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Homelessness workforce now eligible for Blue Light Card discounts

Homelessness workforce now eligible for Blue Light Card discounts

Homelessness workforce now eligible for Blue Light Card discounts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Blue Light Card, the nation’s leading discount provider for the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces, announced today that it is welcoming the homelessness workforce into its community.

The move is the result of a new partnership between Blue Light Card and Homewards, a five-year programme created by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales which aims to demonstrate that it’s possible to end homelessness, making it rare, brief and unrepeated, as well as to change perceptions around the issue. 

By welcoming the sector to Blue Light Card’s community, it is acknowledging the essential service they provide by working tirelessly every day, going above and beyond, in a challenging environment, to prevent homelessness and ensure that people have a safe place to call home.

Access to Blue Light Card will provide practical ways for the homelessness workforce to save money and improve their own wellbeing, from discounts on everyday essentials like groceries and utilities, to coffees and meals out with friends and family after a long day at work.

Why is it necessary?

The move was made to respond to statistics uncovered by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity's Frontline Worker Survey, which has found that the demand for homelessness services is increasing, causing an additional strain on staff - and at times frontline workers themselves are struggling to make ends meet.

Our research, through which we heard from over a thousand frontline workers, illustrates that over half (52%) of those working within the sector sometimes struggle to pay their bills or housing costs (44%). Nearly one in two (47%) have spent their own money on work related costs and 51% said that they always or often feel at risk of burnout and a further 29% said they sometimes feel this way.

We therefore welcome this move from Homewards and Blue light Card. It is great to see that homelessness sector workers will now be eligible – providing them with access to discounts on essential items and services, as well as on activities that could help improve their wellbeing.

How to sign up

To gain membership to the Blue Light Card, register online at www.bluelightcard.co.uk. A card costs £4.99 and is valid for two years. Full time and part time employees of organisations that work directly on homelessness across the UK are eligible. 

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