The Wild Goose homeless day centre has been hosting researchers who are working in collaboration with Groundswell on two national homelessness research projects in relation to health, homelessness and the ‘Everyone In’ initiative. Caoimhe and Stefan have been conducting interviews with Wild Goose service users in a private office with a staff member for support.

Before they visited, they shared the following about the two research projects.

“Given inHope’s expertise with people experiencing homelessness, we are very keen to speak with your service to gather learnings from implementing the ‘Everyone In’ initiative in your area.  Additionally, we would be very grateful if you could connect us with adults who experienced homelessness during the pandemic (rough sleeping or hidden forms of homelessness) – particularly any who were accommodated through the ‘Everyone In’ initiative.

Given that it may not be possible to locate those who were accommodated through the everyone in initiative, we were hoping to speak to any adults who are currently experiencing homelessness for our other project called Listen Up!

Listen Up! is a Comic Relief funded, lived-experience led project aiming to use the voices of people who have been through homelessness to change people’s perceptions and attitudes towards homelessness. You can find out more about Listen Up! at https://groundswell.org.uk/listenup/ or see some of the reports at https://groundswell-listenup-hub.org/

We would be asking questions in relation to a person’s experience health services, their health and housing situation, benefits and in particular how they have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.”

Mick, the Wild Goose manager, is really pleased that service users are part of these national research projects and looks forward to receiving the findings. Mick is particularly keen that the findings will influence planning for day time activities and support that will improve the overall health and wellbeing of service users.

The Wild Goose is looking for two people for two new part time jobs: an Activity Worker and Assistant. Find out more here: https://www.inhope.uk/get-involved/work-with-us/.