Aviva Community Fund has provided £288 of match funding
The Bus Project by Change Please
London, England, United Kingdom
Aim
We're improving mental and physical health among rough sleepers by bringing essential services to them through The Bus Project
Who are Change Please?
We're a social enterprise working to address inequalities in the job market and support those experiencing homelessness to turn their lives around
We usually do this by providing training and employment paying the Living Wages, alongside support with housing, finances, counselling, life skills and, crucially, onward employment.
"Change Please enables people who have experienced homelessness to believe in themselves again...they're helping people rebuild their lives by giving them a kick start in life. It gives us the ability to feel part of society again, and helps us grow, and feel normal." - Liam, a Change Please Trainee Barista
However from speaking to rough sleepers and others experiencing homelessness during COVID-19, we know that there is a gap in service provision for people on the streets, with those experiencing homelessness being excluded from accessing basic services.
What are we doing?
We're taking essential services to people living on the streets during COVID-19
That's why we're launching 'The Bus Project’, an innovative new project from Change Please which will deliver essential services such as healthcare, grooming, counselling, and employment support, directly to rough sleepers in London who are otherwise excluded from the system.
The bus will also provide a community network of support for rough sleepers, reducing social isolation and rebuilding confidence and self-belief, and offer them tailored employment support to help them get off the streets for good and turn their lives around.
We have already secured funds to purchase and fit-out the bus; now we are seeking funds for the services the bus will provide. including:
- Dentistry services – the number of NHS dentists is reducing and access is especially difficult for homeless people, despite 90% having issues with their mouth since becoming homeless
- GP consultations – GP access for rough sleepers has become even more of a challenge during COVID-19, especially as many rough sleepers don’t see their health as a priority.
- Access to basic medication and prescription services
- Haircutting and shower facilities - we want our participants to start thinking differently about themselves, how they view the world and their future. By offering, simple, easy to access and early services, we can start building relationships with people and help building their confidence so they start to think differently about themselves and their future.
- Counselling and therapy – mental health can be a huge barrier to finding employment and having the mental strength to turn their lives around.
- Clothes washing – providing access to laundry services so rough sleepers can have clean fresh clothes helps build their confidence and self-esteem
- Tailored employment support - they will be introduced to the Change Please Barista training programme if it’s in line with their aspirations. If not, we will support them with writing a CV and job searching a role that interests them.
- Financial and debt advice to prevent further social exclusion.
- Essential everyday items. Eg. sleeping bags, antibacterial gel etc.
Why is this so important right now?
By supporting this project and helping us reach the most marginalised at this already challenging time, you'll be helping to:
- Reduce feelings of social isolation amongst rough sleepers; giving them a safe space to access services and meet others in similar situations
- Help rough sleepers access to employment support and secure employment, helping them to turn their lives around
- Improve physical health amongst rough sleepers through GP and dentistry support, catching any health issues as early as possible to prevent long term illness, while also saving the NHS money further down the line
- Improve mental health amongst rough sleepers through counselling and therapy services
- Help rough sleepers have increased confidence and self-belief through grooming and laundry services
These services will enable rough sleepers in London to turn their lives around and get off the streets for good, therefore bringing about long-term change for rough sleepers and their communities.
How will your donation help?
The bus will cost approx £7,000/month to run, and covid-19 has devastated our usual income from coffee sales at our coffee shops.
£5 today would pay towards a care package for our participants
£10 today would cover the cost of a care package for our participants
£25 today would cover the cost of a dental check up for a rough sleeper, helping to prevent worsen dental problems further down the line.
£50 today would cover the cost of a GP referral and checkup
£100 today would help pay for haircuts for 10 participants
£250 today would pay for showering and laundry for one week
£500 today would cover the cost of delivering the bus for one day
Will you change someone's life today?
This project successfully funded on 23rd March 2021