01 July 2026
"This is a brilliant start and a long-overdue step that finally aligns the law with the reality of the work we do on the ground every day,” says Richard Chapman, rough sleepers team leader at WithYou in Wigan and Leigh. Earlier this week the government repealed the Vagrancy Act, which for almost two hundred years criminalised rough sleeping and begging.
Under the legislation, introduced in 1824, rough sleepers were at risk of fines and criminal records. “Treating rough sleeping and begging as crimes didn’t solve the problem; it simply forced it into the shadows,” Richard explains. “When people are criminalised, they are pushed away from the very services designed to help them.”
WithYou in Wigan and Leigh is a charity supporting people struggling with drugs, alcohol and mental health. Richard leads the charity’s outreach team, which supports rough sleepers.
“Our team sees firsthand that people living on the streets are often dealing with complex trauma, health struggles, and systemic barriers,” he says. “They need help, not fines or a criminal record.”
The team works closely with local partners across the region, including Wigan Council and their Housing Options Team, The Brick, the Health Outreach Inclusion Service, and the Springboard Partnership which includes Your Housing, Riverside, Jigsaw, and the council. “We’re proud to work alongside our local partners,” Richard smiles. “Together, we ensure that our outreach, clinical support, and housing pathways are truly joined up. We are committed to the long-term work of helping people rebuild their lives.”
