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INTERVIEW: How new charity is making friends with homeless people in Lancaster

Thursday, 14 December 2023 08:12

By Greg Lambert X @greglam72

Claire Richardson and Nina Banks from Let's BeFriends visit the Beyond Radio studio

Two women have told how a new Lancaster charity is making friends with homeless people to help them rebuild their lives.

Claire Richardson and Nina Banks told Beyond Radio how Let's BeFriends has helped them after the difficult times in their own lives - and allowed them to help others.

Let's BeFriends was set up during the Covid pandemic, and offers a service where volunteers befriend people who are homeless, at risk of being homeless or recently rehoused after a period of homelessness.

Claire and Lisa explained why they were inspired to join Let's BeFriends, and how their own past experiences have helped them make a difference to people living on the streets.

LISTEN to our interview with Claire and Nina from Let's BeFriends

"I became involved with Let's BeFriends because of my own personal past," said Claire.

"I'm 13 years in recovery now from drug abuse and I was also street homeless in early 2000. I was on the streets, lacked self-worth, self-confidence and self-belief.

"I went to Let's BeFriends because I've got so much empathy. I'll listen and I believe in each individual. It's the perfect job role for me to go out there and give a little something back and let these people know that we hear you."

Nina said: "I've also been through treatment for addiction. I was alcoholic for quite a long time. I haven't been street homeless, I've done couch surfing and lived in squats. When I came out of treatment I went into supported housing and I was offered the opportunity to volunteer with Let's BeFriends. It was perfect for me, because it was like a stepping stone, something that would support my recovery and also allow me to gain confidence through using my life experience to help other people who were in a similar situation.

"I was matched up with a lady who needed quite a lot of support and I helped her through quite a difficult time in her life. And in return, it helped me as well. We kind of grew together through the process."

Let’s BeFriends was set up by members of the Lancaster Homeless Action Group who had lived experience.

The group was set up with the idea that while gaining shelter was a great step towards ending a cycle of homelessness, the accommodation itself as not enough to address lack of community connection or alleviate the sense of isolation which often contributes to repeating cycles of homelessness.

The group came up with an idea to recruit, train and support people with lived experience of homelessness to befriend those who are currently homeless, about to become homeless or recently rehoused after a period of homelessness.

Let's BeFriends promotes social inclusion by relieving loneliness and helping people to feel a part of their communities, provides services, advocacy and advice to beneficiaries struggling with financial hardship, ensures access to services and activities which have a proven beneficial effect on wellbeing, and improves life chances by offering training, supervision, job references and TEMPO time credits to its volunteers.

To find out more about Let's BeFriends see their website here.

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