SDG 10

Working alongside our five expert community partners, we empower those affected by homelessness through our three-phase operating model; pride, connection, and purpose.

Phase 1 – PRIDE. First, we address our beneficiaries' immediate needs, with warm clothing and non-perishable food items.

We then crucially support them to restore pride and self-confidence, with toiletry essentials including our very own sustainable shampoo bar. Our tailored care packages have supported over 100 beneficiaries just this year.

Phase 2: Connection. Imagine years of being ignored, abused, and unloved. As we heard from Andy, it doesn’t take long for someone to feel as though their life is not worth living.

Our ambition is to reintegrate our beneficiaries back into the community through 121 wellbeing sessions and group activities. Crucially, our ‘call a friend’ programme gives the opportunity to use a donated phone to connect with their support network and family.

And finally Phase 3: Purpose. Continuously listening and assessing our beneficiaries' individual needs we recognised this phase needed to be;

• Easy to access without prior qualifications

• Flexible to work around welfare appointments

• Lead to paid employment in a supportive and safe environment

• Be a practical hands-on opportunity, to offer distraction to mental health challenges

• And importantly, tailored to each beneficiary

Our answer? Barbering!

Capitalising on the opportunity of green consumption, we innovated our own line of sustainable plastic-free shampoo bars which are already being sold in local zero-waste shops.

Incorporating a robin hood commercial model, the price of one shampoo bar includes the cost of a donation to our care package, and generates 16% surplus which is reinvested. With at least 3 plastic bottles saved from landfill per sale, our measurable lasting improvement for the planet is clear.

Additionally, we have begun talks to innovate a jointly branded range of sustainable bamboo razors with our Enactus UK Partner, BIC.

The packaging design will amplify the voice of our beneficiaries, and include a link to donate, and a call of action to support. The prototypes are based on the three most susceptible demographics to homelessness in the UK.

This will work towards educating the community, changing the behaviour of society and eradicating the stigma of homelessness.

Our financial viability is clear. We are in year one of operation and have already generated $1500 of income. Our current operating plan and financial forecast projects we will generate a minimum of $10,000 by October 2023.

With the full programme costing $530, we will be able to support 15 beneficiaries, who with our help will never again have to question whether their life, is worth living.

Our future aspirations don’t stop there. We aspire to inform and influence government policy. We are changemakers determined to create a world where those affected by homelessness are heard, upskilled, and empowered.