The Outside Story project

Outside Story is a project to improve access to reading, learning and information services for homeless and vulnerably housed people in London.

The project aims to ensure that library services are available for homeless people in a way that is appropriate and meets the needs of service users, particularly those in priority need, including young people who suffer specific disadvantages.

The partnership consists of:

• London Libraries (formerly LLDA)
• Homeless Link
• Look Ahead
• Library services in the London Boroughs of Brent, Bromley, Camden, Greenwich, Hackney, Lambeth and Lewisham
• St Mungos, Crisis, Brent Homeless User Group (B-HUG) and Quaker Homeless Action have also been consulted in the preparation of the proposal and may become involved in the project in a more active way as it develops.

The project will develop and test models of practice that can be mainstreamed by other library service providers. On the assumption that there will be little or no additional resource requirements we aim to develop models of transferable practice.