This month, Good Shepherd in Wolverhampton is marking the two-year anniversary of its street homeless project known as the ‘Breakfast Club’ which has supported hundreds of people experiencing homelessness across the city.
Since its launch in May 2024, the project has supported 246 individuals who had been sleeping rough in the city with practical help and support.
Delivering on three mornings a week, and Saturday’s once a month, the Breakfast Club begins with outreach support on the streets of Wolverhampton, building connections with people before inviting them back to the Good Shepherd.
Once at the Good Shepherd, people who are street homeless can have a cooked breakfast, a hot shower, clean clothing and one-to-one support to help them into stable accommodation and other life changing provisions. The project works closely with partners including P3 Charity and Recovery Near You to provide joined-up support to access services.
Joseph was sleeping rough in the city for 5 months and was a regular attendee to the Breakfast Club when it first began. Paul Burns who is a Homeless Outreach Worker at the Good Shepherd first met Joe sleeping in a door-way in Wolverhampton city centre, he said:
“Joe used to pack-up his stuff and come down to Breakfast Club, three times a week. It became a place he felt safe and could relax, something that’s difficult when you’re living on the streets on high alert. He used to come in sometimes soaked from the rain; in your late 60s with COPD it’s not easy.
“After working with Joe over several months we supported him with his physical and mental health and helped him into accommodation at a P3 hostel before securing a tenancy with a private landlord. He’s now been in his own home for a year.
“We couldn’t do it without the fantastic partners like P3 that we work with across the city.”
Joseph added:
“It was really hard sleeping on the streets. It (Breakfast Club) gave me purpose, something to look forward to in the mornings. Paul was a tremendous help, always has been.”
Over the past two years, the Breakfast Club has supported people into accommodation on 158 occasions and helped prevent homelessness 56 times. Alongside this, the service continues to support people in rebuilding their lives, including 96 individuals who have received help to better manage their physical and mental health, and 62 who have increased their engagement with community activities and services.
Joe pictured getting the keys to his own home.
Tom Hayden, Chief Executive at the Good Shepherd said:
“The Breakfast Club is a great example of what can be achieved through community support and fundraising events and challenges like the Molineux Sleepout.”
“From the beginning, we saw a clear need for the Breakfast Club in the city. Thanks to funds raised by our supporters, we were able to launch the Breakfast Club, and following its success, we were delighted to secure further funding from Global, for which we are incredibly grateful.”
The project has been supported by Global’s Make Some Noise since March 2025, with funding secured through to March 2027, helping to ensure its continued impact across Wolverhampton.
Joe pictured with Homeless Outreach Worker at Good Shepherd Paul Burns.