When the weather’s scorching, most of us stay indoors, find some shade, and cool off with cold drinks or air con. But what if you can’t? This is the harsh reality for Londoners sleeping rough. They face constant risk of sunburn, dehydration, sunstroke, and other serious health issues.
No one should live like this – and we all have a part to play in stopping it.
So, how can you help?
Check-in
Living on the streets can be lonely, dangerous, and isolated. Saying hello and stopping for a chat can make all the difference. When temperatures soar, take a moment to check that people on the street are okay.
Offer water, an umbrella or sunscreen
Water keeps people hydrated, an umbrella offers shade when there’s none around, and sunscreen stops painful burns and long-term skin damage.
Help someone find shade
When the sun’s beating down, shade can be a lifesaver. Help someone on the streets by guiding them to a cooler spot – under trees in a park or any shaded space – where they can rest and escape the heat.
Contact Streetlink
Contact StreetLink to make sure people on the streets get the urgent support they deserve. StreetLink connects them with local outreach teams, working with organisations like ours to help people begin their journey back to stable housing.
Call 0300 500 0914 or visit their website. The process is simple – share a few details, including where the person is, and StreetLink will take it from there.
Call 999
If someone looks like they need urgent help, call 999 straight away. Heat and direct sunlight can be dangerous, and people can fall ill quickly from heat exhaustion or sunstroke. Stay alert and act fast.
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