Heartbeat: Live and Work programme receives national recognition

February 17, 2021

A scheme which provides homes and apprenticeship opportunities to young people has won a prestigious award. The Live and Work programme, run jointly by our Trust and St Basils, has won the homelessness Partnership of the Year category in the UK Housing Awards.

The initiative provides apprenticeship opportunities and affordable living accommodation within the hospital to young people aged between 16 and 24, who are keen to develop their career prospects.

Olufemi Kuforiji, Project Support Officer for the Live and Work Programme, said: “I’d like to dedicate the award to everyone involved in the programme, especially the apprentices, recruiting managers, St Basils, our apprenticeship delivery team headed by Maxine Griffiths and other notable stakeholders.

“The category was very competitive, and winning the award shows the positive impact of collaborative working and how the support of everyone has helped to sustain the programme.”

Lawrence Kelly who leads the team of project support officers added: “The programme advocates for, and empowers the most vulnerable in our society through the provision of education, apprenticeship, access to medical care and many other support mechanisms which are necessary to ensure these young people achieve their dreams and contribute positively to the development of their communities.”

The success of the programme has led to a plan which will see three accommodation blocks at Sandwell Hospital site refurbished, creating a youth village. Lawrence added: “We believe there is the opportunity to create an aspirational ‘youth village’ which will provide a range of housing options for young workers in our society, which are affordable and would create a national exemplar of best practice.