St Mungo's launches Business Leaders Club to help homeless people
18 May 2011
Update - many thanks to those ten individuals who have already become committed members
Business leaders are forming a new group to support homeless people in London and the south with housing, health and work opportunities.
David Mayhew, Chairman of J.P. Morgan Cazenove, (pictured right, with Charles Fraser) was one of the leading figures at the launch of the St Mungo's Business Leaders Club on Monday (16 May) at the Cabinet Office.
He and 40 business leaders, St Mungo's staff and guests heard from a St Mungo's client about the work of the charity in supporting homeless and vulnerable people to rebuild their lives.
St Mungo's Chief Executive Charles Fraser explained more about how the Business Leaders Club will contribute to the charity's Big Appeal. This aims to raise £5 million over two years, and enable St Mungo's to continue its work offering skills and employment services.
Last year St Mungo's supported more than 1,000 people in finding work, training, going into further education and taking up a range of other activities. Funding for this support, however, is facing upheaval and cuts within the current economic climate.
David Mayhew said: "I'm supporting St Mungo's Business Leaders Club because I know the excellent work the charity does and, moreover, how important it is that all parts of society, business and public, work together to tackle the problem of homelessness. People can and do recover from very traumatic and distressing experiences but only with support. I look forward to seeing what the Club is able to achieve and urge others to become involved."
Charles Fraser said: "We greatly value the support and commitment of David Mayhew and his peers within the business community who have helped us launch this Club. It has very simple aims, to spread the message about what we do and raise £250,000 for our skills and employment services.
"We work with around 3,000 people a year. The journey back into work can be a longer one for some. Mental and physical health, lack of confidence and low level basic skills can all be factors in why someone has become homeless or unemployed. In these difficult economic times it makes complete business sense to re-engage our clients in society, rather than leave them more socially excluded than they may have been when rough sleeping or with no-one to turn to. We look forward to making the Club a real success for all concerned."
Notes
- For further information contact Gemma Hollingshead, Media Officer, St Mungo's, on 020 8762 5570, email gemma.hollingshead@mungos.org
- St Mungo's provides emergency help and runs over 100 projects that house homeless people and support their recovery, and prevent rough sleeping. Every year we help thousands of people to make permanent life changes. St Mungo's works with homeless men and women on housing, health and work opportunities.
- According to recent St Mungo's research, two thirds of residents have been out of work for five years or more and one in five have never worked at all. Over 50% lack the basic literacy skills required to work.
- In 2009 St Mungo's Apprenticeship Scheme took on 17 apprentices, of whom 13 went on to secure further work with St Mungo's once the year-long scheme ended. St Mungo's also supports homeless people set up their own social enterprises, such as bicycle repair and training company Squeaky Chains, while developing people on in-house ventures such as painting and decorating business ReVive and in the WoodWorks carpentry workshop.
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