David joins fight against homelessness
A MAN who was once homeless has been included in a new Government action group set up to look at how Scotland can end rough sleeping.
David Duke, founder of Street Soccer Scotland, has been named as a member of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group established by the Scottish Government.
It comes after Nicola Sturgeon included a £50 million fund to support work to tackle the problem over the next five years as part of her programme for government.
The new group, which met for the first time yesterday, is chaired by Jon Sparkes, chief executive of the charity Crisis, and includes experts from the Glasgow Homeless Network and Shelter Scotland, Social Bite founder Josh Littlejohn, council and housing association representatives, Mike Dailly of the Govan Law Centre and former Church of Scotland moderator Russell Barr.
Mr Duke, who is also a global ambassador for the Homeless World Cup, said: “As temperatures plunge in the coming weeks, rough sleepers will be battered by rain, wind and almost freezing temperatures. They will be losing all hope.
“The members of the action group, through the decisions we make today and in months to come, have the potential to change their lives – to save their lives. Not only that, we have the power to ensure that no one is forced to endure the trauma of homelessness in the future.”
Mr Sparkes said he was “delighted to be working with such a dedicated and knowledgeable group of people”.