THE BIG ISSUE The Big Issue - 11 January 2016 | Page 27

WorldMags.net FILL ’EM UP: WHAT’S NEXT TRAINING + BUILDING = HOMES JOBS, FRIENDS & HOUSES Calling on construction industry/ house-builders to look at projects ofering on-the-job training, qualifications and employment to homeless people, potentially work with housing associations to renovate or build new property. Could refugees with building skills be ofered housing and work through projects like this? Peter Tyzack – Property and Planning Adviser, Severn Beach Contact: [email protected] The charity Jobs, Friends & Houses supports and employs people in recovery from addiction, ofending, homelessness, mental health problems, long-term unemployment or family breakdown. It ofers volunteering, training and jobs in building sites across Blackpool in association with The Fylde College, renovating property for homes, oices or medical facilities. jobsfriendshouses.org.uk COMMUNITY ACTION SKILLS AND TRAINING South London-based charity and social enterprise Phases, supported by Big Issue Invest, works with marginalised people – homeless, ofenders, long-term unemployed or people with health problems – ofering training and employment renovating empty homes. phases.org.uk REVITALISING HOUSING Leeds Action to Create Homes (LATCH) refurbishes derelict and run-down houses in Leeds, creating supported housing for people who are homeless and in housing need. latch.org.uk HOMES FOR HEROES Bristol’s West Street community self-build proj ect, working with Knightstone Housing Association, gave homeless veterans training and skills in construction while building 10 homes for ex-services personnel, leading to full-time employment for six of the team. The first homes are due to be oicially opened this month. knightstone.co.uk POWER TO CHANGE Self-help-housing.org provides community-based organisations, who want to tackle local problems arising from empty property, with tools to achieve change. self-help-housing.org TELL US HOW YOU WANT TO FILL ’EM UP If you’ve an idea for a building that needs saving, are already running a campaign or can help get projects like these of the ground – tell us. And send us info about helpful charities and other organisations so we can build a directory for all to share. EMPTY HOMES IN WALES Empty Homes Wales – along with the Welsh Assembly Government and local authorities – helps homeowners in Wales bring empty property back into use. emptyhomeswales.co.uk NO USE EMPTY No Use Empty, the UK’s longest-running empty property initiative, works in partnership with Kent County Council. It awards loans from public/private sector finance to bring accommodation back into use, and acts as a news hub for campaigns. no-use-empty.org HOMES FROM EMPTY HOMES With information on new funds, legislation and initiatives to help people working to re-use empty homes in the UK, the Homes from Empty Homes website is a useful source of information. scoop.it/t/emptyhomes @BigIssue facebook.com/bigissueuk YOUSPOTPROPERTY FILL ’EM UP Campaigning to conserve old buildings, the organisation Save Britain’s Heritage can respond rapidly to emergencies, fighting to save property from being torn down. savebritainsheritage.org The Power to Change charitable Trust set up last year supports, develops and grows community businesses in England that help save local shops from closure, set up community centres and develop community-led housing regeneration. Over the next decade it will use £150m Big Lottery Fund grants and practical support to help community businesses start and help new ones grow. thepowertochange.org.uk brought into use to address the housing crisis. emptyhomes.com [email protected] SAVING OLD BUILDINGS Power to Change street market FILL ’EM UP BRING EMPTY HOMES BACK TO LIFE “Helping the people who bring empty property back into use for housing”, the Empty Homes Network supports housing practitioners and is a hub for contacts, information, publicising campaigns and sharing news. ehnetwork.org.uk TACKLING EMPTY HOUSING The Empty Homes Agency is an independent charity campaigning since 1992 for more empty homes to be THE BIG ISSUE / p27 / January 11-17 2016 WorldMags.net Anyone who spots an empty or derelict property and reports it to YouSpotProperty.com receives a £20 voucher and one per cent of the purchase price if the property is brought back into use, plus a £500 donation to a local charity. youspotproperty.com OPEN YOUR DOORS TO ROUGH SLEEPERS Depaul Nightstop UK links accredited volunteer hosts with homeless young people to provide emergency accommodation for 16 to 25-year-olds. depaulnightstopuk.org SHELTER The housing charity campaigns to reuse empty homes as well as building new ones, working with other campaign groups and devolved governments. England: shelter.org.uk Scotland: scotland.shelter.org.uk – leads the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership funded by the Scottish Government. Wales: sheltercymru.org.uk