Future Builders – the innovative scheme to provide new skills and housing for young people who may potentially become homeless in Sheffield, has today seen the first apprentices welcomed into their newly refurbished home in Sharrow.
In partnership with Sheffield’s youth homeless charity Roundabout, Future Builders which launched in 2017, provides young people who have experienced homelessness access to apprenticeships, while supported by affordable housing from Sheffield City Council.
The Sheffield Future Builders scheme has enabled nineteen young people to be able to complete a traineeship, gain Maths and English qualifications, and participate in valuable work experience within the construction industry as they update the semi-derelict properties they will ultimately live in.
The first three young people have now moved into their house, with their apprenticeship wage supporting their rent and OVO Energy powering each property. They also have their own money to live and support their financial independence.
Scott, who was involved in the Future Builders scheme, said: “Future Builders has played a key part in helping me become independent. It has given me the chance to move into an affordable but high quality form of accommodation within the local area and allowed me to learn new skills, which in turn has helped me begin a career.”
Gaby Sethi, Head of OVO Foundation and CSR, claim: “OVO Foundation’s mission is to explore new solutions to complex social issues and act as a social incubator for innovative schemes like Future Builders in Sheffield.
“We are delighted to see the Future Builders welcomed into their new homes in the city. It’s through their hard work and determination they have renovated the houses and created a home for themselves. The project not only breaks the cycle of homelessness, it has also helped the young people on their journey to complete independence.”
Ben Keegan, Chief Executive Officer of Roundabout, voiced his opinion on the scheme so far: “We’re so pleased with how this project is developing. We’ve seen such a change in the young people that are involved with the project already. They’ve grown in confidence, developed fantastic new renovation skills and have showed such determination in turning their lives around.
“It’s brilliant to see young people flourish and we look forward to welcoming more young people to the project and transforming more properties from derelict buildings into safe places to call home.”
This is the second Future Builders project to take place in Sheffield, following a successful Bristol pilot in 2016, which has since doubled in size with ten young people starting a pre-apprenticeship programme in September 2017 with two added Council properties currently being renovated.
To learn more about the project, email media@ovoenergy.com