Oxford City Council and UK Government Support Homeless Individuals through Charitable Efforts

Strategic Insights -

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Mark Lygo, recently visited the Gatehouse, a homeless support charity, to join volunteers packing food parcels for delivery to vulnerably-housed guests. The Gatehouse has been operating a daily takeaway cafe and home delivery service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing over 12,180 meals in 2020. The demand for the service continues to rise, with around 70 people receiving parcels every day, including those living in Oxford and surrounding areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Gatehouse, a homeless support charity, has been operating a daily takeaway cafe and home delivery service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The home delivery service provides around 70 people with food parcels every day, including those living in Oxford and surrounding areas.
  • The demand for the service continues to rise, with a significant increase in referrals from other agencies.
  • The home delivery service has been providing over 12,180 meals in 2020, supplementing the food purchases of vulnerably-housed guests.
  • The Gatehouse has partnered with the Oxford City Council and UK Government to provide support to homeless individuals.
  • The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Mark Lygo, has expressed his appreciation for the work of the Gatehouse and the importance of community support for charities.
  • Zoe, Operations Manager at the Gatehouse, has stated that the focus has shifted from ensuring the most vulnerable guests weren't going without food to supporting a larger number of people referred by other agencies.

Statistics:

  • 12,180 meals were provided via home deliveries in 2020.
  • 70 people receive food parcels every day through the home delivery service.
  • The demand for the service continues to rise.
  • The home delivery service reaches around 70 people living in Oxford and the surrounding areas per day.

Sources:

  • Oxford City Council news release,
  • UK Government statement on homelessness, not specified.