Over the weekend, outside a shop in Maghull and echoed throughout the country, I was saddened and concerned to see a man curled up on the pavement asleep in the most profoundly neglected and gaunt state, surrounded by drinks and food donations.

I asked in the shop, how long he had been there for today and they said, ‘last November! We have tried to get him help but he runs away from it’.

Having worked in the NHS mental health sector for 40 years I know there are a myriad of psychosocial and systemic causes for each person’s situation, but I was bewildered how to seek support to provide him with supportive choices. I have close friends and relatives with terminal illnesses with the closest on the eve of another operation on a two-year cancer battle and wondered where are the choices for people who can still live a life? Are choices there? Can they see choices? Do they want choices because of bad experiences?

I thought if this man was actually an animal I could probably contact lots of agencies for support! It was Sunday, so in desperation I contacted the police, who sympathised but said there was nothing that could be done by them unless he was blocking the entrance or behaving in an antisocial manner. However, they were able to give me the number for the Liverpool Whitechapel Homeless Centre – outreach team.

The Outreach Team provide a 24/7 service to respond to concerns of this nature. They took all the information and promised to visit him with the first difficult aim of trying to gain his trust, whilst evaluating him and providing him with supportive choices. The invaluable outreach team are an incredible light of hope in the bewildering darkness and can be contacted on 03001232041.

The Whitechapel Centre

“Homelessness charity for the Liverpool City Region, providing support and housing advice to anyone who is facing homelessness.”

https://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk/

Sefton Rough Sleeper team.

www.sefton.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/rough-sleeper-seen

Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD)

Together Making Maghull a Better Place to Live.