Community Connectors: Project Update

October 28, 2025

By Poppy Thomas, Head of Citadel

Community Connectors, our Citadel project for north and east London, has been getting established over the summer months. Building on Citadel projects in other communities, Community Connectors is a volunteer-powered homelessness prevention project that supports people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to find a place to live, settle into a home, and feel part of a welcoming and supportive community. For north and east London, Community Connectors has been funded by the Greater London Authority and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as part of the Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Plan of Action and in line with MHCLG’s commitment to support holistic, community based responses to homelessness. 

North and east London were chosen for this growth of the Citadel model both because of need – with high numbers of people experiencing homelessness – and because of availability of accommodation. We see through our London Lettings Network data that people who’ve experienced homelessness are moving into the Private Rented Sector in this part of London. Often these moves will be to an area that’s new to the individual, likely in the outer boroughs, and for this reason Community Connectors can add particular value by matching people with volunteers from those neighbourhoods, so they can share their knowledge and links, and navigate that community together.   

The team’s focus so far has been engagement in the 13 boroughs they are working in, to build relationships as well as their understanding of local context and services. They’ve been out and about visiting volunteering and community centres, local housing support and accommodation services, and faith and community groups.   

Through this work, the team have received 66 applications from community members interested in volunteering. This group represents a true cross section of the communities that the team are working within, and brings a broad range of interests, motivations, and both lived and learned experience. This includes in social care; housing law; a wide range of volunteering including listening roles, food banks, and support for people seeking asylum; a range of support and advocacy work including in mental health and homelessness; and lived and learned experience of housing insecurity, homelessness and related services. In addition, volunteers speak over 15 community languages in addition to English.  

“I am passionate about community service and helping others. I can see many people struggling on the streets and it is only getting worse. I would like to do my bit in helping change that. I would like for this to be long term service where I can help people get out of a bad situation and start thriving.” – volunteer quote 

The team are looking forward to beginning to match these brilliant volunteers with those who’ve experienced homelessness, and who are looking for support as they move into a home. To do this, they’ve also been focusing on building relationships with other services working with these individuals, so they can make referrals for Community Connectors support.  

The model has been really well received by these partner services, with one prospective referral partner describing the Community Connectors offer: “our service is firefighting to ensure people keep a roof over their head. We don’t have time to help people make their house a home, or feel connected to their neighbourhood – but we know this is so important for sustaining that home, and for peoples’ wellbeing. So we feel like this kind of support has been missing, and Community Connectors can help fill that gap.”  

With the first referrals for support now being received, in the coming weeks the team will be matching people with volunteers to provide a range of support – from getting into work and further training, to finding furniture for a new home, and going out and meeting new people locally. All with the aim of walking alongside people as they build a home, and a sense of belonging.  

 

Key stats/notes: 

Volunteer numbers 

  • 52 applications; 19 accepted at interview, through to training and DBS stage ;
  • as well as 12 who are ready for matching, having completed training & DBS 
  • Interests, motivations & experience: Social care; housing law; volunteering including listening roles, food banks, R&AS support; range of support and advocacy work inc MH & homelessness; lived and learned experience of housing insecurity/homelessness and related services 
  • Languages: 15 spoken in addition to English; 2 qualified TEFL

 

Sign up to join our volunteer team here.

Referrals 

  • 8 across range of services/boroughs – Barnet, Haringey, Enfield, Hackney, Lewisham (moving to TH Clearing House property), Newham/recent Camden move, 2 in Newham