As part of its commitment to supporting communities in and around where it builds, leading West Midlands developer Barratt Homes is lending a hand at a Job Club in Birmingham to help the homeless develop the skills they need to search for work.
St Anne’s Hostel, based in the city, runs regular classes to help people get back on their feet after falling on hard times and staff from Barratt Homes is committing its time regularly to volunteering here.
Amanda Amass and Toby Railton, who both work for the Halesowen-based head office, will be helping to advise the residents on CV building, hosting mock interviews, providing mentoring, and assisting them in building the confidence to look for a job when the time comes.
During its attendance, the developer also handed over a cheque for £1,000 to the hostel, which is being used to refurbish one of the bathrooms in the building. The donation forms part of the housebuilder’s Community Fund initiative, which offers money to worthy causes each month.
Staff also recently visited the hostel to brighten up its dining room by painting the walls, transforming the eating space for the residents.
For over 30 years, St Anne’s Hostel has played a vital role in caring for Birmingham’s homeless, providing a bed, food and support for homeless men aged over 25, a group often overlooked and sidelined. Thanks to the work of its dedicated team and help from supporters, the residents have a place where they can achieve a degree of stability, with many finding new homes and starting new lives.
Bob Candlin, Fundraiser at St Anne’s Hostel, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Barratt Homes to receive financial and volunteer support and excited about how this new partnership will develop in 2020.”
Adrian Farr, Managing Director at Barratt Homes West Midlands said: “Supporting local communities is a big priority for us and we were delighted to not only donate £1,000 to St Anne’s, but to also actually go and spend time with the residents.
“This was a very valuable experience for our team and we are excited to continue working closely with the hostel to volunteer and assist them in any way we can.”