With the Manchester street count rising by 34% in the last year, the city’s homelessness crisis was put firmly on the agency’s radar. COUCH Health co-founder, Katie Rishi, explains why, saying: “Manchester city centre is the home of our agency. The team and I spend many of our days here, so the homelessness issue hasn’t gone unnoticed. And as we’ve recently launched an initiative dedicated to improving people’s lives, it only feels right to look at helping an issue close to home.”
The agency has recently announced their 3-year long mission to improve the lives of 1 million people by 2022. This will be approached through a combination of personal pledges, creative awareness campaigns, support events, social change initiatives and innovative advertising projects. All of which will be housed on a dedicated website, along with the metrics of how COUCH Health have measured impact, and a tally of lives improved so far. Their journey can also be followed on Instagram @1mlives.
On why the COUCH Health team chose to join The Manchester Sleepout (a challenge that invites people to sleep out on the streets for one night to highlight some of the sufferings that homeless individuals face every night), Rishi said: “Being aware of the issue, and really understanding what it’s like to be homeless, are two very different things. So, while of course we’ll be taking part in The Manchester Sleepout to raise awareness and money to support the cause, we were inspired by the event because it will give us a small glimpse into the hardships people face around Manchester every single night.”
The Manchester Sleepout is taking place on the 8th November through the Booth Centre, a charity committed to tackling homelessness. The Booth Centre works towards positive change in the lives of people experiencing homelessness, or are at risk of homelessness, to help them plan for and realise a better future.
Maddi Needham, Junior Account Executive at COUCH Health, shares her thoughts ahead of the event, saying: “Although it’s just for one night, I anticipate that sleeping on the streets will show us just how lucky we are to have a home to go back to with a bed, food, and hot water. The everyday things we take for granted will be put into perspective, knowing that for some, these are a luxury.”
Speaking about the agency’s 1 Million Lives campaign, she added: “I’m really proud to be part of a movement that is inherently designed to do good for others. The goal of improving the lives of one million people by 2022 is huge, and it’s great that we can also contribute to the push in ending homelessness as part of our overarching efforts.”
If you’d like to make a donation to support The Booth Centre please visit our Just Giving page: @couchhealth
