Charity welcomed to support homelessness plan

A charity from Scotland has returned to Guernsey as part of work to develop the island's Homelessness Delivery and Implementation Plan.

At Home in Guernsey said it was pleased to welcome back Homeless Network Scotland from Wednesday to Friday after its initial engagement in 2022.

The Homelessness Delivery and Implementation Plan hoped to create a collaborative approach to preventing and responding to homelessness across the bailiwick, project leaders said.

During the three-day visit, representatives from the Scottish charity are due to lead a number of engagement sessions with partner agencies from across the public, voluntary and community sectors.

At Home in Guernsey CEO Charlie Cox said staff were "delighted" to welcome the charity back to the island.

"Their insight, experience and encouragement have already helped us take important steps forward, and this visit is another exciting opportunity to bring people together, listen carefully, and shape a practical plan that will make a real difference for people experiencing homelessness in our community.

"There is such goodwill and commitment across the island, and I'm hugely encouraged by what we can achieve when we work together."

Maggie Brünjes, chief executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said: "We are so impressed by the significant progress Guernsey has made, moving from establishing a new service response towards a comprehensive long-term strategy to address homelessness.

"Building a people-focused homelessness system that prevents homelessness early and responds to crisis quickly is a collective effort whose success depends on expert input from services, government and people who have been through homelessness.

"It is a privilege to revisit Guernsey to assist partners as that collaboration progresses.

"We look forward to engaging with organisations and individuals who are determined to make that system work for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness on the island."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.