NEW CROWDFUNDING PLATFORM TO SOLVE HOMELESSNESS LAUNCHES

Some context: 

Homelessness in the UK is at crisis point.

As well as rising numbers of rough sleepers, over 77,000 households now live in hostels and other temporary accommodation - 60% more than in 2011.

The UK spends ￡1.15 billion a year supporting homeless people. 

Story:

Beam - a crowdfunding platform backed by The Mayor of London, is launched to help solve UK’s homelessness crisis.

Beam crowdfunds money for homeless people to undertake employment training, then supports them through employment training and into work.

As well as The Mayor of London, Beam is supported by the UK’s leading tech entrepreneurs and James Bowen: author of multi-million copy selling, A Street Cat Named Bob. 

“I believe people want to help but feel powerless,” says Beam Founder and serial tech CEO, Alex Stephany, “Crowdfunding technology makes it safe and easy to help someone out of homelessness for the long-term.”

According to James Murray, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development: "The Mayor is pleased to support Beam as an innovative approach that enables Londoners to help directly too.”

Beam’s launch

Part of the new “tech for good” movement, Beam has just finished an initial test stage with five homeless individuals and is now launching its innovative model.

Beam’s first member is Tony, a homeless man living in a hostel in South East London. In less than a month, Tony successfully funded his campaign to train up as an electrician, raising ￡4,378 from 136 supporters.

“When I first heard about Beam,” says Tony, “I thought, ‘why would anyone want to help me out?’ I couldn’t believe it when the money started coming in. Then, when I read the messages from my supporters, I just didn’t have words. Thanks to Beam, I’m now training to become a fully-qualified electrician.”

How does Beam work?

Beam members are referred through partnerships

with more than 10 registered homelessness charities, including St Mungo’s, Centrepoint and Thames Reach.

Beam member Joe, who is now in training to become a crane rigger, explains the process: “I sat down with my Member Manager and we worked out the right course for me and visited the tuition centre together.”

After talking about career goals, gathering two references and making a risk assessment, Beam and the member create an action plan and transparent budget for the campaign. Joe continues, “Beam even helped fund the little things I needed too, like work boots and a hard hat.”

During and after the campaign, the Member Manager remains the single point of contact for the member, assisting them along the journey through training and into stable, paid work.

Beam members can also choose to repay their funding by donating to future members’ campaigns once they are back in work via small monthly standing orders. So far, every Beam member has opted to re-donate the full value of their campaign.

Safe, secure and easy to donate

Anyone can donate to any live campaign. See how you can help Derek get his HGV licence and Marilyn back into the driving seat here:

https://wearebeam.org/campaigns

All donations are securely processed and encrypted by Beam pro bono supporter and leading payments technology company, Stripe. Once fully funded, the money goes straight to training providers and other suppliers. Beam never hands out cash to its members.

Beam Member Manager, Seb Barker (L), and Beam member, Joe, who is now training to be a crane rigger (R)

About Beam

Beam is a social business that uses crowdfunding technology to make it safe and easy to help homeless people. Beam works with charities and local authorities to maximise impact and support homeless people through employment training and into work. Beam ensure 100% of every donation to a member goes to their campaign. It also applies a 10% service fee to help meet a portion of running costs and is supported by The Mayor of London and Nesta.

www.wearebeam.org

Contact

For more information, more high-res photos or an interview with the founder or one of Beam’s amazing members,please contact: [email protected]

07815775815

@BeamUp