Wisbech-based homeless group leader announces closure blaming council clashes and lack of funding
Fenland District Council has defended its record on helping the area’s homeless and explained its stance on funding other organisations.
The move comes after Simon Crowson – known as Spike, chairman of Wisbech-based 50 Backpacks, announced he was closing the organisation down, blaming a “personal vendetta” against him and citing the lack of regular funding for the decision.
In a statement issued on the 50 Backpacks Vision Facebook page, Spike said: “After yet another onslaught from a select few local councillors, it is with huge regret that I have to announce that I will be stepping away from 50 Backpacks and closing the doors.
“I am tired of the constant battles and defamation of character. I have absolutely nothing to hide and have always spoken openly about my past but it would appear that no matter how well we have done, it will never be enough for some.
“It is quite evident that we will never gain the support of local councils and that makes it almost impossible for us to continue in the name of 50 Backpacks without regular funding.”
In a statement, Fenland District Council explained: “We will only fund Registered Charities or Community Interest Companies or similarly formally registered bodies which meet recognised safeguarding standards, which includes having appropriate clear DBS safeguarding checks in place. Funding is not guaranteed for any local organisation that sets itself up on a more casual basis.
“FDC as a local authority must use the funds it has available efficiently, effectively and transparently.
“This must include compliance with necessary safeguarding provision when dealing with individuals, who can be very vulnerable.”
However, Spike, who has been with 50 Backpacks for about 14 months, claims his organisation is recognised as a ‘not for profit company’ with the Inland Revenue and that he and his volunteers have all been DBS checked and that there are proper safe-guarding measures in place.
He did admit he had been the subject of an allegation of sexual assault against a child, but said: “It is exactly that – an allegation – and I reported it to the police myself and voluntarily helped the police. I didn’t want to be branded by something like that. It was an accusation, there were no charges, no further actions.
“It would be foolish of me to try to hide my past because it has all been put out there and reported.”
Spike claimed to work 60 hours a week on a voluntary basis and said the decision to close was made because there was no-one currently within the organisation that was qualified enough, or had the time to dedicate to take it over.
He said: “We are not closing immediately, we will spend the next couple of months winding down. We will not be taking on any new clients but will continue to support our existing client base through the worst of the winter – we’re not turning our back on them.”
He also claimed to have 47 qualifications that he said were all necessary for the smooth running of 50 Backpacks and said it would be hard to find someone equally qualified to take over. These include being a qualified CBT practitioner, fire marshal, GDPR officer and food hygiene.
“It is not just a question of handing out food, or putting a roof over people’s heads,” he said.
But he said if someone did have the necessary qualifications and the time to commit to running the organisation then he would be happy to train them once the Covid restrictions ended.
Meanwhile, the council said it would continue to do everything it can to support rough sleepers and those at risk of becoming homeless, adding it has a statutory responsibility to combat homelessness.
The statement said: “Since the Covid-19 emergency started, we have prevented 158 households from becoming homeless in Fenland.
“Rough sleeping is a nationwide issue, but great steps have been made within Fenland to address this problem.
“Councils around the country, Fenland included, have prioritised rough sleepers and those at risk of becoming rough sleepers, as rough sleeping is seen as leaving people exceptionally vulnerable to Covid-19.
“We have been able to help rough sleepers by providing free food, mobile phones and accommodation and support to 57 individuals (including our night shelter clients when the night shelter was forced to close because of national Covid-19 guidance).
“There are now 28 former rough sleepers accommodated in bed and breakfast accommodation, with the rest rehoused.
“They have been accommodated and given support by the FDC outreach team and, where possible, some have been moved rapidly into more long-term accommodation.
“Those with more complex issues have necessarily taken longer to help with permanent solutions to their problems.
“We have piloted a new ‘housing first’ model which some of our entrenched rough sleepers have taken part in. This has been a great success and they are now off the street and making great personal progress.”
And concluded: “We are aware of some suggestions that rough sleeper numbers are rising due to evictions.
“Courts are not carrying out evictions at the moment, so it is imperative that if someone is evicted, or in danger of being evicted, they get in touch with us.
“Such an eviction would, currently, be likely to be an illegal eviction and we will be able to assist and take action. It has also been suggested that rough sleepers are currently being left in the cold.
“We currently have the ‘Severe Weather Emergency Provision’ (SWEP) programme in place which means during extreme weather conditions (when overnight temperature is forecast to be 1C or below), rough sleepers are taken in immediately.”
Sam Hoy, Fenland’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “I personally take great exception to the accusations that have been made that Fenland District Council has not done any thing to help the area’s homeless.
“This is a slap in the face for the wonderful council, Ferry Project and Change, Grow, Live staff who do mountains of work everyday without any public recognition.
“Of course there is always the opportunity for more, and we encourage constructive input as to how we can do more.
“Given that we are potentially talking about £100,000s of tax payers’ money, we must ensure that the proper checks are in place before giving out funding. I have checked with Companies House and the Charity Commission and 50 Backpacks Vision is not registered with either.
“Being recognised as a ‘not for profit’ organisation by HMRC only means that you don’t need to pay tax.
“Wisbech Town Council did support the organisation with a £1,000 donation at the start of the original lockdown. At that time it was a dire situation.
“It was a one off donation that was given on a risk versus reward basis amid concerns that people could be going hungry while shielding.”
