Health and Wellbeing Fairs win Homeless Link Excellence Award
The Fairs won in the Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative category.
Our Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Fair project has won a Homeless Link Excellence National Award 2023 for Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative.
Six London homelessness charities have been honoured by Homeless Link’s National Excellence Awards 2023. Homeless Link is the national membership charity for frontline homelessness organisations in England, and its annual awards recognise the innovative and impactful work happening across the sector to support people experiencing homelessness in England.
Our project was praised by the judges for being an innovative, holistic way of supporting clients who would not normally access mainstream health provision. In 2022/23, our Health Fairs were attended by 285 people, with 72% accessing health provision on the day.
The judges were also impressed by the project's inclusivity in considering marginalised members of the community, such as non-binary people, who would be less likely to access a mainstream service. Providence Row was also praised for punching above its weight as a small organisation, to achieve impressive outcomes.
The awards were judged by four independent professionals and four Homeless Link staff, with a variety of expertise and perspectives, including lived-experience of homelessness.
Commenting on the award, Tom O’Connor, Providence Row CEO, said:
‘’We are delighted that our Health and Wellbeing Fairs have been recognised through this award. This project helps people in East London affected by homelessness access key health services all in one place. It is also a great example of how charities, local authorities and health services can work together to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for our clients’’.
Neal McArdle, Head of Learning and Training at Providence Row who manages the project said:
''We are thrilled and honoured to receive this prestigious award, acknowledging the impact and success of our Health and Wellbeing Fairs. This recognition highlights the importance of our project in facilitating access to vital health services for individuals affected by homelessness. By bringing together a comprehensive range of services under one roof, we are able to address the unique healthcare needs of our clients in a holistic and efficient manner. We are proud to showcase how charities, local authorities, and health services can come together in synergy, pooling resources and expertise to create meaningful change. Through this collaborative effort, we have witnessed remarkable improvements in health outcomes for our clients, positively impacting their overall well-being. We are grateful for the support and commitment of our partners, whose dedication has been instrumental in the success of this project. Together, we are breaking down barriers, bridging gaps, and creating a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system for those most in need. We remain committed to providing innovative, client-centered services and expanding our collaborations to reach even more individuals in need. With the collective effort of our partners and the unwavering support of our community, we are confident that we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our clients.''
The Health and Well-being Fairs are a partnership created and developed by Providence Row, London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH) Rough Sleeping Team, LBTH Public Health Team, St Mungo’s Tower Hamlets Street Outreach team and Groundswell to encourage clients in LBTH to engage with health and wellbeing services.