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Birmingham Says No Hub is the 2026 winner of Warm Welcome’s flagship award, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown Chain of Hope Award.
Birmingham Says No offers lifeline support to those experiencing homelessness, addiction, poor mental health, poverty, isolated people and others facing severe hardship. Many who enter the Hub have been unable to access statutory services and have no other options.
The BSN Hub offers practical, immediate support — help with benefits applications, housing referrals, food provision, and access to essential supplies. But its impact goes far beyond crisis response. It tackles isolation by creating a safe, warm, and non-judgemental environment where people feel seen, heard, and valued.
Staff and volunteers provide early intervention and safeguarding, suicide prevention support, addiction guidance, and advocacy to help individuals navigate complex systems. The Hub works to stabilise lives—preventing homelessness from worsening, reducing relapse risk, and supporting people toward recovery and independence. People are met with dignity and compassion regardless of their circumstances.
Restoring hope at a time of crisis
Last summer, the team at BSN were there for one man who was desperate and on the brink of ending his life. The team were working in a local cricket ground when a man who had gone to the park intending to end his life walked into their space.
He was homeless, struggling with addiction, and experiencing severe mental health challenges. He had reached a point of complete hopelessness. He later shared that he chose the park because he felt invisible and believed no one would notice if he were gone. But the team at the BSN Hub noticed.
They recognised he was in crisis and immediately brought him to a safe, calm space. They gave him food and water and, most importantly, time. They listened without judgement. They did not pass him on or tell him to call another service. They remained by his side, making sure to contact crisis support and ensuring he never felt alone.
In the weeks that followed, the Hub continued to support him — helping him access housing assistance, navigate benefits, and connect with addiction and mental health services. They provided consistent contact, so he did not return to isolation. He later said that if the BSN Hub had not been there that day, he would not be alive.
Fostering long-term transformation
Birmingham Says No is transforming lives. It does not simply provide a warm space – it intercepts crises and restores dignity. It’s not about finding a temporary solution; rather, it fosters enduring transformation.
The Warm Welcome Award judges said, “Birmingham Says No is restoring hope to everyone who comes through your doors. You support communities with no barriers or judgement. The space’s most powerful impact lies in its model of transformation – every volunteer first comes in as a guest, later rebuilding stability, confidence, and purpose by supporting others.”
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