Great Northern joins Stevenage FC players to support town’s homeless

To address the cost of living crisis and mark the 13th anniversary of their partnership with Stevenage Football Club Academy, Great Northern’s railway station staff are calling on town commuters to help them support a town-based charity for homeless people.

All week from 8am-11am up to and including this Thursday (27 August) the station staff are collecting food donated by passengers for a homeless drop-in centre for people in need that is run out of Stevenage FC football stadium.

Every Monday, from 5-7pm, charity Feed Up, Warm Up provides a hot meal and a hot drink for up to 120 people in need and others suffering from the cost of living crisis, many of them homeless, from the centre they set up in the Sporta Stadium, Stevenage. The academy players help at the drop-in centre, learning valuable skills.

Great Northern’s CSR Manager Tracy Jarvis said: “For 13 years now, we’ve been supporting 16-18-year-old Stevenage FC Academy players by giving them free train travel to and from their practice games and study. We think it’s a great scheme and one we really want to support.

“This year, to develop that partnership still further, we decided to join the club in supporting this hugely worthwhile charity. There’s a real cost of living crisis going on and anything we and can do with our customers at the station has to be a good thing.”

Not everyone is homeless – many simply struggle to make ends meet (see case studies in editor’s notes) which is why Feed Up, Warm Up has a foodbank service as part of the drop-in (as well as offering emergency supplies such as sleeping bags and toiletries and a barbering service).

Donations have dried up and Feed Up Warm Up still has to buy food which costs the charity money. Great Northern staff are collecting anything with a decent shelf life, such as porridge, cup-a-soup, as well as tinned food (ideally with a ring pull), coffee and tea, toiletries and baby wipes.

The charity’s Head of Operations and Strategy Barbara McDonagh said: “Stevenage FC has long been a staunch supporter of ours and I’m delighted that Great Northern and their passengers have come on board to help out as well. With the cost of living crisis, it's not just homeless people coming in anymore. Many of us are two pay checks away from stepping into the queue ourselves.

“One of our ‘guests’ comes in on the final week of the month with an Asda shopping bag to collect essential food. His wife and children think he’s at the supermarket but by the end of the month he just can’t afford it despite both he and his wife and working full time.

“How can a family in 2026 with both parents working still be short on buying food? These are human beings.

“In the winter, people queue outside even in the freezing rain for an hour and a half to see us. What I say to them is, ‘Let me cheerlead for you and be that person to champion you. Let us get you where you need to be.’ We’re not here to judge your past life.”

Feed Up, Warm Up also provides counselling and a service trying to get people back into accommodation and from there, volunteering or work – helping with CVs and interviews.

“We want to end homelessness, not just put a sticking plaster over it. Food draws them in but our 1-1 care will help someone in crisis, people at risk of taking their life – we might put someone in a hotel to give them some respite and get their head together and then work out a plan.

” We provide emergency care during our two hours and the next day help them deal with the agencies to try to get them a roof over their head.”

Daniel (see case studies below), in his 50s, had a very high salary job then, suffering with mental health issues, lost everything and was sleeping rough in town shop doorways. “I was literally dragged by one of my other homeless friends to Feed Up, Warm Up one evening. The level of compassion, empathy, and food. It became safe judgement free place where I could at least feel like a person.”

Stevenage FC Head of Commercial David Hoskins said: “The work Barbara does with this charity is amazing! We are delighted to help her team in some small way and can’t praise her enough for the work they do in our community. Stevenage FC is delighted to partner with Feed Up Warm Up and hope to continue to support them for many years to come.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Case study 1: Daniel – in his late 50s

“As a consequence of not getting timely support for my mental health, I lost my home to repossession and ended up homeless and jobless from a very high salary job. I was sleeping rough in town shop doorways. This state carried on for a few years. I was basically caught up in a loop of no address, no job, no bank account. I was surviving on goodwill of public for three years, mostly scavenging for food and spending the nights on shop doorways whatever the weather. Navigating various support programmes was hindered by the fact that needed at least two out of address, job, or bank account.

“I was literally dragged by one of my other homeless friends to Feed Up, Warm Up one evening. The level of compassion, empathy, and food. It became safe judgement free place where I could at least feel like a person.

“It became a weekly pilgrimage and a starting point of my recovery and reintegration in to society.

Not having to scavenge for food and instead being able to have a reassurance that at least a couple of days of a week meant that I was able to focus on getting my life back together.

“I am now in a temporary accommodation, going though renewing my professional certifications, and applying for jobs.

“The Feed Up Warm Up charity has been an anchor around which I have been able to bounce back.”

Case study 2: Alex, in his 50s

Alex gave up work and his flat to care for his mum for over 20 years. She died in 2020 and he was evicted four years later.

“All I had was a couple of bags of clothes, a push bike and a tarpaulin.”

In March 2025 he was found by the council’s rough sleeper team and identified as a rough sleeper.

Feed Up Warm Up gave him a tent, sleeping bag, clothing and toiletries and began supporting him.

This year he was housed in a pod for four months and has now managed to secure permanent housing.

“They fed me, gave me tinned food so I can cook, a sleeping bag and a tent and new friends which is really important.

“I had a routine to follow, a cup of coffee and food with others, it felt like I had a normal life for two hours. They worked with me and the local authorities to get me housed. Without Feed Up, Warm Up, I wouldn’t be in good shape.”

ends