More about us
Our Story
Under One Sky (UOS) began with a simple act of human connection.
Founder Mikkel Juel Iversen spent time supporting two people experiencing homelessness, one at a time, over the course of a year each. Through this, he gained a deeper understanding of the complex realities people face when living on the streets, and the trauma, loss, and disconnection that often sit beneath homelessness.
At Christmas 2012, Mikkel and his colleague invited a small group of friends to walk through Central London, offering companionship and Christmas presents to people sleeping rough. What began as a one-off gesture became the starting point for Under One Sky.
Between 2012 and 2019, UOS ran seasonal Skywalks each winter, with the volunteer community growing from eight people to over 600. During this time, the organisation also began to build a wider network of partners and supporters.
By the end of 2019, UOS had supported over 4,000 people experiencing homelessness and delivered outreach in London, Cambridge and Madrid. The practical support provided evolved over time to include food, clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries, and other essential items, alongside something equally important - consistent human connection.
The Covid-19 pandemic marked a turning point. When lockdown began, many of the services people relied on disappeared overnight. A small Skywalk team went out to understand the situation and found both a sudden increase in people sleeping rough and a complete absence of support. In response, Under One Sky shifted rapidly from a winter initiative to a year-round organisation.
At the height of the pandemic, teams were supporting up to 600 people daily. In the first year alone, more than 75,000 acts of support were delivered, individuals were helped off the streets, and the volunteer community grew to over 1,000 people.
This period reshaped Under One Sky. It confirmed the need for a consistent, relationship-led approach and marked the beginning of a new phase of growth. Today, Under One Sky operates across London, Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh, supported by over 3,000 volunteers and more than 100 partners, and is building a pathway model that supports people from street-based engagement through to long-term independence.
Our Philosophy
At the heart of Under One Sky is a simple belief: every human being deserves to thrive.
People experiencing homelessness are often described in ways that reduce them to a label. We choose to call the people we meet our friends. This reflects both respect for each individual and the belief that we are all part of one community.
Our work is grounded in human connection. While practical support such as food and clothing is essential, we recognise that connection, dignity and being seen are fundamental to recovery. Consistent, compassionate relationships create the conditions for trust, and trust creates the possibility for change.
We take a trauma-informed approach. Many people experiencing homelessness are living with the cumulative impact of trauma, which shapes how they engage with services and the world around them. By recognising this, we design our work to be patient, consistent and responsive, allowing people to engage at their own pace.
We also believe in meeting people where they are. Our outreach model removes barriers to access and ensures that support reaches those who might otherwise be excluded.
Our values guide everything we do:
Love, Service, Community, Compassion, Courage, and Impact.
Our Impact
Under One Sky’s work is built around a simple but powerful pathway:
Outreach and trust-building → stabilisation and transformation → progression and independence.
Through our weekly Skywalks, we maintain a consistent presence on the streets, building relationships over time with people experiencing homelessness. These relationships allow us to respond to immediate needs while also identifying opportunities for longer-term support.
Our work spans a wide range of support, including responding to medical emergencies, helping people reconnect with family, supporting access to housing and employment, and providing essential items such as phones, glasses and transport. Just as importantly, we provide continuity - showing up week after week so that people feel seen, valued and part of a community.
This consistent engagement is the foundation for deeper support. Through programmes such as Lighthouse and Clear Horizon, we are developing structured pathways that support people to stabilise, rebuild wellbeing, and move towards long-term independence.
Our impact is felt at three levels:
• Individual - supporting people to move from crisis towards stability, confidence and purpose
• Community - building empathy, connection and shared responsibility through volunteering and partnerships
• System - contributing to a shift towards more human, trauma-informed approaches to homelessness
Looking ahead, we are continuing to grow this model while remaining grounded in what has always made Under One Sky effective:
Human connection, consistency, and community.
