Homelessness remains a broad and complex issue, affecting thousands of people across the UK. The cost-of-living crisis is making this worse, with homelessness rates continuing to rise in 2024. Tackling this challenge effectively requires a unified approach, with different charities and organisations working together to create meaningful change. At St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, we fund and…

Problems like poverty are often generational, meaning they get passed down from parent to child. This is because homelessness tends to occur as a result of the resources or protective factors people start with in life. These factors make all the difference when hard times come along. They are important enough to decide whether someone…

Each year, BBC Radio 4 works with the team at St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity to deliver its Christmas Appeal to raise money to support more people to find a safe place to call home. A range of supporters and ambassadors help develop and launch the Appeal. The Appeal is authored and read by Reverend Dr Sam…

“It is good to see that the crisis of homelessness being prioritised. A cash injection to the sector is vital – between January and March alone this year, 86,520 households qualified for homelessness support from their councils. This is the highest number since these records began, with record numbers also in temporary accommodation and sleeping…

The theme for the BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal this year is ‘My Wish’ – because a safe home of one’s own should not be too much to wish for. Julia Rausing Trust, formerly the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, has supported St Martin’s Charity since 2017, and this gift brings the total awarded to…

In this year’s Making a Difference presented by Hugh Dennis, we heard the stories of three people supported by the work of St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity. One of those people was Elvira, who was supported by Rowan Alba’s ‘Psychology in Hostels’ project. This project, in partnership with NHS Lothian, sees a clinical psychologist embedded into two…

The reception brought together over 60 of our supporters and stakeholders from across the homelessness sector. St Martins Charity‘s Chief Executive Duncan Shrubsole led a discussion with representatives from Platfform and MAC-UK, who have received funding from St Martins Charity’s Mental Health Fund. They talked about what they have achieved so far, the challenges they…

Hugh narrates our Making a Difference broadcast on BBC Radio 4, and this year came with us to interview Carla, who features in the programme. Carla is being supported by The Connection at St Martin’s, who we provide funding to each year, and living in a women’s hostel after two decades of on-and-off homelessness and…