take place on Monday 17 March 2025 from 2pm to 3.30pm and will be online. If you are interested in attending, please email val@macc.org.uk

Free online Homeless Sector Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) Training
Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) training aims to improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of people who work with homeless people. This is a 4-session course, run by mental health professionals from Greater Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. It is open to anyone working with Homeless People, particularly in the Greater Manchester area. The training session will run on consecutive Tuesday afternoons 1pm to 4pm on Microsoft Teams. If you want to reserve a place, please complete the application form. 

Niall’s Corner
In Niall’s spare time, he compiles food poverty lists and other essential resources, which are crucial for those in need. Niall shares these lists through his social media accounts, with all food-banks and pantries in Greater Manchester, as well as the general public and various agencies, including Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Work and Pensions, local councils, Greater Together Manchester, Street Support, Bury Homeless Partnership, church groups, and many more.
This list is a well-used resource and the only one that is updated regularly. There 287 food-banks and pantries across Greater Manchester – an increase of 65 since October 2021. Niall is continuously on the lookout for any that may not yet be included. If you happen to know of any please let Niall know via email on nialllove@talktalk.net