Stories

Wolverhampton’s Winter Pressures Fund: partnership that’s making a real difference

This winter, many people in Wolverhampton have faced the harsh reality of homelessness, or the fear of losing their home.At the same time, local organisations have been working together to make sure help reaches people when it matters most. One example is the Winter Pressures Fund.An initiative led by Good Shepherd Wolverhampton, in partnership with […]

A Light in the Darkness: Reflections on the Good Shepherd Annual Service of Thanks

On Thursday 4 December 2025, people from across Wolverhampton gathered in the quiet beauty of St Peter’s Collegiate Church for the Good Shepherd’s Annual Service of Thanks. It was a simple service, with prayer, carols and reflections. A moment to pause, to honour the year just gone, and to recognise the countless acts of kindness […]

A Step Forward Together: Coventry and Greater Change Supporting People Out of Homelessness.

Meeting Greater Change I had the pleasure of meeting Katy Williams, Operations Officer at Greater Change, to hear about their new partnership with Coventry City Council and the difference it is beginning to make.  Greater Change began in Oxford and is now based in London, working with councils and charities across the UK to provide […]

Hope Community Pantry: Strength in Community

Hope Community Pantry is part of the Street Support West Midlands network, where local people and organisations work together to reduce hardship and strengthen neighbourhoods. Based in Highgate, one of Birmingham’s most diverse and economically challenged areas, the pantry began in 2023 as part of the Your Local Pantry network. It is a ministry of […]

Homelessness: A personal story

After three years as Chair of Luton Homeless Partnership, Matthew Bushnell steps down and passes the baton over to Tim Archbold. Matthew was a great support to Street Support Network and his presence will be missed. However, after our last few connections with Tim and getting to know him more, we feel our partnership will […]

GO! Southampton initiative for rough sleepers

New contactless charity donation points have been installed across Southampton as part of the ‘Change the Way you Give’ campaign. Two Saints, No Limits and Society of St James are the three local charities benefiting from the campaign, launched by the Street Support Action Group Southampton and funded by GO! Southampton to help support people […]

Beyond bricks and mortar

Southampton Street Support Action Group held their seventh conference last week and the second one held online. It was well attended by agencies, local government, the voluntary sector, councillors, and our local MP’s. The conference gathered to hear reports of the work with those sleeping rough over the last year of lockdowns and to look […]

Change the way you give

Homelessness is something we wouldn’t wish on anyone. People in Southampton who are homeless and on the street are often wet and freezing cold and very vulnerable. They are at risk of verbal and physical abuse and have increased health risks. They are a very diverse group and are there for a variety of different […]

A New study investigates why homeless dog owners are choosing to sleep rough rather than be parted from their pets

By Jenny Stravisky from Vets in the Community in Nottingham Published in Anthrozoos, the research was an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University of Nottingham and The University of Southampton, and funded by Dogs Trust. Louise Scanlon, one of the lead researchers on the project, interviewed twenty homeless or vulnerably housed dog owners, aged between 23-65, […]