Homewards unveils new partnership with Lloyds Banking Group in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
On Friday 28th February, Prince William visited Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) to unveil a new partnership between Homewards and Lloyds Banking Group.
Lloyds Banking Group will join the likes of IKEA, Arup, Salesforce and others as a Homewards Activator – a group of organisations from a range of sectors and industries who contribute skills, resources and investment to support the locations to deliver solutions to prevent and end homelessness.
Lloyds Banking Group will provide an initial £50 million in new lending to support small and medium-sized housing providers and charities in Homewards locations. Currently, many of these organisations face barriers in accessing finance to deliver housing projects. This pioneering partnership will ensure that, alongside new lending, the organisations will be supported with expertise to be ready for the new investment.
As part of the visit, The Prince visited Millennium House, an 11-bed supported housing scheme where residents are given their own support plan, tailored to their specific needs, to help get them to a place where they can live independently. The residence is run by Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA) and provides supported housing for people with mental health needs who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness in the local area. BCHA has previously benefitted from Lloyds Banking Group’s support and Millennium House showcases an example of what the new lending will support and the sort of supported housing that could benefit.
His Royal Highness met with current residents, and heard from them how Millennium House is helping them develop skills to live independently in a healthy, safe, living space.
Following this, His Royal Highness visited Bournemouth and Poole College, to see how Homewards BCP has brought local organisations together to create successful employment programmes.
Bournemouth and Poole College, Sunseeker International, and Faithworks – who are part of the Homewards BCP Coalition – have worked collaboratively since September 2023 to create a range of new employment pathways which are open to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness locally.
The new employment schemes include a Job Ready Programme, which is taught at Bournemouth and Poole College, with Faithworks referring people at risk of or experiencing homelessness to the scheme. Following this, course participants are then able to interview for the Sunseeker Boat Building Programme, which is taught across the College’s Sunseeker Skills Academy, and at the Sunseeker Shipyard. The pathway sees participants follow a 12-week paid training programme, and on completion, candidates can further develop their skills at the Sunseeker Shipyard, working towards a nationally recognised qualification and permanent employment opportunities. Throughout this journey, Faithworks continues to provide support, helping individuals to build a stable and sustainable future.
His Royal Highness visited the Sunseeker Skills Academy and met with representatives from the organisations involved as well as some of the brilliant individuals who are now in permanent roles as a result of the new pathways.
