Doncaster councillor’s frustration as plan to get rough sleepers in farm jobs hits ‘dead end’

A councillor in Doncaster has expressed his frustration at a lack of support from officials for his plan to help homeless people in the city centre into work.

Councillor Will Shaw, an independent councillor for Conisbrough ward, said he had proposed helping local people experiencing homelessness into employment on local farmers and had garnered support from a number of local farmers.

But he said despite warm words from City of Doncaster Council officials, he felt he was receiving very little support to get the idea off the ground.

“It’s very frustrating. I’m surprised,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people complaining about homeless people in the city centre. I thought people would jump on the chance to get people out of the city centre,” he added.

Annika Leyland, service director for adults, wellbeing and culture at Doncaster Council, said the authority knows people facing homelessness ‘can feel isolated and disconnected from opportunities that many of us take for granted’.

She said: “Councillor Shaw’s proposal is rooted in a desire to help people build confidence, develop new skills and find purpose and connection through meaningful activity.

“We welcome the commitment shown by Councillor Shaw and the local farming community, and we look forward to continuing to explore how these ideas could help people who are going through some of the most difficult circumstances in their lives.

“It is encouraging to see local people coming together with a shared ambition to offer hope, opportunity and support to people experiencing difficult times.”

Coun Shaw is a farmer himself, running a site in Old Denaby, and said he believes his idea will help farmers as well as those living on the street, but progress inside the local authority has been slow.

He said: “It’s a dead end a lot of the time. No one is willing to take that next step to get people out of the streets.”

He commended local Labour MP, Lee Pitcher.

Coun Shaw said the pair recently met and the Doncaster East MP was ‘willing to help’.

Doncaster’s farming and nature recovery champion also said fellow farmers were willing to teach people in Coun Shaw’s jobs scheme relevant skills.

He said: “There’s a route there into longer term jobs. I think it needs the chance to try. I can’t do anything else myself.

“You just see people on the street, a lot of people assume drugs and drinks, but if you talk to them there’s so much more to it.

“A lot of people need a second chance and a lot don’t get that chance.”