Help for the homeless and rough sleepers in Doncaster

A group of organisations in Doncaster opened up a pop-up hub to help the homeless and rough sleepers.
Aspires Stuart Green (first left) and some of the Alliance members at Hallgate United Reform ChurchAspires Stuart Green (first left) and some of the Alliance members at Hallgate United Reform Church
Aspires Stuart Green (first left) and some of the Alliance members at Hallgate United Reform Church

The initiative for the event, by the Complex Lives Alliance led by Aspire Service Manager Stuart Green, is helping those less fortunate in the borough to try and turn their lives around.

Some of the organisations in the Alliance have been working together for the past 18 months.

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The hub was open from 9.30am to 2pm on Thursday 19 July, at the Hallgate United Reform Church and saw 18 people attend and receive support and advice from experts including financial assistance, housing support, wound care and help to tackle addiction and mental health issues.

Each person received a bespoke assessment of their general health by a GP. They received medical treatment if needed and wound care treatment. They also were given advice and support to make benefit claims, offered hot showers and fresh clothes, a drink and biscuits.

Stuart Green, Aspire Service Manager, said: “The Hub was a resounding success and the first of its kind in Doncaster. It is a perfect example of beating a range of issues that often present as addiction in the community. It shows what can be achieved by working together to break the cycle of homelessness, begging and substance addiction with one aim to give people hope and a way off the streets to lead a better life.”

Councillor Nigel Ball, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “The hub was an opportunity for all the services that make up the Complex Lives Alliance to once again engage and offer support to those who find themselves homeless, rough sleeping or begging.

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“The team have been working hard to ensure that they are on hand to offer help and support when people are ready to engage and accept help. There are no ‘quick wins’ in this process and we need to ensure that we engage with people on their terms and in the ways that they want to.

“The hub was another way of doing this and the number of people who came in and saw the street Doctor and spoke to the experts is very positive. They have taken the first step and we hope that this continues and they still engage with us.”

The Hub was a partnership working arrangement between Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service which is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) and registered charity The Alcohol & Drug Service – Doncaster Council, South Yorkshire Police, the Job Centre, GPs, Riverside Care & Support Domestic Abuse Service, community nurses and the Hallgate United Reform Church.