UK Housing and Homelessness Podcast

In this podcast, the creative team behind Hidden Winter audio adventure, tell me about the joys and difficulties of adapting their theatre and storytelling skills to reach audiences during the pandemic’s lockdowns and restrictions. It’s a process that’s presented lots of opportunities for learning new skills, and for doing theatre in a different way. Hidden Winter follows 8-year-old Hiba, a mischievous cat, and a trail of winter clothes in a story celebrating the joys and difficulties of making friends in a new place. My guests are: Ruby Thompson, Artistic Director of The Herd, Hull, UK. Rosie MacPherson, Artistic Director of Stand and Be Counted, Bradford, UK. and Firas Chihi, narrator and translator of Hidden Winter, Bradford, UK. More show notes and linked resources here: http://photomoments.news/theatre-companies-adapt-their-storytelling-skills-to-reach-audiences-during-pandemic-lockdown

"I have the right to access treatment and register with a GP practice," says Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire on behalf of homeless people. 'Fair System?' reports on Healthwatch ERY's own research into whether it is easy for people with no address and no identification to access primary care services in the NHS in East Yorkshire. A new 'registration rights card' has been introduced to empower rough sleepers to access health care, and to remind local GPs of the national guidelines. Matthew Fawcett, Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire Manager, and Chris Mills, Community Outreach Officer, explain the research and the recommendations. http://www.healthwatcheastridingofyorkshire.co.uk

In this episode I ask the thorny question 'Are Christian churches doing enough to help the homeless?' Soup kitchens, food banks, clothing and sleeping bag handouts - they are all welcome, but I wonder whether churches should have higher aims? Revd Paul Linley (left in photo) is CEO of a Christian charity - RHM Recovery - which aims to completely change broken people, especially those with addictions and poor mental health. It's a model of Christian ministry which he believes many more churches could adopt. Ian, a former addict and now trustee of the charity, joined the discussion too. Find out even more about RHM Recovery here: http://www.rhm.org.uk

How do 2 quite different Local Authorities respond to housing need and homelessness? How does the third sector respond to the same issues with innovation? This podcast episode was recorded as a panel discussion at Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice Bureau's 'Helping People Through Crisis' event.

"Nightstop is there for when young people don't have any more friends with sofas, or they've exhausted every family member they could stay with. We're here to stop young people having to rough sleep," Kirsty Clark, East Yorkshire Project Manager. Kirsty, and Jessie Rossi (Nightstop Host Co-ordinator for Hull), discuss youth homelessness, and the pressing need to find more Nightstop hosts in the city of Hull, UK. https://www.sash-uk.org.uk

'M.E.A.M.', Making Every Adult Matter, is a cross-sector approach that aims to ensure adults with complex needs receive co-ordinated support, helping individuals to reach their full potential and to contribute positively to their communities. In this podcast episode the MEAM framework is described and illustrated by: Sam Thomas, Policy Manager for Homeless Link and the MEAM Coalition; Tassie Weaver, Homeless Link's Local Networks Manager; and Emma Wagner, Assistant Manager at Humbercare Ltd in Hull. www.meam.org.uk

"In many ways this development is very innovative. These are going to be the first family homes built in the city centre for decades and decades," Steve Hoey, Director Leeds Community Homes, a Community Land Trust. www.ukhousing.news

"If you want to do good, you have to do good better." Dr Beth Watts challenges us to think about the impact of our work within the homelessness sector. In particular she suggests that much volunteer activity in the community falls short of a truly effective response to homelessness, and may even have longer-term damaging consequences for rough sleepers. http://www.ukhousing.news

"This is a very powerful model allowing people to progress," Alex Stephany, CEO of BEAM. This London based project helps homeless people to 'be amazing' by crowdfunding for them to access training and get into work. https://www.wearebeam.org