Charity donates 'survival kits' to help Mansfield's homeless

The One Love Worldwide charity is donating hygiene packs, with sanitiser, gloves, soap, masks and wipes, as well as survival kits, containing sleeping bags, thermal socks, gloves and hats as part of its Winter Emergency Relief project.

The charity’s founder Elizabeth Haigh, a former head of sales and events at Nottingham Football Club, said: “I used to drive home from work and see homeless people. Once seen it can’t be unseen.

“We launched the Winter Emergency to help the homeless and elderly because both are most in need in the winter months. On Friday, in Mansfield, we are helping provide survival kits for 11 people sleeping rough, and 14 others who need support through the Beacon House homeless project. We are also giving them 25 hygiene kits for people in temporary housing.“

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Beacon House manager Louisa Hillman said: “We are a homeless day centre on Wood Street, and we had to close to service users since we we went into Tier 3 but we’ve continued work with our partners Framework, Mansfield District Council and the YMCA.

"We are very grateful for these donations coming on Friday, which we will distribute to help the homeless over Christmas.”

She added: “Beacon House will re-open in January."

Mansfield District Council has reported the annual street count in October found seven rough sleepers in the district, down from 22 in 2019.

Eight Mansfield rough sleepers secured tenancies as part of the First Steps project, financed by £310,628 from the Government’s Rough Sleeping initiative.

The council also works with Action Housing and Change Grow Live (CGL) to provide accommodation with support for mental health and substance misuse issues.

To reduce COVID-19 spread, the council has worked with the YMCA to provide self-contained accommodation for rough sleepers.

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Bed spaces are in YMCA supported accommodation and the council’s temporary accommodation. Framework’s Street Outreach Team and Housing Solutions team alert rough sleepers and homeless to the referral process for winter beds.

Anyone facing homelessness should see www.mansfield.gov.uk/housing or contact Mansfield District Council 01623 463463.

If you see rough sleepers contact Framework’s Street Outreach 24-hour line 0800 066 5356 or www.streetlink.org.uk.

People are encouraged to donate food, clothing and money to homeless organisations – see www.mansfieldstreetsupport.co.uk.