Break the Cycle of Homelessness

I was delighted to attend the third ‘Birmingham Leaders’ networking event last night hosted by the Birmingham Insurance Institute.

The guest speaker was Jean Templeton, Chief Executive Officer of the Birmingham based charity, St Basils.

St Basils work with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, helping over 4000 young people per year across the West Midlands region with specific services in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Worcestershire, the Wyre Forest and Coventry. At any one time they have over 400 young people living in 29 supported accommodation schemes, which for some young people includes their young children as well. They provide a range of prevention, accommodation and support services to help young people regain the stability they need to rebuild their lives, gain skills, training and employment and move on. The aim is to help them successfully break the cycle of homelessness and experience a bright, fulfilling future.

I was particularly keen to hear Jean's views on what we can do as business leaders to provide support to St Basils and the homeless. Jean explained that the homeless population in Birmingham has risen and the impact of kind hearted people providing food, money and hand outs to those on the streets. This has actually encouraged more people onto the streets and whilst done with the best of intentions this has only made the problems worse.

The one thing Jean has asked us to promote, above all other, was work experience. Give these young people a purpose, the ability to experience life in a work environment and a way in which to support themselves. As I finish writing this article I will be dropping Jean an email to explore providing such support. I would encourage others to do the same.

Please take time to have a look at the St Basils website www.stbasils.org.uk

Another excellent Birmingham CII Leadership event and a big thank you to Prithpal for the invite.