The proposed changes to homeless services in county are very exciting

IT was great to attend another Greater Manchester Combined Authority Homeless Network meeting last week.

The proposed changes to homelessness services in Greater Manchester are very exciting.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s vision and action plan to end rough sleeping in Greater Manchester by 2020 is something we very much support at The Wellspring.

Two of the principal changes is the implementation of both a Housing First system and establishing several homeless hubs.

Housing First is a housing strategy for rehousing homeless people.

It places homeless people directly into their own full-time accommodation that has intensive wrap around and providing former homeless people with ongoing intensive support for many years.

The introduction of Homeless hubs is also high on the agenda of Andy Burnham.

Accessible working spaces that homeless people can access is a kind of one-stop-shop, a place where employment can be offered, a place where people can access training courses, guidance around benefits, mental health or addictions, a place where front line health professionals are based to address the health needs of homeless people.

The Wellspring has been doing all of this and more 365 days a week for many years.

We very much look forward to working with the Greater Manchester Homeless Network.

We are now recruiting fundraising runners to take part in The Great Manchester 10k Run and The Great Manchester Half Marathon, both events take place on Sunday, May 20.

Signing up to run for The Wellspring is easy.

Please email your full name, postal address phone number and email address to thewellspring@ btconnect.com

Wellspring places in either event are free in return for fundraising for The Wellspring, we don’t set anyone a fundraising target.

The Great Manchester run is The Wellspring biggest fundraising event.

In 2017 almost 450 local people ran and fundraised for The Wellspring.

You don’t have to be a fantastic runner or have any running experience at all.

For more information about the wellspring and the services we provide, please call 01614776344 or visit www.thewellspring. co.uk