Housebuilder to boost mental health and construction careers with new partnership

Keon Homes, which is delivering hundreds of homes in the city as part of a £1 billion Wolverhampton Council framework, is looking to support 160 children and young adults with STEM, employability and wellbeing assistance.

The proposed programme will address critical local challenges, including youth unemployment, high NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) rates, limited career pathways, and mental health difficulties.

Tapping into the developer’s expertise and ‘live sites’, this will provide structured learning, mentorship and exposure to the construction industry, while tackling the stigma around mental health and wellbeing in male-dominated sectors.

“We’re committed to having a positive impact on the communities we operate in, and Wolverhampton is home to some of our largest projects and home to a lot of our team,” said Jo Mann, people, engagement and social impact partner at Keon Homes, who are part of The Tara Group.

“The Way has been on our radar for a while so we jumped at the opportunity to visit and find out how we can get involved through funding and, importantly, providing our expertise, knowledge and volunteering time.

“We are currently working with the employability co-ordinator to map out how the activity will look, but we’re already talking about hosting site visits and mentoring with our team to act as inspirational role models.

“There is also the possibility of delivering construction workshops at The Way to give young people a taster of what is involved in our sector and all the different jobs that could be available to them.”

The Way Youth Zone, which is a state-of-the-art space for eight to 18-year-olds (and up to 25-year-olds with special needs) in Wolverhampton, recently celebrated 10 years of impact.

During that time, more than 21,000 young people have benefited from access to sport, music and art sessions, with nearly 395,000 visits for fun, learning and connection recorded during that time.

This has helped members make friends, reduce anxiety and create employment opportunities in the local area.

It costs nearly £1.6 million to keep the centre operating every year, which is why backing from local business is vital to its sustainability and expansion.

Rob Mallett, corporate partnerships manager, said: “Many of the young people who will be supported by Keon Homes live in areas where its affordable homes are being built, so it’s going to be a really powerful local partnership.

“By becoming a ‘Pave the Way Patron’, the developer has committed funding and significant employee volunteering time to make the biggest possible difference. The emphasis will be on employability and supporting boys and men with their mental health and wellbeing, with the aim of helping more than 160 individuals every year.

“This will result in a reduction in social isolation, greater clarity on career pathways and improved industry engagement, showing young people what they can achieve in the world of construction.”

Keon Homes was presented with its ‘Pave the Way Patron’ plaque during a recent visit to The Way.

Several members of its Wolverhampton framework team attended the tour and tried their hands at boxing, music and crafts to understand some of the fun activities that take place six days per week.

Jo Mann added: “One of our key business pillars is supporting young people, particularly those that are within a deprived area.

“This is the start of what we hope will be a long-term partnership where Keon Homes can help accelerate The Way’s outstanding work in mental health and support some of its members into a potential career in construction.”

Keon Homes was named as preferred contractor on all sites exceeding 20 plots within the £1 billion Wolverhampton Council framework. This includes a £40 million multi-year remodelling project at New Park Village and a 99-unit bungalow scheme, replacing defective post-war prefabs with energy efficient homes at Lincoln Green in Bushbury.