Early release inmates seek homeless charity's help

Light Project Peterborough said it had seen a rise in people needing its help - including early release prisoners

A homeless charity said the early release of inmates to free up prison space was contributing to the rise in people needing its help.

Light Project Peterborough, which runs the Garden House respite centre for the city's rough sleepers, said 40 new people - some of those former prisoners - were seeking aid from the charity every month.

Fundraising officer Matt Edgley said: "We are seeing people who have just been released from prison coming to the Garden House. As winter approaches, we might see a further rise in people needing help."

This week the government began releasing 1,100 more prisoners early, as part of its emergency plan to ease overcrowding in jails in England and Wales.

Offenders serving more than five years are being released on licence after spending 40% of their time behind bars - a scheme that excludes those convicted of serious violence, sex crimes and terrorism.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the House of Commons on Tuesday the government "must begin with building more prisons" but acknowledged "we cannot build our way out of this problem".

The Garden House, located off Bishop's Road in Peterborough, supports the city's rough sleepers

The Light Project revealed its latest figures as it welcomed funding from the National Lottery Community Fund of more than £700,000, which would "provide a good foundation and stability" for the charity going forward.

Visitors to the Garden House get support from housing officers, GPs, drug and alcohol specialists and mental health professionals.

The charity also runs a street chaplaincy service and recently launched a peer support program, helping former rough sleepers get back into work.

Since October last year, the charity said it had supported nearly 1,000 people. Out of those, 544 were new visitors, with cost of living and mental health issues being among the main factors for people seeking help.

Speaking about its National Lottery bid, Mr Edgley said: "We have increased our offering and opening hours at Garden House from five days to all seven days a week. This makes a huge difference to people living on the streets.

"The funding of £741,433 over a period of five years won't cover everything for us, but will provide a good foundation and stability.

"Not just financially, but the National Lottery fund also serves as a recognition of our important work. This will hopefully encourage other funders to keep supporting us."