Festival in Finsbury Park offers support to rough sleepers

The free annual festival is organised by Streets Kitchen – a grassroots solidarity organisation that provides support to those experiencing homelessness

Streetsfest took place in Finsbury Park this week — Staff from Whittington Hospital visited Streets Fest in Finsbury Park this week

Around 40 different organisations gathered in Finsbury Park this week to offer support and solidarity to people in Haringey and Islington who are sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness.

Streets Fest offers practical help and resources to those in need. The latest edition of the event on Wednesday (2nd) featured housing assessments, sexual health testing, naloxone dispensing/training, theatre workshops, singing workshops and manicures.

The free annual festival is organised by Streets Kitchen – a grassroots solidarity organisation that provides weekly outreaches across London to support those experiencing homelessness with food, basic necessities and information – in partnership with Islington and Haringey councils.

Staff from Whittington Health NHS Trust joined the festival to offer support with conditions including heart failure respiratory, long Covid-19 and diabetes. The trust leads the way in providing integrated community and hospital services across Haringey and Islington, especially for people with complex needs.

Sheeba Tupilli, a specialist respiratory physiotherapist at the Whittington, said: “Streets Fest is a fantastic chance to give advice to people sleeping rough, and to build relationships with other groups that support them in different ways. We can help people manage their long-term conditions and prevent healthcare crises from taking place.

“At Whittington Health our vision is to help local people live longer, healthier lives. It’s great that the festival combines our work with music and manicures, helping us to show self-care and resilience-building in a relaxed positive context.”

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