Tackling Homelessness in Wrexham

Business in the Community has launched Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) – a unique partnership between business, homeless agencies and the Government – in Wrexham.

BAOH gives people the invaluable opportunity of re-entering the workplace as well as demonstrating the potential positive impact business can have in improving people’s lives. 

Research by Bain & Company in 1998 and 2006 indicated that 44% of consumers want business to support the homeless and when asked how they thought this should be done, 73% of consumers replied job placements and employment training, while 70% said job coaching.

Ready for Work 

Through its Ready for Work programme, BAOH aims to break the vicious cycle of ‘no job, no home’, by helping homeless people to find employment and live independently. 

To support them and keep them on the right path on completion of Ready for Work – a two week work placement – BAOH offers the support of an external job coach for six months.

Supported by Wrexham County Borough Council and organised in partnership with CAIS, Wrexham Foyer and The Elms Drop In Centre, the Wrexham programme is being supported by Royal Mail, De Vere St David’s Park Hotel, Arriva and Cadbury Trebor Bassett.

Marc Williams, Service Manager at Wrexham County Borough Council said: “We were very pleased to be able to give our support to this scheme as it forms an effective route to tackling repeat homelessness. Business in the Community is helping to remove the barriers to homeless people in gaining sustainable accommodation and as such forms a key part of our Local Housing Strategy."

'A real positive difference'

Jim Davies, Chair of Business in the Community's North Wales Leadership Team and Best Practice Manager, Cadburys Trebor Bassett added: “Cadbury was established as an organisation that wanted to make a real positive difference in the society in which it operated, it is in our culture to be a responsible employer and business and so by supporting the BAOH programme in Wrexham we are continuing to demonstrate leadership to resolve the issues that affect our community.” 

Amanda Roberts, Training Officer/Life Skills Co-ordinator at Wrexham Foyer said: “BAOH gives people the invaluable opportunity of re-entering the workplace as well as demonstrating the potential positive impact business can have in improving people’s lives.”

Are you interested in supporting BAOH? 

Subsequent BAOH programmes are scheduled for Cardiff, Newport, Wrexham and Flintshire in 2008.

If you are interested in supporting BAOH or would like further information on the programme, please contact Claire Andrews on 01745 817 151.