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Groundswell, a charity dedicated to tackling health inequality, has launched a campaign to address the stark reality that average life expectancy for a person experiencing homelessness is just 44, often due to manageable long-term conditions like diabetes. This comes during Diabetes Awareness Week, which runs from June 10th to 16th.
According to Groundswell, more than one in five people experiencing homelessness live with diabetes, often managing the disease with little support or access to health services. In response, the charity is launching a campaign to help people address long-term health conditions such as diabetes, regardless of their circumstances.
To mark the launch of the campaign, Groundswell has hosted a conversation between actor Gethin Anthony, known for his roles in Game of Thrones, Aquarius, and Warhol, and Homeless Health Caseworker Mark Leonard. The two discussed their experiences with homelessness, health, and living with diabetes.
Mark, who is part of Groundswell’s Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA) team, shared a moving story about a man with type 1 diabetes who was forced to store his insulin in a canal to keep it cold. Thanks to the support and advocacy provided by Groundswell, the man was able to secure accommodation and now has access to a fridge to store his insulin. Mark expressed his gratitude for being able to help people in similar situations through the work of Groundswell.
The HHPA team, which helps people experiencing homelessness get the care they need, has had a significant impact in the last year. They have supported over 500 people in managing their health better, helped individuals attend more than 2,300 vital health appointments, and run over 280 health events at hostels and day centres in London.
Actor Gethin Anthony, an ambassador for Groundswell, praised the work of the charity and encouraged people to make donations to support their life-saving and life-changing efforts. He emphasized the importance of everyone having access to healthcare and the added difficulty of managing diabetes while homeless. He called the work of Groundswell “incredible” and urged people to make donations if they can.
Michael Chandler, CEO of Groundswell, stressed the importance of addressing homelessness as a health issue. He noted that individuals are dying from manageable long-term conditions, including diabetes, and it is essential to reverse this trend. Chandler urged people to support Groundswell’s mission by making donations to their cause.
To make a donation to Groundswell’s campaign, visit https://bit.ly/4aRAKDn.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.