Homeless charity given £30k grant to mark 50 years

The charity says homelessness has changed over the past 50 years

A Liverpool charity for homeless people has been awarded a £30,700 grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to mark its 50th anniversary.

The Whitechapel Centre works with people who are sleeping rough, living in hostels or struggling to manage their accommodation.

The charity said the money would fund a project examining how homelessness has changed since 1975.

The Whitechapel Centre's chief executive David Carter said the project would "share the evolving issues in the last five decades, how we've supported those facing homelessness - and the many stories of transformed lives".

The Whitechapel Centre has helped homeless people in Liverpool since 1975

"We're thrilled to have received this support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund," said Mr Carter.

The project will develop a social history and a timeline and will feature in an exhibition at the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool later in the year.

National Lottery Heritage Fund director Helen Featherstone said the Whitechapel Centre had "been doing important work for many years related to homelessness in Liverpool".

She added: "We are delighted to be supporting the charity, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, to explore and share the history of homelessness in the city, and how it has changed throughout the 50 years the charity has been in operation."

The free exhibition will run from 25 September to 19 October.