Homelessness charity SPEAR has been awarded £318,942 from Big Lottery Fund to help homeless people to improve their health. The grant will fund the charity’s Homeless Health Link Service in Richmond and Kingston for two years.

The service will help around 150 homeless people by registering them with services and advocating for them at appointments. It will also work alongside GP practices, hospitals and wider social services to help homeless people get the best possible care.

The service was introduced two years ago after SPEAR saw rising numbers of homeless people who were not getting adequate support for their health issues.

Since then, it has helped over 250 homeless people to better manage their mental and physical health. The charity has also seen a dramatic reduction in the number of homeless people using emergency health services, like A&E and ambulances.

SPEAR’s Chief Executive, Stuart Nevill, said:

‘We are extremely grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for their support and confidence in the project. Improved health often has a positive impact on other areas of a person’s life. Thanks to the grant, many local homeless people will be able to enjoy better health, improved wellbeing and can build a more positive future away from the streets.’

Article supplied by Bruce Warman