October 12, 2020

Social enterprise raises £300K to build forever homes for disabled or vulnerable people.

Mustard Seed Property is trying to raise capital to renovate homes for adults with learning disabilities.

A social enterprise trying to create homes for adults with learning disabilities has attracted more than 200 investors to get its scheme off the ground.

Mustard Seed Property raised £330,000 from a first wave of investors towards a £600,000 target to help house vulnerable adults in the Duchy.

The capital already invested will enable MSP to fully refurbish its second property, recently bought in Redruth, Cornwall.

September 10, 2020

Music-based social enterprise Turn The Tables launch crowdfunder.

Group details plans for expansion in support of those who have experienced homelessness.

After a successful pilot run in Edinburgh in 2019, Scottish start-up social enterprise Turn The Tables have announced plans for expansion, hoping to further support those who have experienced homelessness by delivering DJ workshops that help build mental health resilience. Founded in 2018 by Cyrenians volunteer Robbie Tolson, the group place a focus on mixing records, giving people living in hostels or facing homelessness the opportunity to learn to mix, operate professional sound and light equipment, and reconnect with the music they love, while socialising in a safe environment.

August 16, 2020

Brixton Soup Kitchen

Brixton Soup Kitchen appeals for funds to help continue its work.

Brixton Soup Kitchen (BSK) is continuing to provide food and emergency packs to the homeless, elders and less fortunate families.

Its Covid-19 Response Team was set up as an emergency response when the kitchen had to close its doors to the homeless and other people it had been helping.

Throughout lockdown, BSK has been providing them with meal packs that include face masks as well as hand sanitiser thanks to the London homeless charity Hearts and Helpers.

BSK delivers 150-200 grocery bags/boxes and more than 500 prepared meals each week. It also makes weekly phone calls and supportive contact for over 100 people.

July 2, 2020

Socialboxbiz

Social enterprise refits old laptops to help homeless people connect.

Socialbox.biz was founded by Peter Paduh, a former child refugee from the Balkans who built his IT career on a donated laptop. Now he helps others like him do the same.

The Covid-19 pandemic has emphasised the digital divide between Britain’s haves and have-nots – and that’s why a social enterprise has been working hard to keep the country’s most vulnerable people connected.

SocialBox.Biz launched in 2014 to take old donated laptops from businesses and repurpose them with open-source software before passing them on to homeless people and asylum seekers.

It’s vital work that goes a long way to tackling digital poverty – with 1.9 million households living with no access to the internet in the UK, according to the Good Things Foundation – while also boosting sustainability by making the most of old tech destined for the scrap heap.

July 1, 2020

Paws and Pause

Social enterprise uses paw power to support mental health.

Caring for dogs is providing a route back into the workplace for vulnerable people in South London.

Paws and Pause is London’s only socially responsible dog daycare centre, providing work experience for people who are recovering from mental health difficulties. It offers a therapeutic environment where they can gain practical skills and build their confidence so that they are ready to start work again.

Paws and Pause was inspired by Grace Beards and Jodie Larsen – project workers turned entrepreneurs. They met when they worked together at St Mungo’s, the homelessness charity, on a project to support people recovering from addiction.

They were surprised by the lack of opportunities to provide placements for people in their care to work with animals.

June 18, 2020

Prisoner’s Education Trust

Inmates share inspirational prison education stories in powerful new book.

Featuring artwork, personal testimonies and poetry, the release celebrates HMP Pentonville’s 20-year partnership with the Prisoner’s Education Trust.

The power of education to transform lives is the focus of a new book created by prisoners at HMP Pentonville, featuring their stories, artwork and poetry.

Inmates at the north London men’s prison played a central role in the creation of the book, released to mark the 20-year anniversary of Pentonville’s partnership wth the Prisoner’s Education Trust (PET).

The charity provides courses to people in prison across England and Wales, from GCSEs and vocational courses through to the start of university degrees. The aim is to help transform prisoners lives through education.

June 16, 2020

Fat Macy’s

Hackney social enterprise makes father’s day hamper to help combat homelessness.

A Hackney-based social enterprise is offering Londoners a chance to celebrate father’s day and fight homelessness with a food hamper.

Fat Macy’s is a food and catering social enterprise on a mission to break the cycle of homelessness by working with young Londoners living in temporary accommodation.

Founder Meg Doherty told the Gazette: ““Fat Macy’s uses food to create a much needed pathway from hostel to home. Our model is unique because we combine essential vocational training, support and financial backing within a framework that empowers young people to feel really proud of their achievements.

“This prepares them to take the route out of homelessness onto a more stable life in London.”

May 31, 2020

Ian Duff

Cook up incredible lockdown lunches with Big Issue vendor Ian Duff.

The former chef has been sharing lots of his favourite recipes on his Twitter account while off his Bath pitch. Here he explains how he caught the cooking bug, shares a recipe with Big Issue readers and offers some handy tips to help you make the most of your morsels.

I loved cooking from an early age. I was cooking my first meal when I was eight. It was spaghetti bolognese and I don’t think I used any stock or anything like that. It was pretty bland. But you learn!

May 1, 2020

Stand4 Health Heroes

Social enterprise adapts socks made for rough sleepers to help NHS.

Stand4 Socks has produced their Stand4 Health Heroes sock to give health workers an antibacterial pair as well as homeless people.

A social enterprise that donates a pair of socks to homeless people for every one sold have now produced a new design to help keep health workers well-stocked.

Stand4Socks, who have been working with The Big Issue Shop for many years, have started taking pre-orders for their Stand4 Health Heroes socks while their ethical Sedex-assured factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new design features an ensemble of clapping hands and the words ‘Clap for our Heroes’ to mark the weekly tradition that sees the nation come together every Thursday to honour frontline health workers.

April 3, 2020

Big Issue retail

Big Issue to be stocked in major retailers to support vendors who are unable to sell on streets.

From April 2nd, for the first time, The Big Issue, the magazine sold by some of the most vulnerable people to lift themselves out of poverty, will be sold by major retailers.

Sainsbury’s and McColl’s will both be adding the magazine to their shelves to maximise sales in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

It will be available to customers both online and in selected stores and from McColl’s, Martin’s and RS McColl in store as a temporary measure, with the magazine remaining on sale until Big Issue vendors are able to return to work.

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Tag: homelessness