St Basils works across the West Midlands with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, helping over 4,500 young people per year. We aim to prevent youth homelessness with advice, a schools project and a family mediation service. For young people who have become homeless St Basils has a range of supported options from emergency on to varying degrees of semi-independent accommodation. We aim to help young people realise a brighter future by gaining the skills needed to move on successfully to independent living and access learning, training and employment, in order to develop their confidence, skills and opportunities, and ultimately stop the cycle of homelessness.
Who we help
We work with young people aged 16 – 25 including some young mums and dads, so at anytime housed within our projects there may be babies, toddlers and young children as well.
Sarah, 22 said: "I was working full time in the fashion industry, when I got pregnant and my partner left me. Around the same time the company I worked for were laying off staff and I got made redundant, so I couldn't pay the rent. I'm living proof that homelessness can happen to anyone. St Basils wasn't just a roof over my head, all the staff were so positive and encouraging and gave me opportunities to turn things around for myself and my daughter. I'm still receiving some support from St Basils but I've got my own place and I'm back in work now part-time".
Alan, 18 said: "I became homeless due to family breakdown when my mother decided to choose her new partner over me. She suddenly one day told me to get out of the house and with the behaviour from her partner, I had no choice but to leave. I got an appointment at St Basils and was given a place at St Basils Emergency Accommodation project Milner Court. After 3 months I was moved on to St Basils Foyer Edmonds Court. It was great to be part of a community where all the young people are in work, employment or training. St Basils youth involvement opportunities really helped build my confidence and self esteem. I am currently at University studying French, Japenese and teaching English as a foreign language".
The End Youth Homelessness Alliance
Launched on 8th May 2013, we are now part of the The End Youth Homelessness Alliance. The Alliance is a unique collaboration between business, charities and health professionals to raise awareness of the complex challenge and cost of youth homelessness. We will pool expertise and best practice to help government and wider society understand and better respond to the problem.
The End Youth Homelessness campaign will focus on pushing for change in the key areas of prevention and family support, employment, housing and health to ensure that homeless young people can secure both a home and a job, and ultimately a positive future.
You can find out more at www.eyh.org.uk or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/endyouthhomelessness. You can also follow @eyh_uk on Twitter.
- St Basils works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- St Basils works to prevent youth homelessness with a helpline (Youthline), Housing aid and advice service (the Youth Hub), a Schools training and mentoring project (STAMP) and a Family Mediation Service
- St Basils has 27 supported accommodation projects across Birmingham, Solihull and North Worcestershire
- Over 400 young people live with St Basils at any one time
- St Basils helps 4000 young people per year
- St Basils has 3 emergency accommodation projects
- St Basils has 3 supported lodgings schemes providing young care leavers with a stepping stone to independent living
- St Basils has 2 designated mother and baby units
- St Basils offers accredited Life Skills courses to young residents
- St Basils has extensive Learning, Skills and Work Programmes
- St Basils has a Youth Advisory Board and other involvement opportunities for young people
- During 2011-12 we provided advice and support to 4,932 young people via our single access points offering homelessness prevention support services.
- During 2011-12 we supported 469 young people and their family members with a Family Mediation service. 87% of these achieved a postive outcome.
- During 2011-12 we accommodated 898 young people across Birmingham, Solihull and North Worcestershire and in some case their young children too
- During 2011-12 we re-engaged 76% of our young people with Employment, Education and Training
- During 2011-12 89% of our young people moved on in a planned way
Prevention Services
Homelessness is a complex issue and has many causes but some of the issues that most effect young people are abuse, neglect, family breakdown and overcrowding.
We have a range of prevention services aimed at helping young people who are having problems or may be at risk of homelessness including housing aid and advice and a family mediation service. These services aim to help prevent a crisis situation occuring for young people, as if a young person suddenly finds themselves roofless they may struggle to keep their job or may not be able to finish their education. Once a young person loses their job, they may struggle to find their own home through traditional means. St Basils therefore has a range of projects which provide accommodation whilst supporting and encouraging young people to enter further education or find a job so that ultimately they can learn how to live independently, support themselves financially and move on to their own accommodation separate from St Basils.
Supported Accommodation
St Basils has 27 supported accommodation projects across Birmingham and North Worcestershire to help young people who find themselves homeless. We have over 400 flats or bedsits to meet various needs from emergency and fully supported accommodation on to semi-independent accommodation. We have an OCN accredited Life Skills programme aimed at helping our residents learn the skills to be independent such as cooking and budgeting. This is particularly useful for those aged 16-18 and our young care leavers. We actively encourage all young people living at St Basils projects to get involved in some form of volunteering, education, training or to seek paid work. We have a designated learning skills and work programme providing advice and guidance on education, employment and training.
How to access these services
To access any of St Basils services the housing helpline Youthline is your first point of call, if you are a young person living in Birmingham. For North Worcestershire referrals please call 01527 572050. You don't have to be homeless to ask for our help. If you are aged 16 to 25 and experiencing problems at home or with family please get in touch now; call us on 0300 30 30 099. If you are a support worker and want to refer a young person to us, please complete the referral form below:
Complete an Online Youthline Application Form Now (Click Here!)
Once you are with us you will have access to all of the above as well as many opportunities for developing yourself through getting involved in or organising activities and events, joining our Youth Advisory Board and gaining valuable experience. Ultimately you will leave us and move on with your life in a planned and successful way and be able to maintain your own tenancy or private accommodation.
Support St Basils!
We offer help and advice to around 4000 young people per year. To ensure we can continue our vital services to prevent youth homelessness, we need to raise at least £500,000 per year. You can help! We hold fundraising activities throughout the year which you can get involved in, including the annual sponsored walk usually in June, sponsored Sleepout usually in late November/earlty December, the St Basils Bake Off in September and a range of smaller activities throughout the year. Alternatively you or your company, community or faith group could organise your own car washing day, cycling challenge or skydive. Whatever your idea please call the fundraising team on 0121 772 9614 to discuss it and we will endeavour to provide you with all the support, materials and promotion you need to make it a success.
Here's why we need your help:
