Crisis to launch new services in Birmingham
27 April 2010
Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, today announces that it is joining forces with local Birmingham organisations to launch new services in the city for single homeless people. The services will focused on providing skills development and training opportunities for homeless and vulnerably housed people to give them the confidence and capabilities to move into education and employment and break the cycle of homelessness.
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The Chair of Crisis, Sir David Bell, speaking today at the 20th anniversary lunch for Birmingham Forward highlighted the role played by the city's businesses and education establishments in driving forward Birmingham's growth and prosperity but stressed how vital it was to ensure that all sections of the community, even the most vulnerable such as homeless people, are able to share in that. David Bell emphasised how it is important to look at a city's reputation holistically - it is no good being a centre of excellence for professional services if the city cannot support those in need.
Sir David Bell said:
"Compared with 20 years ago I think that cities like Birmingham now have more confidence, more buzz and more determination to be places where people really want to live. However the strength of a city is also in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. I am therefore delighted that we are bringing Crisis services to Birmingham, which will add a dimension to what is currently available to transform the lives of homeless people".
These new services Crisis will be launching will provide a vital role in delivering that mission and will include:
- engagement activities, such as dance and wellbeing classes using art and creativity to start homeless people on the process of learning and rebuild their self esteem and confidence
- accredited learning, such as basic skills and IT
- SmartSkills - an innovative, intensive, one to one coaching programme leading to a City and Guilds qualification, designed by Crisis to support some of the most isolated and vulnerable adults in Birmingham develop the skills, confidence and aspirations to move into education and towards employment.
Services will be delivered by Crisis on an outreach basis and in partnership with a range of organisations including Anawim in Balsall Heath, SIFA Fireside's day centres, Trident Group, St. Anne's Hostel, Allison House, Ace Dance and Music and the DanceXchange.
The services will be supported by funding from the Working Neighbourhoods Innovations Fund administered by Be Birmingham and Birmingham City Council. Crisis will also be looking for additional funding and support from the local business community and other funding organisations in the city.
Notes to Editors
Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. Our innovative education, employment, housing and well-being services address individual needs and help people to transform their lives. We measure our success and can demonstrate tangible results and value for money.
We are determined campaigners, working to prevent people from becoming homeless and advocating solutions informed by research and our direct experience.
We have ambitious plans for the future and are committed to help more people in more places across the UK. We know we won't end homelessness overnight or on our own. But we take a lead, collaborate with others and, together, make change happen.
Research by Crisis suggests that two thirds of homeless people have no or low qualifications. Homelessness itself deskills and isolates. Equipped with new skills people can regain control of their lives and break the cycle of homelessness.
Partner organisations include:
- Be Birmingham - the local strategic partnership in Birmingham. Be Birmingham brings together partners from the business, community, voluntary, faith and public sectors to deliver a better quality of life in Birmingham. Be Birmingham is leading on the local delivery of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
- The WNF Innovation Fund - a grant programme for research and feasibility studies, and opportunities for testing innovative approaches that tackle the issues of worklessness in Birmingham's priority super output areas, which are defined as those areas with 25% worklessness or above.
- SIFA Fireside - established in 2007 following the merger of two long running local charities, SIFA Fireside works with those who are affected by their use of alcohol and / or are homeless, isolated, lonely and unemployed. SIFA Fireside runs: daily ‘drop-ins' for rough sleepers, group-based programmes for offenders with alcohol problems; and a residential project for people with alcohol problems.
- Trident Group has almost 50 years of delivering homes, services and innovation to 6,000 people in 3,100 homes in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the Midlands. It has £130 million in assets and an annual turnover of £22 million, employing almost 700 staff. Trident is also part of the Matrix Housing Partnership. The Group comprises of: Trident Housing Association, Trident Reach, Trident Charitable Housing Association and Trident Star
- St. Anne's Hostel - operating in Birmingham for over 30 years, St. Anne's hostel provides: a direct access facility for single homeless men over 25 years of age; supported accommodation offering clients their own self-contained apartment and basic living skills; shared supported accommodation.
- Allison Hostel - a mens hostel operating for over 30 years for homeless adults, particularly those suffering from alcohol misuse.
- Anawim - originally a single issue agency working with female street sex workers, Anawim now provides ‘one stop shop' women's centres, which offer a complete pack of support including drug and alcohol, educational courses and workshops, alternative therapies, crèche and child protection work, housing advice, advocacy, benefit and debt advice, legal support. As a recognised alternative to custody, Anawim run a women only Un-Paid Work package with Probation and take women on Specified Activity orders.
- DanceXchange - a partner organisation with Birmingham Hippodrome and Birmingham Royal Ballet, dx is housed in the theatre complex and creates exciting opportunities for people of all walks of life to engage in dance, either as a participant, performer or audience member. DanceXchange has both a national and a regional remit and provides artistic support, education, performances and participation opportunities, and advocates for dance at all levels.
- ACE - based at The Link in Digbeth ACE combine captivating & energetic contemporary dance with African/Caribbean movement style, layering rousing music scores & media techniques, creating an entertaining & enriching experience appealing to all. Pushing the boundaries of performance, ACE use music technology & traditional genres to create accessible & exciting dance experiences, complimented by outreach work engaging thousands of people annually.
