Case Study
Creating Foundations & Preventing Homelessness in Wigan & Leigh
The Homeless Support Project, located in the centre of Leigh, is a charity on a mission to prevent and reduce poverty through providing support services, food and shelter to the homeless and others in need. Starting in 2016 they have been able to deliver services to thousands of people who have faced, or are facing, homelessness, rough sleeping or sofa surfing.
For those dealing with homelessness it can be discouraging. They may find themselves struggling to look after themselves, unsure about their future and experiencing the world from a negative view. The HSP provides a safe space for individuals to be supported in what they are going through, where they have access to a range of essential services and being provided with hot meals.
The Community Chest Fund contributed to a chef being hired to cook meals for those in need, at the Charles Street kitchen, providing around 12,817 meals for individuals throughout 2024. Following on into 2025, through the daily meal service and their night shelter provision, they were able to provide over 28,000 meals. An inspiring increase from previous years.
The HSP has been able to reduce isolation and hunger, provide opportunities for individuals to gain skills, knowledge and education, and direct them towards a better life. However, they did not stop there. Some individuals who had previously used these services went on to give back themselves, volunteering in the same space that had helped them.
The Community Chest Fund, provided by CHIP, enables charities like HSP to continue to support local communities. Through the work of these HSP homelessness in Leigh and Wigan will decline.
Visit www.chipcharity.org.uk/community-chest-fund/ to learn how your organisation can apply for funding and increase the support communities receive.
Testimonials
“It’s a safe place to come when I’ve got nowhere else to go, the staff treat me like a human being, not just another homeless person.”
“It’s the only place I feel comfortable sitting down and having a proper meal, even when things are really bad, I know I can come here and be listened to.”
- Various Clients
HSP has built up a rapport with those who are homeless, or at risk of being so. They offer a friendly and approachable environment where people often return and are welcomed back."
Michelle Nurse, Health Outreach and Inclusion Service, April 2025.