12-month project to boost employment support for young women in Birmingham
Birmingham charity Loconomy has received funding from The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls to provide tailored employment support for young women aged 18-25 at St Basil’s new Live and Work scheme in Birmingham over the next 12 months.
The Live and Work scheme in Birmingham builds on St Basil’s award-winning Live and Work schemes in Sandwell, offering young people aged 18-25 very low-cost accommodation for up to two years.
Under the innovative scheme, young people receive support to create a stable base to start their careers. Rents are kept as low as possible to make it easier for young people to save money and meet living expenses from their wages.
They are expected to manage their own tenancy, job and money, with guidance available from St Basil’s on-site team as they adjust to independent living.
Working with the on-site St Basil’s team, Loconomy will provide an enhanced supportive offer tailored for young women settling into their new homes during the first 12 months of the Birmingham scheme.
They will provide careers advice, employment opportunities, and tailored activities designed to boost self-confidence and skills, such as digital skills, creative arts and active living – helping kickstart their careers and realise their ambitions.
Ifor Jones, CEO of Loconomy, said: “We are really motivated to take this innovative project forward, which presents a sustainable pathway for future career development alongside future housing options. We aim to contribute to the supportive offer provided through Live and Work, working with St Basil’s on-site team, with a particular focus on young women residents.”
Jean Templeton, CEO of St. Basil’s, added: "Our Live and Work Scheme will provide an opportunity for young people to live and work and be benefit-free, and we are delighted with the extra employment support available through Loconomy for the next 12 months, which will help us collectively to create safety, security and support for those who need it.”
Dr Tom McNeil, CEO of The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls, said: "We are pleased to support Loconomy and St. Basil’s, two brilliant Birmingham-based charities, to create a specific offer aimed at young women over the next year, supporting them to flourish and realise their full potential. Our contribution recognises the leadership and innovation shown by St Basil’s in providing truly affordable housing for young people, and the significant added value Loconomy can bring supporting them into work.”
