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Frontline Network – Three New Partnerships Launched!

Frontline Network – Three New Partnerships Launched!

Frontline Network – Three New Partnerships Launched!

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Since 2016 the Frontline Network has worked across the UK at both a national and a local level, to support frontline staff working with people experiencing homelessness.

At a national level, we offer funding, community and resources to empower and support staff in their roles. At a local level, we work with a group of organisations, our Partner community; who facilitate a mix of geographically placed and thematic local networks. These focus on raising awareness of migrant experiences of homelessness, strengths-based working and support staff based in London, Plymouth, Brighton & Hove, Blackpool, Scotland, Coventry and the six regional provider areas of Wales.

Our Partners are key to our way of working and how we reach and support frontline staff across the UK. Through our Partners, our aims of regularly connecting frontline staff; to network, share experience/ expertise and amplify their voices to decision-makers are cemented.

We are really excited to announce that we now are starting three new partnerships. These will further develop and support our work across the UK. Further details will be provided over the coming weeks on these specific Local Networks via spotlight blogs, but we’re delighted that this will include a new thematic Network focusing on women’s experiences of homelessness in Leeds, our first Northern Ireland Frontline Network and a new Partner to facilitate our existing South Yorkshire Frontline Network.

 

Leeds Women’s Homelessness and Housing Frontline Network – facilitated by Basis Yorkshire in partnership with Together Women and Leeds Women’s Aid.

Basis Yorkshire, Together Women and Leeds Women’s Aid are facilitating the Leeds Women’s Homelessness and Housing Frontline Network. This is a thematic network supporting women experiencing homelessness. With this funding the Leeds Women’s Homelessness and Housing Frontline Network will build on their current network of Frontline Practitioners supporting women who require intensive support in Leeds. This is a much-needed Forum given the lack of gendered focus and initiatives on homelessness and will include a increased attentionon hidden homelessness, Domestic and Sexual Violence and other traumatic experiences more often experienced by women. In addition to homelessness charities, it will ensure specialist agencies such as those supporting sexworkers, migrant women (particularly those with no recourse to public funds), harm reduction agencies, criminal justice, are invited to contribute, given the strong link between these issues and homelessness.

“Basis Yorkshire was set up (as Genesis Leeds) in 1989 by a few volunteers, supporting sexworkers in Leeds. In 1997, a young person’s service was established to accommodate the specific needs of girls and young women who were being sexually exploited. In 2018, Basis Boys was established to accommodate boys and young men that are being exploited, sexually or otherwise. The charity also provides high quality training and awareness raising sessions locally and nationally on social justice issues and practice development.” Basis Yorkshire will be working closely with partners Together Women and Leeds Women’s Aid to develop this Network.

 

South Yorkshire Frontline Network – facilitated by Depaul UK

Depaul will take on facilitating our South Yorkshire Frontline Network. This will continue to bring together frontline staff working in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley; to network, share experience and link their voices to decision makers. Event themes will be informed by members of the South Yorkshire Frontline Network and each event will have a balance of facilitation and participation, with time for speakers and training, followed by time for networking. This activity will start from 1st October, and further information including a mailing list to register interest to for updates on their work will be shared shortly. A local Network Co-ordinator is currently being recruited to facilitate the South Yorkshire Frontline Network.

“A national homelessness charity that for more than 30 years has worked alongside young people facing homelessness. We offer accommodation, practical support and the wellbeing resources that the people we work with need to get back on their feet.”

 

Northern Ireland Frontline Network – facilitated by Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland [CHNI]

The Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland will facilitate our first Frontline Network Northern Ireland. This will offer a regional network, that will be led by frontline workers and designed around their needs. CHNI will carry out an initial consultation which will be used to inform their Network events for the first year. Ongoing consultations will also ensure that the network will continue to meet the needs of frontline workers. This activity will start from 4th October and further details will be shared in the coming weeks.

 “Since 1983 Council for the Homeless NI (CHNI) has been tackling homelessness by acting as an umbrella body for organisations working with people who find themselves homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. We support the sector by helping to shape government policy, providing quality training and taking on the preventable causes of homelessness.”

 

We continue to work with our eight other partners to host the Scottish Frontline Network (Cyrenians), Frontline Network Wales (Cymorth Cymru), Brighton and Hove Frontline Network (Justlife), Pan-London Migrant Frontline Network (Praxis), Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Frontline Network (Street Life Trust), PTS Frontline Network (Mayday Trust), Coventry Frontline Network (Coventry Citizens Advice), and Plymouth Frontline Network (Path).

We look forward to sharing more information about these Local Networks and how you can get involved over the coming weeks. To receive a round up of news and opportunities straight to your inbox, sign up to our monthly e-newsletter here.   

 

                

 

 

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