Businesses are being urged to work together to help end homelessness in Cornwall
Thursday 23rd March, 2023
Businesses are being urged to work together to help end homelessness in Cornwall.
Newham-based charity St Petrocs has just held its first
networking breakfast for firms across the region to meet up and hear more about
how they can transform lives.
The first St Petrocs Business Club event took place on March
14 at Rick Stein’s, Fistral restaurant.
Organisers at the charity said they had been overwhelmed by
the support they had received so far and are looking forward to arranging more
networking events in the future.
“We’ve been delighted – there’s been a real buzz about it,”
said Jessica Rush, Associate Director of Fundraising and Communications at St
Petrocs. “The Business Club has been a great way to link our supporters
together because they have this one common factor before they even meet.
“We couldn’t do what we do without the support of people and
companies in Cornwall.
“We see these events as being a great way to build on
existing relationships, as well as making new ones.”
St Petrocs Business Club supports the charity’s work,
particularly the Vocational Development Programme, set up
to provide opportunities with training providers and
employers across Cornwall.
The programme supports clients towards employment, including
interview help, confidence building and provision of work clothes.
Members of Business Club pay a monthly subscription or give
support in kind to help fund the programme.
Many big local firms have already signed up to the scheme,
including Rick Stein and the Eden Project. The plan now is to encourage more
companies – large and small – to sign up and help end homelessness in
Cornwall.
“We are constantly humbled by the support we receive,” said
Jessica, based in St Petrocs’ offices in Peat House, Newham Road. “We are
working hard to eradicate the stigma attached to homelessness and getting
people closer to work is one way of doing that.”
The charity has already helped a number of homeless people
to find work and build qualifications.
Luke is one of St Petrocs’ Vocational Development Champions.
He said: “I didn't have any drive whatsoever when I first came to St
Petrocs.
“Since moving into St Petrocs, I'm qualified in 15
qualifications, and I've been there about as many months. I got one in [P.A.T.]
testing, one in health and safety, construction skills level one, the pathway
to site course, ICDL [computer literacy].
“I put the work in, and I got the certificates, but I
wouldn't have been able to do that if I wasn't put in a position to do that by
St Petrocs.”
Luke has now moved into his own accommodation and has had
four job offers
Jason, another Vocational Development participant, used the
programme to train to become a welder and now has his own business.
He said he couldn’t have done it without St Petrocs’ help.
He said: “They paid for me to go to college, I ended up doing two courses and
got my certificates and that's how it started.”
To find out more, see
Pic credits: Abbey Emm Photography, Janna Dixon and St Petrocs