How we're helping

How we help

The stress and anxiety people can suffer when they are homeless means they often feel afraid to reach out and taking that small step towards getting help can seem like a mammoth task. That’s why our team is there to help from the start, giving tailored support and advice every single step of the way.

Outreach

This is where the foundations of a new life are laid. Our Street Outreach teams go out in the early morning to meet rough sleepers and build relationships, encouraging them to visit our Support Workers and our lovely Homeless Outreach Nurse Liz, who is based at the Urban Village Medical Centre.

Beacon Support Centre

A good hearty breakfast, a hot shower and some clean clothes can mean so much to the homeless people we help at our support centre. The Beacon also offers essential health care at the Urban Village Medical Centre, helping people to manage existing conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy, or dressing wounds and trench foot. In the afternoon, our visitors can choose to join in activities designed to develop skills and encourage self-confidence.

Support Office

This is where we can start to offer 1-2-1 support. Our Support Workers have a real holistic approach when it comes to helping our friends. We put them at the centre of any care plan, empowering them to make their own choices. Support Workers can make vital referrals to accommodation, detox and rehabilitation projects and debt intervention services.

1-2-1 Support

We see our Beacon Support Centre and Outreach work as the gateway to building relationships with rough sleepers. Once our friends have made that first step towards their fresh start, we then encourage them to visit our Support Office for deeper 1-2-1 support.

Our Support Workers offer confidential help and advice, working to put together a support plan that’s tailored to each and every person we help. Whether it’s finding a safe shelter, helping them to reconnect with family or even working with our corporate partners to find them a steady job – we do not give up until our friends are living independent, fulfilling lives.

We couldn’t offer this incredible 1-2-1 support without our dedicated team. Our Head of Support Stephen has a wealth of experience working for the Alcohol and Drug Services in Manchester, and he is instrumental in helping those with addiction and complex mental health needs. Once a support plan has been put in place, our Resettlement Worker helps our friends settle into their new lives by getting them settled in their new home, registered with a GP, applying for benefits and finding paid work.

Resettlement in the community

Our resettlement programme helps people through their final steps in moving away from life on the streets. Our resettlement worker will help find a tenancy for our friend and then assist them with their benefits, bills and council tax to reduce the stresses of moving into a home of their own. These stresses can often be the biggest barrier to someone staying in a tenancy, so by having a dedicated resettlement worker and a clear support plan we can help someone successfully adjust to their new lives.

Once they’re up and running with a new home and a support plan, our Resettlement Worker will help our friends begin to live the life they want. This means getting them registered with a GP, helping them find work and training or even join a new club. Nothing makes us happier than seeing someone we’ve helped living an independent and fulfilling life.

Prison Outreach

Going from serving a prison sentence to being part of a community can be daunting, especially for those without a stable home, or support from family and friends. That’s why we make it our mission to visit and give hope to inmates nearing release at HMP Manchester.

We work with Shelter to help ex-offenders start afresh. From the moment they leave the prison gates we will be by their side, helping them find housing solutions, giving advocacy support and applying for benefits.

After release, we continue to work with ex-offenders at our Beacon Support Centre. By teaching new skills and helping our friends find safe accommodation and a job, we hope to reduce the chances of re-offending and homelessness.

Latest

Salford Tax Specialists support Barnabus

Barnabus has been supporting people experiencing homeless in Manchester for over 30 years. Everything we do comes down to one thing: to help people in their journey off the streets. No matter how long it takes, we’ll be here, every step of the way. Helping someone get a bed isn’t enough on its own. The traumas people carry with them require intensive support to help them rebuild their lives. We walk with people on their journey off the streets. From the bottom of our heart, thank you
A Hidden Talent brings joy to our centre

Every Wednesday afternoon we host a music therapy session with Nordoff Robbins at the Beacon and one rainy day, Clive attended. Whilst speaking with him about music we found out that he used to play the clarinet, so the music therapist arranged to get a clarinet ready for the next music session. Together we waited eagerly hoping that he would be able to show up and play.
Barnabus Spring Sleepout, 17th May

Barnabus will be putting on its very first Spring Sleepout on Friday 17th May! We're really excited to be doing one of these communal and thought provoking fundraisers to support people experiencing homelessness on their journey off the streets.
Two Years of Hard Work Pays Off

Ever since his Residents Permit was stolen from him our friends future was very uncertain and he struggled to feel settled when his future in this country seemed uncertain

CLOTHING. FOOD. TOILETRIES. FOUNDATIONS FOR A NEW LIFE

Please support our work with donations of the items we are short of but need to run our services everyday. You can also support us through ordering urgently needed items online to be delivered to our door.
Volunteer with us

Our wonderful volunteers are the heart of what we do and without them, we couldn’t do the work we do to get people housed. We have volunteers from all over Greater Manchester, as well as Cheshire and Lancashire, all age groups and all walks of life.
Homelessness in Manchester

If you’ve walked the streets of Manchester, you’ve almost certainly passed by a rough sleeper. In fact, you’ve probably noticed that there are more people living and sleeping out on the streets. In 2010, the official rough sleeper figure was 7. In 2018, it was 94. Unfortunately, we know that in reality, the number is much higher. Please read on to find out more about homelessness in our city.
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

We currently have the following vacancies
Dragon Boat Race, Salford Quays, 11th May 2024

Join our Barnabus team at Salford Quays for another fantastic sponsored Dragon Boat race across the dock. Have fun and at the same time help people on their journey from the streets and into a home for good.
I'M HOMELESS AND I NEED HELP

Barnabus helps adults who are homeless – whether you’re living on the streets, in temporary accommodation or at risk of homelessness. If you have a family with dependents under the age of 18 or are under 18 yourself, we recommend that you contact your local authority immediately.
How we're helping

The stress and anxiety people can suffer when they are homeless means they often feel afraid to reach out and taking that small step towards getting help can seem like a mammoth task. That’s why our team is there to help from the start, giving tailored support and advice every single step of the way.
Our history

It all started in 1991 with one couple, some sandwiches and a flask of hot coffee. Walking the streets of Manchester, our founder Peter Green could not believe that there were people on his doorstep who had nothing. So, with a little help from his Christian faith, he set out to do something. Luckily, Peter and his wife Beryl had plenty of love – and sandwiches – to share.
Great Manchester Run, Sunday 26th May, 2024

We love this supporting our sponsored runners at this event. Set your self the personal goal of taking part in one of Europe's biggest 10km races and raising funds to change the lives of people without a home and we will do all we can to support you.
GETTING OFF THE STREETS TAKES MANY STEPS. WE’LL BE THERE FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM.

We host a range of social, creative and skill-based afternoon activities to improve self-confidence and wellbeing. They’re all held at our Beacon Support Centre.