Senior leaders from across the housing sector came together in Liverpool to support children forced into emergency accommodation.
A new initiative, led by national charity the Buddy Bag Foundation, in partnership with housing provider Places for People and contractor Fortem, saw 30 delegates prepare ‘buddy bags’ for children fleeing domestic abuse. The project was carried out at the annual Housing Community Summit.
Each backpack was filled with 12 essential items, including toiletries, pyjamas, socks, books, stationary and a hand-knitted toy, and distributed to children through women’s refuges and emergency housing services.
The event gained a wide-range of support, including from Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation; Elly Hoult, President of the Chartered Institute of Housing; and Kirsty Wells, Chair of Women in Social Housing (WISH) Scotland.
Founded by Karen Williams OBE in 2015, the Buddy Bag Foundation has so far delivered over 70,200 backpacks with the help of more than 6,400 volunteers. With an estimated 48,000 children entering emergency care in the UK each year, the charity’s work is becoming increasingly vital.
‘It was fantastic to see such strong support from housing leaders,’ Karen said. ‘They understand the importance of safety and security — not just in housing, but in emotional wellbeing too. The connections made here will have a lasting impact.’
In similar vein, Greg Reed, Group CEO at Places for People, remarked: ‘The impact of a Buddy Bag on a child entering emergency housing is truly transformational. We’re proud to play our part.’
Chris Sutton, Head of Business Development at Fortem, added: ‘This is exactly the kind of initiative we’re proud to champion — providing real, immediate support to families in crisis.’
Going forward, delegates said they left the event feeling inspired to host future buddy bag initiatives within their own organisations.
Image: Buddy Bag Foundation.
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