Help 4 The Homeless

What Help 4 The Homeless does

Help 4 The Homeless is a registered charity in England & Wales (Charity No. 1200721), founded in 2017 by Lloyd and Shoshana Gilmore after Shoshana encountered a rough sleeper in Watford. The organisation delivers direct, person-centred relief to people experiencing homelessness and food poverty across London and the Home Counties through three interconnected programmes. The Street Homeless Project runs weekly Thursday-evening outreach in London's West End, distributing hot meals, hot drinks, clothing, toiletries, sleeping bags, and blankets to approximately 160 rough sleepers across two routes using volunteer-powered hand trolleys and a liveried Tesco-donated van. The Food Poverty Project redistributes surplus supermarket food to roughly 50 local families each week in Borehamwood, with annual food parcel value of over £50,000. A third initiative, the Vision of the Hub & Rehousing Programme, is planned for 2024 to provide case-managed pathways from street to permanent accommodation and employment at an estimated £50,000 per year.

The charity operates with no proprietary technology platform, using donated vehicles, home and commercial kitchens, and a Squarespace-hosted website as its primary digital surface. Donations are processed through JustGiving and an Amazon Wish List. Revenue mechanics are entirely donation-based: tiered individual giving (from £10 to £5,000 per month), corporate sponsorships underwriting operational costs (van diesel, insurance, food), in-kind donations of food and clothing from major UK retailers including Tesco, Costco, M&S, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Gail's Bakery, and Wenzel's Bakery, and community fundraising events such as galas, marathons, quiz nights, and sleepouts. The go-to-market is community-led and volunteer-driven, with paid headcount limited to a part-time CEO (Lloyd Gilmore), Charity Manager (Lorraine Feldman), and Development Director (Ron Overton), supported by 30–40+ regular volunteers.

Operating costs run at approximately £5,000 per month post-April 2024, with total annual resource throughput (cash plus in-kind food and goods) estimated at £150,000–£250,000. The organisation is governed by a board of trustees with backgrounds in marketing, logistics, accounting, and the civil service, and has received multiple regional award finalist placements (Biz4Biz 2024, National 2023, SME Hertfordshire 2025, SME Awards 2025) as well as BBC Radio London coverage.

Name

Help 4 The Homeless

Legal name

Help 4 The Homeless (London and Home Counties)

Website

https://help4thehomeless.charity

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Help 4 The Homeless is a registered UK charity (founded 2017) that delivers weekly street outreach in London's West End to 160+ rough sleepers and weekly food parcels to 50 local families across London and Hertfordshire, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and in-kind food and clothing from major UK retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Food Poverty Charity Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Homeless outreach services
• Food poverty relief
• Surplus food redistribution
• Rough sleeper support
• Volunteer charity services

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: Regular and one-time donations from individuals through JustGiving platform. Costs around £3,000 per month to run, rising to over £5,000 per month after April 2024.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Funds from businesses covering petrol, congestion charges, and resources such as underwear, trousers and food items. Includes marketing and sponsorship opportunities at fundraising events.
3. Donations of Goods: Clothing, sleeping bags, sanitary products, soap, toothpaste, hats, hoodies, warm gear, shoes, socks, underwear donated by individuals and businesses.
4. Fundraising Events: Community events organized by supporters including coffee mornings, fun runs, swimathons, sleepouts, bake offs, golf days, and barn dances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Help 4 The Homeless is a registered charity that provides direct, volunteer-led support services to people experiencing homelessness and families in food poverty across London and the Home Counties. Its core activities include weekly Thursday evening outreach distributing hot food, drinks, clothing, toiletries and sleeping bags to rough sleepers in London's West End, and a Food Poverty Project that redistributes surplus supermarket food as weekly parcels to local families. The charity is volunteer-driven (30-40+ active volunteers), funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, in-kind donations and community fundraising events, and supplements food provision with befriending and listening support.

