Nationwide brings charity support closer

Nationwide Building Society is launching a partnership with homelessness charity St Mungo’s to provide a consistent and compassionate response to people rough sleeping on the high street and is urging other businesses to follow suit.

The HomelessWise initiative is the first with a financial organisation to support an online portal, managed by St Mungo’s, which signposts its staff towards a range of locally-available support services and practical help for homeless people sleeping on the streets. In addition, St Mungo’s has developed specialist training for Nationwide staff members, to give them the confidence to provide the right response to those sleeping rough and needing help.

Nationwide staff are also working with St Mungo’s to understand better the issues contributing to why people may be sleeping rough or homeless and what support is accessible near their local branch.

Eight Nationwide branches have initially been trialling the development of HomelessWise, and it will now be rolled out across the Society’s network of branches throughout the UK.

Charlotte Kensett, Nationwide’s director of social investment, said: “The HomelessWise community of organisations is designed to offer practical, consistent and compassionate support for our branch teams who may encounter the realities of those who may be homeless or sleeping rough, safe in the knowledge that they are acting in the best interests not just of people sleeping rough but also their work colleagues.”

    Share Story:

Recent Stories