FANYs responded to a request for support from two London boroughs via the London Communities Emergencies Partnership
On Mon 15 January, the FANYs responded to a request for support from two London boroughs (Newham and Lambeth) via the London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP) which exists to coordinate preparedness and response to major emergencies with London's voluntary and community sector. SWEP is a voluntary process that is put in place by district housing authorities to ensure that people sleeping rough are not at risk of harm or, in the worst case, of dying during periods of extreme cold or severe weather.
Between Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 January, 18 FANYs provided assistance at two rest centres, supported by local councils, security staff and other voluntary sector partners. This support used our Emergency Centre Officer training delivered by the British Red Cross last year. Whilst the deployment was very quiet overnight, the FANYs recognised that the work they were doing was ultimately saving lives and therefore fulfilling one of our objectives to ‘protect life and relieve human suffering’. In total FANYs provided 17.5 days of support for this deployment. 85% of those who supported said that they would assist again.