Helping to support people out of homelessness

Taking the view that built environment professionals should help to improve society, Wienerberger UK & Ireland has partnered with Emmaus UK.

There is a growing crisis of housing insecurity within the UK. The housing and homeless charity Shelter estimates that more than one million households are waiting for social homes and at least 300,000 people are estimated to be homeless in England, with a 27% rise in rough sleeping in the past year alone.

So, what can be done? As part of an industry that is integral to society – covering urban planning, public health, sociology and anthropology – built environment professionals are in a good position to help.

This is the view that Wienerberger has taken in its first social impact strategy, and it has connected with the homelessness charity Emmaus UK to help make this strategy a reality. It has provided financial support for the charity’s Companion Training Fund, which enables residents of Emmaus UK communities to acquire valuable skills, qualifications and training for employment specifically within the construction industry. It will donate products to build and/or renovate Emmaus UK’s buildings, and its own employees will be given opportunities to volunteer for the charity.

Robyn Cummins, Director of Fundraising and Influence at Emmaus UK, says: “With the combination of a corporate donation, colleague fundraising, training opportunities and product donations, we look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on our companions and communities.”

Social responsibility

Rather than just being a reputational exercise, the social impact strategy has plans in place for meaningful action to prevent individuals from losing their homes, support those at risk and assist people experiencing housing crises in rebuilding their lives. In addition to the work with Emmaus UK, it will do this through collaboration with the supply chain, making targeted product donations to improve public amenities and direct engagement with community groups and schools.

It will work with vulnerable groups to offer work experience and skills development – for example, work taster days in partnership with Greater Manchester Youth Network at the company’s head office in Cheadle, Stockport. This includes young care leavers, who have experienced a 33% increase in homelessness in the past five years.

Employee engagement with the strategy is key too – personal fundraising has supported a range of causes chosen by the staff themselves including a dog rescue centre, sports teams, a dementia community café, hospices and charities supporting homeless families.

Wienerberger’s Simon Nevitt says: “We have a responsibility as a provider of building solutions to create value for our communities and play an active role in the areas in which we operate.”

It seems that in asking what can be done in the built environment to improve people’s quality of life, it has begun to create a better future.

Read Wienerberger’s social impact strategy at b.link/Wienerberger_strategy
Find out more about Emmaus UK at b.link/Emmaus

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