Product overview

Help 4 The Homeless is a charitable organization offering direct support services to people experiencing homelessness and food poverty in London and the Home Counties. The organization operates three interconnected service programs: the Street Homeless Project (weekly outreach distributing food, clothing, and essentials to rough sleepers in London's West End), the Food Poverty Project (redistributing surplus food from retailers to families in need), and the proposed Hub & Rehousing Programme (aiming to provide accommodation and employment support). Services are delivered through volunteer operations using donated vehicles and trolleys, with no technology product or software platform being offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Street Homeless Project Weekly Thursday evening outreach programme that distributes hot meals, hot drinks, clothing, toiletries, sleeping bags, blankets and seasonal warm gear directly to rough sleepers across two routes in London's West End, serving approximately 160 people every week regardless of weather. Aimed at people sleeping rough, including those with mental health issues, financial or relationship breakdowns and ex-military personnel, and combined with listening and befriending support.
• Supporting Local Families / Food Poverty Project Weekly food parcel programme that redistributes surplus food collected from supermarket partners (Tesco, Costco, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Sainsbury's) and other outlets to around 50 local families experiencing food poverty in the Borehamwood and Hertfordshire area each week, with an estimated £50,000-£100,000 of food redistributed annually. Includes clothing and essential household items alongside food.
• Vision of the Hub & Rehousing Programme (Off the Street Project) Planned rehousing and support programme that will employ two part-time coordinators and trained volunteers to work with people on the street, providing personal support, training, benefit advice, and collaboration with social landlords and local councils to move rough sleepers toward permanent accommodation and employment. Estimated annual operating cost of approximately £50,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120+ rough sleepers served weekly in London West End
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• TescocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate partner that donated a replacement van when the charity's engine blew up. Previously donated a liveried van with food safe qualities including ambient temperature plus heated and chilled compartments. Continues to provide food donations.
• CostcocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides food donations including quality surplus food items for weekly meal preparation.
• Marks & SpencercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides food donations for weekly meal preparation and distribution to rough sleepers.
• Wenzel's BakerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegularly donates pastries and cakes for distribution along with hot meals.
• Gail's BakerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides bread and bakery product donations for meal preparation.
• Aldi UKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerContributes food donations to support weekly distribution operations.
• Sainsbury'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides food donations for redistribution to those in need.
• GTR RemovalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides transport, labour and storage space for the Pop Up Shop and Food Poverty Project, enabling efficient management of donations.
• ShredpointsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMade a significant donation to cover costs of van refitting, crucial for transportation of clothes, toiletries and essential items.
• Yoke VanssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal business based in Borehamwood at Crossoak Farm that expertly carried out the van refitting work, offering a generous discount in recognition of the charity's charitable status.
• All Aboard ShopssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting the charity's work.
• Quastels SolicitorssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with staff volunteering and providing fundraising support as part of their Social Impact Programme.
• Oaklands CollegesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational partner providing volunteer support and hosting food preparation activities.
• Goods4GoodsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity partner organization.
• FareSharesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood waste charity partner that helps redirect surplus food to those in need.
• Alex MarkssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner through All Aboard Shops.
• Conway & CosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner.
• IBNG Networking GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNetworking group whose members helped with food preparation activities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FareShare: UK food redistribution charity partnering with retailers to redirect surplus food to communities. Already an existing partner of Help 4 The Homeless, making them both collaborator and peer in surplus food redistribution.
• Crisis UK: National UK charity working to end homelessness through direct services, housing, and advocacy. Directly comparable in mission and beneficiary cohort (single homeless adults), with a much larger operational footprint.
• Centrepoint: UK charity supporting homeless young people aged 16-25 through accommodation, education, and training. Comparable mission cohort (vulnerable homeless) and service delivery approach.
• Shelter: Major UK housing and homelessness charity providing advice, support, and campaigning. Comparable as a frontline housing/homelessness service provider, though much larger and more policy-focused.
• The Trussell Trust: UK food bank network providing emergency food parcels to people in crisis. Directly comparable to Help 4 The Homeless's Food Poverty Project distribution model and beneficiary overlap.
• Thames Reach: London homelessness charity running street outreach, supported housing, and employment programmes. Closely comparable model combining outreach with rehousing pathways in the same London geography.
• St Mungo's: London-focused homelessness charity operating outreach, hostels, and recovery housing. Closely comparable on rough-sleeper outreach model and London geographic focus.
• Single Homeless Project: London-based charity supporting single homeless people with housing, health, and skills services. Comparable service breadth spanning rough sleeping through to supported housing.

Emerging players

• City Harvest: London-based food redistribution charity rescuing surplus food for vulnerable communities. Comparable surplus-food-to-vulnerable-populations model, but specialized on food rather than broader homeless outreach.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army: International charitable organisation with substantial UK homelessness outreach, hostels, and food programmes. Comparable beneficiary support activities but operates at much greater scale and across many other social service lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hertsandlondonhomeless

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Help 4 The Homeless