BSIA Founder Members Providing Key Services to Homeless Charities Across the UK
The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), founder members Securitas UK, has been working with homeless charities and funding initiatives that will mean the delivery of hot meals and accommodation for those who find themselves in need of services as well as providing key provisions to assist in a better quality of life.
Working with Calderwood House in Cumbria, which was set up to help people experiencing homelessness get back on their feet, its charitable donations have funded a bedroom for a year as well as offering residents access to a variety of courses, including Fire Marshall, First Aid and Mental Health First Aid and helping them develop their CV writing and interview skills.
In addition to this, it has donated furniture and computer equipment within the ‘Hub’, a communal room within the House, loaned a minibus for a year for day trips, which will also assist with its 12-week recovery recreational programme, and purchased a stock of warm hats, gloves, jackets, and some high-vis outer layers for them to wear when out and about. Their work has also been recognised as a shortlisted Sustainability Social Value Champion at the BECBCA Awards.
Securitas UK has also been working with the Kokni Muslim Association, which runs a homeless charity in Birmingham, where the company raised £15,000 from the proceeds of its charity single, Ascending, written and performed by its officers and staff. Securitas UK has supported and funded over 30,000 meals so far and raised enough money to fund an average of 150 hot meals every Friday and Saturday night until early 2024.
Shaun Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer for Central Europe, Securitas, who also recently helped to hand out 100 hot meals and to chat with the regular attendees of the Birmingham shelter, said: “I have witnessed first-hand how crucial our support is, how appreciated it is and how desperately needed it is; this is a company-wide effort that is so important to this community. It was a pleasure recently to sit and talk to the people we are trying to help, such as 85-year-old Frank, who relies on the shelter and our support; he spoke to me about the household bills he can’t afford and how he feels the local councils and society, in general, has let him and others down.
“Frank worked for 45 years - he shouldn’t be struggling through each day like he is".
