Groundswell exists because too many people experiencing homelessness are locked out of healthcare — and that costs lives.
Over 67% of our team have lived experience of homelessness. They use that experience to support thousands of people every year to:
Attend vital GP, hospital and mental health appointments.
Manage long-term and life-threatening conditions.
Understand their rights and advocate for themselves.
Move away from crisis and towards stability.
When you donate, you’re not funding “services”, you’re helping someone recover and rebuild.
Make a donation today
Your support helps save lives, reduce health inequalities, and create real change for people experiencing homelessness.
🤝 £25 could contribute to peer advocacy and progression support, helping someone begin their journey.
👩⚕️ £50 could help sustain peer advocacy support, so people aren’t navigating healthcare alone.
📣 £100 could help support the training and development of peer volunteers with lived experience.
HEALTHIER LIVES
Your donation helps people experiencing homelessness access life-saving healthcare.
People learn how to manage their health so they don’t end up back in crisis.
A peer advocate can accompany someone to a GP or hospital appointment they’re too anxious to attend alone.
Someone can finally receive a diagnosis, treatment, or medication they’ve been missing for years.
STRONGER VOICES
Your donation helps change systems that are failing people.
People with lived experience lead research that shows what’s really happening
Their voices influence health services, policy, and practice.
Decision-makers hear directly from the people affected and create better solutions.
Stigma is challenged and people are listened to, not ignored.
BETTER FUTURES
Your donation helps people move out of homelessness and make progress in their lives.
Many move into volunteering, training, employment, and secure housing.
Volunteers and staff with lived experience receive progression support and coaching.
People gain confidence, stability, and skills.
The clients we work with don’t have many people they can really talk to. When we meet them, we are on the same level; it’s not them and us, it’s just us. We offer a glimmer of light - showing an interest in those we work with as people. We’re not there to judge - we’re there to listen and we can say ‘I know, I’ve been there’.
— Former HHPA volunteer
Working with other people who struggle to manage their lives actually helped me to manage my own and it was a constant reminder to myself of why I cannot go back to that life.
— Former HHPA volunteer and staff member
When I was diagnosed recently with a life-threatening health issue, I was unable to confide even with my own family. Saying ‘I was supported’ doesn’t come close. I was helped with transport and accompanied to every appointment. When you have the strongest ally working with you, you know you are almost there.
— HHPA volunteer
[About one of Groundswell’s HHPA Caseworkers] - He’s been there, and it does help you know. Most people read from a book and if you’ve actually done it [experienced homelessness] you know, it does help.
— Former client and HHPA volunteer
I’ve noticed a difference in myself since being involved on this project, I hope we are going to make a difference. We’ve all got the same aim, that’s good.
— City of London Advisory panel volunteer
Volunteering at Groundswell has given me the confidence to get my life back on track and start working again. I get such a buzz from getting to know my clients and helping them to sort their health out.
— HHPA Caseworker (former volunteer)
I want to use my experience to improve the system for others.
— Groundswell volunteer
Working with other people who struggle to manage their lives actually helped me to manage my own and it was a constant reminder to myself of why I cannot go back to that life.
— City of London Advisory panel volunteer
Groundswell have played a big part in me realising my potential so just want to take this chance to say thank you again.
— Former volunteer
This coaching [from Groundswell’s progression team] is very centred around the person which makes you think ‘this is about me and what can I change.’ You build a really good relationship of trust and you share because you realise it’s very tailor made to the situation.
— Former HHPA volunteer
You know you’ve been at a great event, when you leave interrogating how you work, your core values & if you’ve done enough to elevate the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness.
— Homelessness sector staff member
The Groundswell crew are great and have been well picked. I see so much niceness and collaboration amongst staff and volunteers that I like going to the office.
— Groundswell volunteer
I work as a Care Navigator. When I meet someone, I get them talking by talking about my own experiences. They say “oh, you’ve been homeless.” They gel with you then. Once people have found out you’ve been there, everyone’s sort of on the same level.
— Adrian, HHPA Caseworker
After the HHPA training you have a Progression Manager and that’s the corner stone of everything they guide you through what to do with the skills you have learnt and how to build on them. Groundswell have that manner of being there when the change happens so you don’t have to go through everything by yourself.
— Former HHPA volunteer
I have a lot of understanding and empathy because I’m a former rough sleeper and recovering alcoholic, so I’ve been there, and I understand clients well. I find it very rewarding helping others, plus it helps me in recovery. I have a purpose now.
— Former HHPA volunteer
The #HealthNow peer network provided a platform for us to engage directly with people with experience of homelessness. Their input helped to shape the final guidance to ensure it was focused around the people most directly affected by the recommendations.
— Mark Rasburn, Senior Public Involvement Adviser, Public Involvement Programme, NICE
At Groundswell I can be open and honest and I am not judged.
— Groundswell volunteer
We are really grateful to Groundswell for their brilliant leaflets about a range of health issues which we are distributing across our services.
— Homelessness sector staff member
I started to build my confidence and get clean. I saw former volunteers who now had paid jobs and it was so inspiring.
— Former client and HHPA volunteer
Even though I know that I am not a paid member of staff – I am only a volunteer – I feel like I am part of the team, and I genuinely do feel like I am part of the team. I don't feel like it's like separated, the volunteers and work staff. I think everyone works as a team.
— Volunteer
I’ve always been very keen on involving the people...experiencing issues to form solutions that work for them.... In terms of potentially working in management at different recovery services and working with commissioners... [I hope] it gives me a new interesting way to work with my clients.
— Employee within City of London homelessness service (Groundswell and Plattforms City of London coproduction project)
Thank you for producing such a powerful, moving film that encapsulates the real-life stories of those individuals experiencing homelessness. It certainly gave me much food for thought and acts as further evidence of the health inequalities of this population which is something I am very passionate about and am striving to change in my Trust.
— Health practitioner, NHS
Groundswell provided me with the opportunity to build my skills, confidence, and motivation needed to improve myself. The Progression team have constantly supported me with housing, welfare benefits, increasing my skills, and applying for a job. I cannot thank Groundswell enough.
We are registered with the official Fundraising Regulator and we follow a code of conduct when raising funds to ensure our fundraising is legal, open, honest and respectful. You can also read our Fundraising Promise.
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