Liverpool CARES

Liverpool CARES
Name	Liverpool CARES
Founded	2010
Type	Charity
Location	Liverpool, England
Headquarters	Liverpool city centre
Area served	Merseyside
Focus	Homelessness, Mental Health, Social Inclusion

Liverpool CARES Liverpool CARES is a Liverpool-based charitable organisation working with people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and social exclusion across Merseyside. It delivers outreach, accommodation support, training, and community integration initiatives in partnership with public, private, and voluntary sectors. The organisation engages with a broad network including local councils, NHS trusts, housing associations, universities, and cultural institutions.

History

Liverpool CARES was founded in 2010 amid citywide efforts following high-profile campaigns by Crisis (charity), Shelter (charity), St Mungo's and responses to policy shifts from Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police and the Department for Communities and Local Government. The early years saw collaboration with Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool and community groups influenced by precedents set by Centrepoint and international models like Housing First. Expansion occurred alongside funding changes involving European Social Fund, Big Lottery Fund, National Health Service (England) commissioners and local philanthropic initiatives connected to Liverpool Biennial, Everton in the Community and Liverpool FC Foundation.

Mission and Services

The organisation's mission aligns with aims promoted by Mind (charity), Samaritans, Turning Point (charity), and Centre for Mental Health to reduce homelessness and improve mental wellbeing. Services include street outreach influenced by practices used by Crisis Skylight, low-threshold accommodation drawing on Housing Justice and Shelter models, employment support similar to The Prince's Trust, and therapeutic activities akin to programmes run by Tate Liverpool and Royal Philharmonic Society. Liverpool CARES also provides welfare advocacy in contexts where clients interact with Department for Work and Pensions, Liverpool Magistrates' Court, Citizens Advice and local benefits offices.

Programs and Activities

Programs mirror evidence-based interventions promoted by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, including skills training, peer mentoring, and arts-based recovery like collaborations with Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Everyman Theatre, and Liverpool Philharmonic Society. Activities include supported tenancy schemes paralleling Peabody (charity), volunteer programmes modelled on Voluntary Services Overseas, and health liaison work with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and specialist services such as Homeless Health Service. Educational partnerships have been established with Liverpool Hope University and Edge Hill University for research placements reflecting methodologies used by King's College London and University College London homelessness studies.

Partnerships and Funding

Liverpool CARES partners with statutory bodies including Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police, NHS England, and the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, and works with housing providers like Peabody (charity), Shelter Housing Limited, and LHT (Liverpool Housing Trust). Funders have included charitable trusts and foundations such as Big Lottery Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Comic Relief, and corporate supporters like Bank of America, HSBC UK, and local business groups including Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. Collaborative projects have involved arts funders such as Arts Council England and cross-sector initiatives coordinated with Social Enterprise UK and Locality.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations have been informed by research frameworks used by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and reports commissioned by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Centre for Social Justice. Outcome measures include reductions in street homelessness tracked alongside statistics from Office for National Statistics, local analyses with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and health outcomes cross-referenced with data from Public Health England. Independent case studies echo findings published in journals associated with The King's Fund and research centres at University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

Governance and Organization

Governance structures reflect standards advocated by Charity Commission for England and Wales and board practices common among organisations like Crisis (charity) and Shelter (charity). The board has comprised trustees with backgrounds in housing, health and finance similar to leadership profiles from Peabody (charity), Turning Point (charity), and NHS England. Operational delivery teams coordinate with frontline services including Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust and volunteer management frameworks used by Royal Voluntary Service.

Notable Events and Media Coverage

Notable milestones include participation in city campaigns during major cultural seasons such as Liverpool Biennial and sporting events at Anfield Stadium and Goodison Park. Media coverage has appeared alongside reporting by outlets including BBC News, The Guardian, Liverpool Echo, ITV News, and feature pieces referencing sector commentators from Crisis (charity), Shelter (charity), and academics at University of Liverpool. Public recognition includes awards and nominations by organisations similar to Centre for Voluntary Service and acknowledgements in regional policy reviews by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Category:Charities based in Liverpool