Basingstoke ObserverSOVEREIGN Housing Association is working with crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder to invest in employment and training projects and has also pledged to invest money to give young people a housing voice.
Groups and charities that have a focus on these projects and are based within three miles of Sovereign homes can apply for a share of £100k to boost the fundraising they’ve already done.
Sovereign is particularly interested in projects that focus on supporting people to upskill, access training, find work or better work, or self-employment opportunities.
Jade Innes, Social Impact Officer and Employment and Training Manager at Sovereign, said: “The government’s levelling up agenda focuses on employment and training equality and we take pride in supporting our customers to achieve their aspirations. We’re working with Crowdfunder to not only fund local community groups to deliver employment and training opportunities, but to support community sustainment, reorientate community action and build relationships.”
Dawn Bebe, Co-founder & Director of Crowdfunder, added: “We’ve been partnering with Sovereign since 2020, to support projects that benefit people who live in and around their communities. We’re really pleased to be extending the partnership, to focus on great ideas that help people access training and move them into or closer to work.”
Sovereign will also invest nearly half a million pounds over the next two years in giving young people a voice in their housing and community future.
The housing association will receive £225,250 in funding from the #iwill Fund, a £54 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – and will invest the same itself – meaning that nearly half a million pounds will go towards encouraging youth participation.
It’s hoped that the funding, which has been secured via the #iwill Fund – will give young people a confident voice in their housing future, enabling them to take part in social action projects that matter to them.
Matt Buckham, Communities Director for Sovereign, said: “Accessing affordable housing is one of the biggest issues facing young people in this country right now, and the value of having a sustainable, affordable, attractive place to call your own, in a community where you feel safe and secure, cannot be underestimated.
We have communities across the south of England so the potential reach of this project is huge, as we enable young people to have their say. We’ll aim to deliver around 40 youth projects, aim to get 500 young people engaged in youth social action, and bring another 500 forward in youth voice programmes.
We want to break down barriers and encourage our young residents from across the country, from our many and varied communities, to step forward and voice their opinions, their ideas, their plans, hopes and dreams. Having the confidence to be part of something bigger than yourself doesn’t always come naturally but working with partners and charities we want to open doors for our young residents to achieve their life goals.”
