Barnabus
At Barnabus, they believe that everyone deserves a better tomorrow. The journey off the streets isn’t easy, but they support people every step of the way.
With the right support tailored to the individual, people are able to transform their lives.
Barnabus founders saw first-hand the rising levels of homelessness in Manchester. In 1991, they sought to do something about it – sharing sandwiches and hot coffee. The challenges grew and in 2000 they opened the Beacon Support Centre, a comprehensive support centre.
People can access warm meals, a shower, fresh clothing, NHS medical care, and one-to-one support. They have partnered with the likes of Authentic Foods and Bowmer + Kirkland to support people back into work. We made our first grant in Feb 2025.
We contacted Caring in Bristol to explore whether they were a good fit to become one of our Homeless Hub charities. They have an impressive track record of delivering a range of quality services to the homeless. We made our first grant in February 2025 and are focused on making this long term relationship a great success.
Caring in Bristol started in 1987 and has developed over the years to become a real force in the city having a significant positive impact on homelessness.
They believe that a safe, warm home is a human right. Despatching homelessness in the city to the history books is the primary objective but while it persists it is all about supporting those in need. Campaigning for change and increasing support for the homeless are also part of the challenge. Our first grant in Feb 2025 funded cookery lessons for vulnerable people using their feed banks.
Newbury Soup Kitchen was set up in 2017 to help people who are marginalised and in poverty in Newbury and West Berkshire through outreach and healthy food provision. No one should be homeless or struggling. They focus on the whole person working with them to improve their situation: physically, emotionally and socially.
They aim to have a permanent community centre in Newbury where anyone in need can come and receive care and support. The charity works with other agencies and charities to achieve the best outcomes.
They serve freshly cooked nutritious meals. A mobile kitchen serves meals in other areas. It also provides outreach support to those struggling with housing, debt, health issues and substance dependency. Our first grant in Aug 2025 was to cover the cost of kit for rough sleepers.
Carlisle Key was set up in 2003. It is a small charity based in Carlisle that focuses on young homeless people. They provide assistance and support including a drop-in centre. There is a housing service to alleviate the hardship and distress caused by homelessness including housing, mental health, financial and other related difficulties. Their Hardship and Prevention Scheme helps young people who unexpectedly find themselves homeless but also those on the cusp of becoming homeless. We made our first grant in Feb 2026 to support this scheme
Lifeshare was established in 1984 in Manchester by a group of volunteers who recognised the lack of support for the city’s increasing number of rough sleepers. In the following decades, the charity’s initiatives would become core to the efforts in tackling homelessness in Manchester.
Lifeshare has evolved as the needs of the region’s most vulnerable people have changed. They started by providing food to rough sleepers from a burger van before pioneering sexual health support and needle exchanges for sex workers.
The first point of contact is with people on the streets, offering practical assistance, support and information. The charity also provides continued assistance that enables people to secure suitable accommodation, support them in maintaining their tenancies and help access initiatives that carry their lives forward. In Sept 2023 our first grant helped fund their Respite Scheme which offers breakfast to the homeless.