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Frontline Worker Annual Survey Opens Soon – Why Your Voice Matters.

Frontline Worker Annual Survey Opens Soon – Why Your Voice Matters.

Frontline Worker Annual Survey Opens Soon – Why Your Voice Matters.

Thursday, October 29, 2020

At the Frontline Network, it’s not about us, it’s about you as a frontline worker. We work with your ideas and expertise, finding ways to help you and your work. We want to know what challenges you face and the great work that you do to overcome some of these challenges.

Annual Frontline Worker Survey

This year our annual Frontline Worker survey will be live from 9am on 9th November, closing at 5.30pm on 30th November 2020.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been an incredible collaborative effort from statutory services to the voluntary sector to accommodate thousands of people who are rough sleeping. Of course, the number of people experiencing homelessness is not a static one, and there are real concerns that we are now seeing increases in the number of people on the streets. 
 
That is why now more than ever, decision makers need to listen to frontline workers when developing strategies to reduce homelessness. Help us amplify your voice and develop resources guided by you.

Last year 1,435 frontline workers responded to our survey, which made this report the largest collection of frontline workers’ views across the United Kingdom. You can read the Full Report here:               

Why Your Voice Matters

In the early weeks of the pandemic, we surveyed frontline workers to see how the people they support had been affected by COVID-19. We heard from over 1,000 frontline workers, who gave first-hand insight into the impact that the crisis was having on people experiencing homelessness. The response detailed both the urgent need for more support but also huge impact that lockdown restrictions had had on support provision.  

Over the short period that the survey was open, we saw an initial emphasis on basic items such as food being highlighted as in urgent need, followed by an increasing need for appropriate accommodation for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and a growing proportion of frontline workers saying that they needed the technology to be able to stay in contact with the people they support.

Key Findings:

  • 61% of frontline workers stated that the people they support urgently needed access to essential items whilst they were isolating

  • 51% of frontline workers described how their ability to have direct contact with the people they support had been limited

  • 49% of frontline workers said that they needed funding to help the people they support access accommodation

The results from our survey led to the creation of three grant categories offered through the 'VRF Emergency Fund':

  • Basic Essential Needs (up to £150) - (including food, utility costs, and hygiene items)
  • Overcoming Barriers to Support (up to £400) - (including mobile phones / laptops, credit / WIFI, and ID)
  • Securing Accommodation (up to £1,000) - (access to accommodation [including to specifically self-isolate] and preventing eviction)

Over the five months the VRF Emergency Fund was open we awarded over £1.65million in grants. We facilitated this increase by reallocating resources and capacity internally to respond to the increased demand, as well as opening the VRF Emergency Fund five days a week, with morning and afternoon times allowing people to submit applications each day.

Without listening to the pressing needs of Frontline Workers, creating the VRF Emergency Fund would not have been possible.

Promotion

Once live, we would be most grateful if you could share our Annual Frontline Worker survey with colleagues, to ensure that we can hear from as many Frontline Workers as possible during this time.

If you have any queries or comments, please do not hesitate to contact our Policy and Communications officer, Marcus Loney-Evans: Marcus.loney-evans@stmartinscharity.org.uk.

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