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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

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  stpetrocs.org.uk

Pic credits: Abbey Emm Photography, Janna Dixon and St Petrocs

 
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