Depaul UK

20/08/2026

This summer, the UK has so far experienced an unprecedented five heatwaves. Emergency measures like Severe Weather Emergency Protocols can be used to help people sleeping rough in extreme heat, but a recurring risk needs more than a one-off response.

In the US, people experiencing homelessness have been found to be 26x more likely to be hospitalised for heat-related illness than the general population. A risk that UK services will increasingly have to plan for, too.

In a recent blog, we explore the danger of extreme heat for people experiencing homelessness in the UK.

Read the full piece 👉 www.depaul.org.uk/news/the-uks-fourth-heatwave-this-summer-the-growing-risk-for-people-without-a-safe-home/

18/08/2026

☀️A sunny day means something different depending on where you sleep tonight. For someone without a safe home, this summer's heatwaves are a real health risk.

This is a homelessness issue too.

Learn more 👉 https://www.depaul.org.uk/news/the-uks-fourth-heatwave-this-summer-the-growing-risk-for-people-without-a-safe-home/

24/07/2026

For someone sleeping rough, having a safe place to stay can be the first step towards a more positive future.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to end rough sleeping - and his own initiative, A Bed Every Night (ABEN), is helping make that possible. Launched in 2018 while he was Mayor of Greater Manchester, ABEN gives people sleeping rough a safe place to stay and support towards longer-term housing.

In Oldham, our ABEN team is providing that vital support. Almost 72% of people we've supported have moved on into accommodation rather than back to the streets.

Read Service Manager Kerry's Q&A to learn more about the service and the difference it's making: https://www.depaul.org.uk/news/andy-burnhams-aben-how-rough-sleeping-in-oldham-has-dropped/

30/06/2026

This Pride Month, we're reflecting on how we can create safer, more inclusive experiences for LGBTQ+ young people. 🌈

How we talkabout identity is part of that.

Through our latest research, young people told us what helps them feel safe when they're asked about their identity.

Explore what they told us. 👇

29/06/2026

When a young person facing homelessness arrives at Depaul UK they have often experienced trauma, fractured relationships, and long periods of coping on their own.

The first things they need are simple.

A meal. A shower. A good night's sleep.

For Service Manager Ife-Dapo, these small acts of care are the foundation to building trust.

Read how she and her team support young people from the moment they arrive through to living independently.

Click Learn More to read about Ife-Dapo's work at Depaul UK👇

Service Manager, Ife-Dapo, and her team support young people aged 18-25 years old in three supported accommodation services across London, including one service that is exclusively for women who’ve suffered trauma and abuse.

26/06/2026

We’re delighted to be part of We are Middlesbrough Storytelling Festival this week.

Through Our Eyes, our photography exhibition, is now on display at Middlesbrough Train Station. 📸

This exhibition shares photography by four people with lived experience of homelessness, all supported through our services.

Using disposable cameras, they captured everyday moments from their own perspective, alongside their own words and reflections. 👇

Chris Cooke - Mayor of Middlesbrough Middlesbrough Council

23/06/2026

Temperatures are forecast to hit 38°C in parts of the UK this week. While many of us enjoy the sunshine, for people sleeping rough, extreme heat can be just as dangerous as bitter winter cold.
When you do not have shelter, finding shade, water, and relief from the heat is extremely difficult. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can quickly lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.
During spells like this, local councils may activate the SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol), opening extra accommodation and support services to help protect people from harm.
If you see someone sleeping rough, you can help by offering a bottle of water, sunscreen, or access to shade where it is safe to do so. You can also alert outreach workers through StreetLink or contact your local council for support https://thestreetlink.org.uk/

15/06/2026

“I wanted to show that homeless people are genuine people. We’re just trying to highlight the good in people who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in these situations.”

Mark, one of our clients, speaking about why he took part in our participatory photography project Through our eyes, now on display at Middlesbrough Station.
He was one of four people experiencing or moving on from rough sleeping who were given disposable cameras to capture their everyday lives from their own perspective.

The exhibition shares their images and stories to help challenge stereotypes, build understanding, and start conversations about homelessness.

The pictures are part of the Middlesbrough Storytelling Festival. Find out more about the exhibition and our work in Middlesbrough.

https://www.depaul.org.uk/middlesbrough/

05/06/2026

Thank you you to all our incredible Nightstop volunteer hosts across the country. 🫶

We’re so proud to be part of a community who open up their homes to young people in crisis. Giving them a warm welcome, listening ear, and a chance to feel safe again when they need it the most.

Because of our Nightstop volunteers, young people don’t have to face a night on the streets. Instead, they’re given space to breathe, reset and move forward.

That’s an incredible gift and this Volunteers' Week we’d like to thank each and every one of you.

Your generosity and willingness to be there when it matters most makes an enormous difference. 💛

04/06/2026

“The simple act of opening up your home goes such a long way.”

Andy and Michelle are volunteer Nightstop hosts who open up their spare room to young people who have run out of options.

Nightstop offers a young person in crisis the chance to reset and start again.

With over 24 million spare rooms across England, could yours be the moment a young person feels safe enough to start again?

This Volunteers' Week, hear more from Andy and Michelle about why they love hosting.

https://www.depaul.org.uk/have-a-spare-room-you-could-keep-a-young-person-in-crisis-safe-tonight/