Birmingham partnership formed to support independent living
Sustain UK have joined forces with Birmingham’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help bolster the city’s ‘Moving On’ programme.
First suggested by the Birmingham and Solihull District DWP, the programme, which is currently being piloted, is designed to help people move on from supported accommodation and assist them in moving into independent living.
Image: The participants involved in the ‘Moving On’ programme.
Arguably, ‘Moving On’ couldn’t have come at a better time. Data from Sustain UK – a not-for-profit organisation that provides housing for the most vulnerable in the Midlands – shows there are almost 1,800 people in supported accommodation and over 400 properties under management across Birmingham and the West Midlands.
As a result of the partnership, Sustain will be directly delivering accommodation to help people move on from supported accommodation. However, the programme doesn’t just stop there. ‘Moving On’ is also set to offer classroom-based skills training to encourage people to get into full-time work.
Natalie Cartmell, MBE, district partnership manager for Birmingham and Solihull, said: ‘The Moving On project was designed to provide opportunities to residents enabling them to move on from supported accommodation. The DWP funded courses, facilitated by The Salvation Army, offers money management, tenancy skills and employability – and aims to show potential landlords that with the right education, tenants can succeed.
‘It is amazing to have Sustain UK onboard, who can offer affordable accommodation to participants who complete the course. This is evidence that supported accommodation providers want to be part of the solution, enabling resident’s opportunities to thrive and move forward to independence.’
Currently, three people have been chosen to test the scheme and the results have been outstanding. Mason Boreland (25), Trey Buchanan (22) and Athar Hussain (21) have recently moved in together into a house in North Birmingham and all share the same desire to better themselves.
Mason said: ‘I’m really pleased to have this opportunity; my aim is to gain further independence and hopefully move into full-time work.’
His fellow housemate, Athar added: ‘Living with other people whilst taking part in Moving On means we can better support each other. We’re working towards the same goal and it’s nice to have the support from the other lads at home.’
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