A pioneering partnership between charity Shelter, Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street stations has supported more than 300 people sleeping rough.

Station staff at Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street teamed up with housing and homelessness charity Shelter in order to find a route out of homelessness for those living on the streets and around the stations.

The initiative was piloted and saw station staff specially trained by Shelter to give them the skills to connect and refer people who are sleeping rough to receive tailored help and support.

Encounters with the outreach staff in the stations can create the first step in action to secure settled accommodation alongside life-changing support for those living on the streets, some of which have been sleeping rough for long periods.

The pilot has already seen 316 people supported who were sleeping rough in and around the two busy stations. The help extended has included support to access vital services such as registering with a GP, mental health services and setting up a bank account, as well as support in accessing accommodation.

15 people supported have now secured settled housing, with a further 135 being supported into temporary accommodation. As the initiative moves into its second year it is hoped that further work will find settled housing for many more people, supporting them on their journey out of homelessness.

One man who was supported by the scheme was Ryan who is 40 and had been sleeping rough around Birmingham New Street station for four months through the pandemic. Using the pilot, Ryan was supported by Shelter with a number of issues including addiction and is now living in supported recovery accommodation.

Ryan said: “This time a year ago life was very different, and I remember feeling like there was no way out. But since that first ‘hello’ at the station, things have only got brighter. When the engagement workers reached out it felt like someone had thrown me a lifeline. I was given options that I never knew were even available to me, and they supported me every step of the way. Thanks to them I’ve not only got a safe home, but also a chance to see my daughter. For the first time in years, I have hope for the future.”

Further plans for the pilot will be the opening of a new dedicated welfare room as part of the outreach project at Birmingham New Street station. The room has already been furnished with donated furniture by Shelter’s partner and online retailer Wayfair and will provide those seeking help a private space to get a hot drink and speak to engagement workers and station staff, away from the busy station concourse. It is believed to be the first dedicated room of its kind at a British railway station. Manchester Piccadilly will also open a similar welfare room over the coming weeks.

Tim Shoveller, Network Rail‘s North West and Central region managing director, said: “It’s fantastic to see the real impact this outreach scheme has made to lives like Ryan’s and dozens of others in both Manchester and Birmingham, and the opening of the new welfare rooms.

“Before this partnership between Network Rail and Shelter, station staff often felt powerless because they didn’t know how best to help those without a safe and secure place to sleep for the night. Ryan’s success shows how equipping railway workers with the knowledge and skills to help people find a route out of homelessness can really turn lives around.”

Vicky Hines, Birmingham Shelter Hub Manager said: “These pilots have shown us all what is possible when we come together to support people who find themselves sleeping rough. Someone knowing they’ve got options and don’t have to face homelessness alone can change their life forever.”

“The station team’s commitment has been inspiring, and we’re really proud we’ve been able to empower them to help hundreds of people in and around the stations. In the second year of our partnership with Network Rail, we hope to offer even more people a route out of homelessness.”

Network Rail and Shelter will work together for a second year in order to provide the outreach service for both locations and will work closely with the Department for Transport.

The Shelter Outreach project is part of Network Rail’s five-year ‘Routes out of Homelessness’ campaign, to find out more please visit: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/rooh