News / bristol city council
‘We want to bring change by bringing people together’
Bristol Homeless Connect, an innovative new website offering collated information for Bristol’s homeless community, is now live, just in time for Christmas.
The website is an initiative of the Rough Sleeping Partnership, which includes the charities Caring in Bristol, St Mungo’s, The Julian Trust, Crisis Centre Ministries, One25, and the Golden Key Programme. The partnership, with support from the City Office and Bristol City Council, teamed up with Modular to develop a website dedicated to making a difference. The launch event at the Compass Centre on Jamaica Street was attended by Marvin Rees.
“The main aim of the site is to help rough sleepers get access to more accurate information on the services and help available to them, in order for them to make a more informed choice about their situation,” said Ben Richardson from Caring in Bristol.
“The initiative is all about collaboration between people, charities and the council. We’re all coming together to innovate and bring change by bringing people together.”
The team are determined to achieve more with the website, in particular the expansion of a section where people who want to help Bristol’s homeless can access information. Ben explained that this would be “phase two” of the project, and would have the potential to offer the public up-to-date, coordinated and prioritised information about which services are required where.
A man tests the website, which collates information and puts it all in one place. Image: Gina Jones
Will Raybould, project manager at Modular, was behind the site’s design and construction.
“We got in touch with various homeless organisations and found out the services that they were offering, before collating that information into simple categories,” he explained. “The website has been based on being usable and simple, and it tries to get people in touch with the services and information that they need as quickly as possible.”
During the launch, the website was put through its paces by the mayor and members of the homeless community, who were then asked for their thoughts on the site’s layout. Feedback from the launch was positive, with many saying that the site was simple, efficient, and easy-to-use.
Mayor Marvin Rees tests the website’s easy layout. Image: Gina Jones
“The data collection and collation is an ongoing process and we will constantly be looking for ways to improve and bring further efficiency and effectiveness to the project,” Will said, as a final word on the site’s progress.
With 12 more people sleeping rough on Bristol’s streets than a year ago, representing a 14 per cent rise, this service couldn’t come soon enough for those in most need living in our city.
Bristol Homeless Connect are currently looking for sponsors to help further develop and improve this important new initiative. For more information or to find out how you can help, visit: www.bristolhomelessconnect.com.
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