Press Release: Shrewsbury Ark saves the public purse £1.5 million over 12 months
- Shrewsbury Ark
- Sep 4, 2025
- 4 min read
Launch of the Ark’s impact report 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025
By supporting 80 people into permanent accommodation, in the time period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025, the award-winning Shropshire charity providing vital support to homeless and vulnerable people has revealed that it has saved the public purse £1.5 million.
When a person becomes homeless and is sleeping on the streets, their physical and mental health can rapidly decline, which often increases pressure and costs on health care systems, in particular on emergency services. Furthermore, there are also costs associated with criminal justice systems.
Research has shown that the annual cost of a single person sleeping rough in the UK is estimated at £20,128, whereas successful intervention, such as The Ark’s, can significantly reduce that figure.
The Shrewsbury Ark’s Impact report, 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 shows the charity plays a pivotal part in resolving the homelessness issue, and reducing pressures on other public services, and it is an integral part of helping deliver Shropshire Council’s Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-2029.
Other findings in The Shrewsbury Ark’s Impact Report include:
66 per cent of clients supported into accommodation
around £12K/person saving to the NHS in terms of early intervention and prevention
every £1 given provides £6 worth of social benefit
Anton Goodwin, Charity Director says: “The support we, and our partners, deliver at the Ark is key to helping someone break the cycle of homelessness; our figures clearly show that our early intervention and prevention are vital to help someone start making positive changes in their life and to get off, and stay off, the street, and at the same time, save the public purse money in the long-run.”
By working closely with each individual, The Ark’s support workers create a tailored development plan that reflects their goals and needs. This includes help with finding accommodation, encouraging and motivating clients to see mental and physical health services delivered in the Ark, and also teaching life skills such as budgeting and literacy.
The Report also shows the impact of The Ark hosting Council’s Rough Sleeper’s Team Winter Provision initiative. From Jan - March 2025, this gave up to 15 people food, and a warm place to sleep each night; without Winter Provision they would have had just 16 nights of SWEP indoors.
Working in partnership with Shropshire Council, this pioneering initiative reduced the risk of ill health, saved council costs in terms of multiple alternative emergency accommodations, and importantly, kept people engaged in vital support services as they worked towards turning their lives around.
“It’s worth noting too, in the report’s time period, we had over 3200 visits to the door; we supported over 120 new clients, and the majority of people who sought support from us (115) had a local connection.
The Ark is the only organisation in Shrewsbury where those experiencing homelessness, or at risk from being homeless can seek help.
“As well as the people we support, and who are known to us, in the time period, our team has seen approximately an additional 100 people who came to our door in crisis. Where else can they go in Shrewsbury? For these people our trained and experienced team listen, and advise on the best course of action for their situation.
“While many do not need our services on an ongoing basis, they need help at that moment in time. The impact of a person who listens with compassion and empathy, and is able to give practical advice in a time of crisis cannot be underestimated,” continues Anton.
All of this shows there is a real need for The Ark’s services in our area.
“A huge thank you to everyone who supports us. We recently launched our ‘Friends of the Ark’ programme, where we invite people to sign up to a regular monthly donation, and we are keen to help more local business meet their CSR responsibilities.
“We’re committed to providing a safe space where individuals can heal, rebuild trust, get the support they need, find a path to permanent housing, and live the best life they can,” Anton concludes.
Download the impact report here.
- Ends -
Notes to editors
For media enquiries, Contact: Kim Tunbridge, Fundraising and Community Manager, kim@shrewsburyark.org.uk, 07864586411
About the Shrewsbury Ark
Protecting and supporting people to move on with their lives is what the Shrewsbury Ark is about; relying totally on charitable donations and grants, the Ark never charges for its services.
As well as helping with housing, employment and benefits advice, The Ark works with many other organisations providing vital health and mental health support services.
Outside of Winter Provision, delivered in partnership with Shropshire Council, The Ark does not provide accommodation of any kind, but it does have bunk beds to enable people to rest during the day when the Ark is open to clients.
The Ark also provides hot food, and has bathroom and laundry facilities.
It is open Monday - Friday, 9am - 2pm, for referrals, ongoing support and appointments.
If you are concerned someone is sleeping rough on the street, contact Streetlink online at www.thestreetlink.org.uk. Call 999 if the person is in immediate danger, needs medical assistance, is under 18 or is with someone who is under 18.
Streetlink forwards details to Shropshire Council’s Housing Options Team, and the Council’s Rough Sleeper team make contact and ensure that support is available to any individual in need.
For more information about The Shrewsbury Ark, please visit www.shrewsburyark.co.uk
Contact: Tel. 01743 363 305, Email: ark@shrewsburyark.co.uk
