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Leyland has stepped up its support for homelessness charity St Mungo’s this summer, prompted by sustained periods of extreme heat.
With temperatures reaching unprecedented levels this summer, St Mungo’s outreach teams have seen a worrying increase in serious health issues linked to heat and dehydration among people sleeping rough. In response, the charity launched an urgent appeal for electrolyte sachets and other essential supplies to help people stay safe and well during periods of extreme heat.
Leyland arranged for 510 sachets to be delivered directly to St Mungo’s Westminster Outreach services, as part of its corporate social responsibility programme. The supplies have been put to immediate use by frontline teams supporting people sleeping rough across London.
Martin Hastings, CEO of Leyland, said: “We’re proud to have been able to respond quickly when St Mungo’s highlighted the urgent need for electrolytes this summer. For people sleeping rough, extreme heat can create serious additional challenges, and providing something as simple as an electrolyte sachet can make an immediate difference to someone’s health and wellbeing.
“Our support for St Mungo’s is part of a wider commitment to helping the charity support people experiencing homelessness. We were delighted to raise more than £18,000 for St Mungo’s with AkzoNobel through our two-week fundraising initiative last December, and we’re pleased to have been able to provide further practical support when it has been needed most.
For people sleeping rough, extreme heat can present significant and potentially life-threatening challenges. While staying cool and hydrated can be difficult for anyone during a heatwave, access to drinking water, showers, suncream, shaded spaces and other essentials can be particularly challenging for people who do not have a safe place to shelter. Existing physical and mental health conditions can also be exacerbated by extreme temperatures, while disruption to public transport and the closure of free indoor spaces can make it harder to access medical appointments, medication and other vital support.
The public can also play an important role in supporting people sleeping rough during periods of extreme heat. Offering essentials such as water, suncream and electrolytes can help people stay safe, while members of the public can alert local outreach services through StreetLink, which connects people sleeping rough with local support teams, including St Mungo’s. Anyone in immediate danger should call 999.
People can also support St Mungo’s throughout the year through donations and volunteering, helping the charity provide vital services and support to people as they recover from homelessness.
Leyland is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates and continues to work with St Mungo’s and other partners to help tackle the root causes and effects of homelessness across London.
