London Pathway project wins Ludlow Award

The London Pathway project- an organisation which gives homeless people access to proper healthcare - has won the Andy Ludlow homelessness award.

The project beat five other shortlisted groups to win the top prize of £25,000. The award scheme, which promotes innovation and good practice in tackling homelessness in the capital, is run by London Councils and supported by the boroughs, CLG, the London Housing Federation and Shelter.

Based at University College Hospital in London, the London Pathway uses a dedicated homelessness nurse and GP to make sure that homeless patients get all the care they need – including support after they have left the safety of the hospital.

Through this process, the organisation has reduced admissions of homeless people by 3.2 days per patient, which equates to savings of £300,000 a year.

The London Pathway plans to expand its services to two other hospitals this year and will be using the prize money to develop its care navigator programme – where former homeless people can support the healthcare professionals and act as mentors to London Pathway’s patients.

London Pathway chief executive Alex Bax said:
“For the London Pathway winning this award is fantastic. As a new organization this kind of recognition will be incredibly helpful as we spread our model to other hospitals and build relationships with others working on homeless healthcare.

“Key to our model is collaboration and coordination, working with all the agencies that work with the homeless, and using the time a patient is in hospital to try and put them on a better path when they leave. “

Cricklewood Homeless Concern and New Horizons Youth Centre were awarded £10,000 each as runners up, and three other groups received £2,000.

London’s housing directors established the awards in 1998 in memory of Andy Ludlow, former director of Housing and Social Services in the London Borough of Haringey, who died at a young age.