Simpson Ovans of Kraft Foods, and new chair of the West Midlands Steering Group for Business Action on Homelessness, looks at what firms in the West Midlands are doing to tackle homelessness
I am passionate about tackling homelessness in the UK, and the impact companies can make in breaking the cycle.
If you think that around 20,000 people in the UK are homeless, or have experienced homelessness in the last couple of years, it is crucial that all resources should be utilised in supporting them into employment.
The benefits are clear; through finding employment, those living on the streets are given the chance to find temporary or fixed-term accommodation which allows them to piece their lives back together.
Let’s not forget the obvious economic benefit that the extra 20,000 people in employment would bring.
This is why, using the framework of Business in the Community, a business-led charity with a membership of over 850 companies, Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) was formed in 1998. It started after a group of senior business leaders, moved by the plight of homeless people on their doorways, came together to find an innovative way to help.
From this, Cadbury, and now Kraft Foods, became involved in the steering group in Birmingham to help promote the work that BAOH does, and help those in need locally. Following its success, the steering group has now expanded to incorporate companies across the West Midlands.
One of the flagship programmes that BAOH runs is Ready for Work. Launched back in 2001, it provides training, work placements and post-placement support for homeless people, with an aim of breaking the vicious cycle of ‘no job, no home’.
Companies involved in the scheme include Carillion, Barclays, Royal Mail, adi Group and Wragge & Co, and past results have been impressive – something I am keen to build on in my new role.
Nationally, since 2001 the Ready for Work programme has reached over 5,400 people with 2,000 people supported into employment. The programme has been very successful, with 77 per cent of those participants still in employment after three months – with over half still in those positions after six months.
The West Midlands currently runs the largest Ready for Work programme in the country.
