Charity is seeking property advice to secure premises in London, Brighton and Manchester.

What do they need help with?

Street Storage is seeking initial consultation and scoping support as it develops its property strategy across London, Brighton and Manchester.

The charity currently operates a well-established London headquarters, alongside small partnership-led franchise services in Cheltenham and Cambridge. It has grown significantly over the last two years, increasing its staff team, physical operating space, reputation, demand and strategic reach. Street Storage is now looking to purchase premises in London for the first time, while also developing centrally funded services in Manchester and Brighton.

In London, Street Storage wants to buy a permanent base to strengthen the organisation’s long-term sustainability. The charity is exploring a Social Investment Loan and is in conversation with two charity banks. It is seeking pro bono support with property searches and advice on purchasing property for charity use.

The London premises would ideally be 3,500 to 4,500 sq ft. The required space includes an office for six to eight staff of around 300 sq ft, a meeting room of around 300 sq ft, community space for around 30 people at any one time of approximately 600 to 800 sq ft, a small kitchen, three WCs and 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft of open-plan storage space for racking, boxes and lockers. Ground floor or lift-enabled disabled access is also needed.

Street Storage is also looking for premises in Brighton or Manchester that could be provided free of charge or at peppercorn rent. The charity would fund a member of staff to run the service in one or both locations. These spaces could be smaller, at around 1,000 sq ft. Essential requirements include community space for around 10 people, three WCs, 500 to 700 sq ft of open-plan storage, and ground floor or lift-enabled disabled access. Office, meeting room and kitchen space would be helpful but are not essential.

Street Storage has a replication strategy, one-page proposals and draft budgets in place. It is now seeking expert property advice to help turn those plans into practical next steps.

Timeline

As soon as possible

About the organisation

Street Storage is a London-based homelessness charity providing free, accessible and secure storage for people experiencing homelessness. It is the only charity of its kind in the UK, with its main base in London and small-scale franchise services in Cheltenham and Cambridge.

The charity supports over 1,000 people each year, offering storage and access to belongings free of charge, alongside advocacy, casework, transport support, community day centres and donations. Its work helps people experiencing homelessness attend work and interviews, secure temporary or permanent housing, engage with support services, access education and rehabilitation, and reconnect with community and family.

Street Storage is now developing a low-level replication programme across the UK. Over the next 12 months, the charity aims to store belongings for more than 1,000 people across three or four UK sites, support a further 250 people through one-to-one advocacy and wellbeing support, secure multi-year sustainable funding, diversify income, improve communications and secure purchased premises in London.

Street Storage’s work directly supports young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including care leavers, young people leaving prison, refugees and migrants, LGBTQ+ young people leaving unsafe homes, and young people moving into education, employment or independent living.

https://www.streetstorage.org/