Independence Initiative welcomed some very special visitors to our Bootle home last Monday, as the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Housing Secretary took time out from Labour Party Conference to see our work first-hand.
On Monday 28 September, we were delighted to welcome Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner, who were joined by Lord John Bird, founder of The Big Issue.
The visit came at a time when homelessness and rough sleeping remain firmly on the national agenda. It gave our visitors an opportunity to see what tackling homelessness looks like on the ground — and, most importantly, to meet some of the people whose lives have been affected by it.
For us, it was an opportunity to show that homelessness is about far more than a lack of accommodation. It is about people, their experiences, their challenges and their potential to build a different future.
Seeing our work first-hand
During their visit, the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Housing Secretary spent time with residents and staff and got involved in some of the everyday activities that make Independence Initiative what it is.
They helped stock our food pantry, spent time in the kitchen making scouse and apple crumble, and spoke with people who have experienced homelessness.
These might sound like simple, everyday activities, but they are an important part of life at Independence Initiative.
Our approach is about creating opportunities for people to reconnect, learn new skills, build confidence and become part of a community.
A safe place to live is incredibly important — but for many of the people we support, it is only the beginning.
Putting people at the heart of homelessness support
One of the most important parts of the visit was the opportunity for our residents to speak directly about their own experiences.
The stories of people who have experienced homelessness are often reduced to statistics. At Independence Initiative, we know that behind every statistic is a person with their own history, strengths, challenges and ambitions.
During the visit, residents were able to talk about their experiences and the difference that having a safe home, stability and the right support can make.
One resident, Darren, spoke about how addiction had led to his family becoming estranged from him, and how the support he received at Independence Initiative helped him turn his life around and reconnect with his family. He now has somewhere he can call home and is actively involved in his community.
That is what our work is ultimately about: helping people move beyond crisis and towards independence.
“The service users feel invisible and hidden. As staff at times working in a small charity, we’re fighting their corner and we feel invisible, so I really welcomed he put it on the agenda. I felt really seen, and so did our service users. They felt we had a voice.”
— Paulene Connell, Deputy CEO
More than a roof over someone’s head
The visit also highlighted the importance of wraparound support for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.
As Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said during the visit, it is not simply about providing someone with somewhere to sleep, but about giving people the opportunity to change their lives and feel part of something bigger.
That reflects what we see every day at Independence Initiative.
People come to us with very different experiences and needs. Some have experienced addiction, prison, family breakdown, poor mental health, financial hardship or long periods without stable accommodation.
Our role is to provide a safe environment and the practical, personalised support that can help people address those challenges and move towards independent living.
Growing our accommodation
The visit also provided an opportunity to demonstrate how investment in effective frontline organisations can help increase the amount of accommodation available to people who need it.
With support from Big Issue Invest, we have recently been able to purchase and start refurbishing a new property on Mildmay Road in Bootle.
That investment will help us increase our transitional accommodation from 22 beds to 25 beds, enabling us to support more people as they work towards greater independence.
“The Indy utilises the kind of deep, wraparound support that the government must back to give rough sleepers a sustained route of the streets.”
— Lord John Bird
Demand for safe accommodation and intensive support continues to grow, making this kind of investment increasingly important.
As our Chief Executive Jim Brett has said, providing someone with a roof over their head is only the beginning. People facing multiple disadvantages often need sustained, practical and compassionate support to address the issues that have contributed to homelessness and to help them build a more positive future.
A special day for Independence Initiative
Having the Prime Minister, Chancellor, Housing Secretary and Lord John Bird visit Independence Initiative was a very proud moment for everyone involved.
But the real focus of the day was not the people who came to visit us.
It was the people who live here.
It was our residents sharing their experiences.
It was our staff demonstrating the work they do every day.
It was volunteers, residents and visitors sitting together, cooking, talking and sharing a few hours of ordinary life.
And it was an opportunity to demonstrate that, with the right support, people who have experienced homelessness can move forward, rebuild relationships, develop new skills and regain their independence.
Thank you
We would like to thank Andy Burnham, John Healey, Angela Rayner and Lord John Bird for taking the time to visit Independence Initiative and, most importantly, for spending time with our residents, staff and volunteers.
We would also like to thank everyone at Independence Initiative who helped make the visit possible — and particularly our residents, who shared their experiences so openly.
We are proud of what we do every day, and proud that our small organisation in Bootle was able to play a part in such an important conversation about homelessness and rough sleeping.
Because ultimately, tackling homelessness is not just about providing a bed. It’s about providing people with the opportunity, support and belief they need to build a better future.
Watch the ITN film
ITN visited Independence Initiative to capture the day, including the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Housing Secretary meeting residents and getting involved in activities at our centre.