1. How long has BYHP (Working with Young People) been members of the Chamber?
Banbury Young Homelessness Project have been members since 2005
2. What are the major benefits for your company being members of the Chamber?
As a local charity, BYHP has benefitted from being a member of the Chamber. We receive much support from the local businesses in Banbury and this is in part due to our connection with the Chamber and the networking opportunities.
3. Brief background of the company
The Banbury Young Homelessness Project is this year celebrating its 25th Anniversary of working with vulnerable young people in Banbury, the focus being on preventing homelessness. We support our young people with housing advice and offer family mediation to those who have experienced difficulties within the home, working with parents and young people to rebuild those relationships and keep the young people safely at home. We have a small counselling service to help with the many issues that young people and their families face and offer support to the ever increasing number of young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Our training programme, Unlocking Potential, is for those who are not in work or education. This is a 12 week work based programme in which they cover skills needed to prepare for work such as customer service, mock interviews, finances and budgeting. There is food hygiene training and for those who are interested in catering or retail work they can go on to do their work experience at our Social Enterprise shop in town, BYHP’s On a Roll. Others are found work experience from our links within the community and the businesses who come along to support the programme with their workshops and motivational talks.
4. Within the company what is your role?
My role at BYHP is as the Homelessness Prevention Manager. This incorporates housing advice, family mediation and counselling; currently I am also Acting CEO. I have a passionate belief that every young person deserves a safe home in order to flourish in life.
5. What are the main things going on in your company at the moment?
This week our new Unlocking Potential Programme has started with a fresh cohort of young people which is always an exciting time for us all at BYHP, getting to know fresh faces. We have just had a very successful food bank collection at Morrisons and are preparing for Harvest with our links to local churches and schools who donate generously to us. We have forged links with the Banbury Community Action Group supporting their new project to create an Incredible Edible Banbury. This is encouraging our young people to volunteer and get involved with the group growing lots of fruit, vegetables and herbs in our garden which so far has been a great success. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see what other events and projects we will be involved with this year.
