11th August 2022

I was in Manchester City Centre today the 11th August it was unbearably hot reaching 32° by 3pm. This is global warming and its starting to scare me now because we don’t know how bad it’s going to get. As I walked through Manchester in my cool summer clothes, hair scraped up in a bun, cold bottle of water in hand, factor 30 and a sun hat for protection, I saw a guy strewn across the pavement he was either asleep or passed out. He was literally baking to death in the direct sunlight and there was nothing I could do other than leave a bottle of water next to him.

Fast forward four hours. I’m lay on my bed absolutely exhausted, I’ve got a fan on full blast, pint of ice-cold water next to me, shorts and t-shirt on and I’m feeling very uncomfortable. Nothing is making a difference it’s like an oven in here and I’m one of the lucky ones. I can’t get that man on the street out of my head, it must have been hell out there today and it’s going to be the same for the foreseeable.

What has been put in place to keep people on the streets safer especially in these extreme weather conditions. I know in winter places open up to offer warmth, shelter and food, we distribute sleeping bags and quilts, but what’s being done to help during this heat wave? I wonder if that guy woke up?

12th August 2022

Another scorching day, decided to stay home. The only time I felt cool was when I opened the fridge door so I decided to clean it, kill two birds I thought. Can’t get that guy I saw on the streets yesterday out of my mind, keep wondering if he’s still alive? What could I have done to have got him the help he needed? Research it!!!! Is that not part of your voluntary role? I can be so blonde at times.

I read about a great charity called Street Link which covers England and Wales it’s a website, mobile phone app and telephone service. I found loads of information on how they run things and what to do if you have any concerns about people on the streets especially during this heatwave. There’s an app you can download and if you see someone on the streets who you feel needs help you can send an alert which will connect you to the relevant services who will send support out to them and hopefully offer temporary accommodation. I know it’s a quick fix and not the solution we’d like, but I wish I’d been aware of this yesterday and maybe I could have helped that poor man.