Homeless charity, St Martins, was an essential lifeline to many during the pandemic because it supports more than 300 rough sleepers and homeless people in Norwich.

To thank its employees for their dedication and working consistently through such challenging times, the organisation demonstrated its gratitude by giving them two Covid bonuses and a Christmas bonus. Shift patterns were also changed to allow people to spend more time with their families.

Wellbeing is a priority for the charity. Last year, a reflective practice session pilot led by a professional took place. It enabled team members to talk about incidents and cases in a safe and open environment. The session helped staff to understand the behaviours exhibited by the people they support and how to manage and help them. A measure of its success was a decrease in absence rates especially after an untoward incident.

St Martins was set up after Alan Webster, who was Dean of Norwich Cathedral, opened up his garage as emergency accommodation for rough sleepers. Within a year, the first night shelter opened in St Martin of Oak, a redundant church. It became an 18-bed shelter offering basic accommodation.

Today, St Martins is "more than a home for the homeless". The organisation recognises that people who are homeless or at risk from homelessness need a wide variety of help that goes beyond a bed for the night. Its committed and passionate team works hard to understand the needs of the individual and deliver the support each person needs.