A collaborative effort is established in Birmingham with the goal of advocating for and facilitating independent living for residents.
Birmingham, UK, is introducing the "Moving On" program, an initiative designed to support individuals moving from supported accommodation to independent living. The program, which is currently being piloted, aims to provide a smooth transition for tenants, ensuring they can maintain their housing and independence sustainably while minimising the risks of homelessness or crisis.
The program, run in partnership with Sustain UK, offers affordable accommodation to participants who complete the course. Sustain UK will also be directly delivering accommodation to help people move on from supported accommodation.
According to data from Sustain UK, there are almost 1,800 people in supported accommodation and over 400 properties under management across Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The "Moving On" program offers classroom-based skills training to encourage people to get into full-time work. The DWP-funded courses, facilitated by The Salvation Army, cover essential topics such as money management, tenancy skills, and employability.
Three participants have been chosen to test the "Moving On" scheme: Mason Boreland (25), Trey Buchanan (22), and Athar Hussain (21). All participants share the same goal of bettering themselves and are working towards the same goal of independence and potential employment.
Mason Boreland aims to gain further independence and move into full-time work. Athar Hussain expresses that living with other participants while taking part in "Moving On" allows for mutual support.
The aim of the courses is not only to help tenants secure employment but also to show potential landlords that with the right education, tenants can succeed. This initiative is expected to provide opportunities for residents, enabling them to move on from supported accommodation, as stated by Natalie Cartmell, MBE, district partnership manager for Birmingham and Solihull.
For a more detailed description of the "Moving On" program in Birmingham—including eligibility, service components, or who runs it—local government websites, housing associations, or related social service providers would be the best primary sources since the current search results lack specific information on this program.
- This "Moving On" program, running in collaboration with Sustain UK, not only offers affordable housing to participants in Birmingham, UK, but also includes education and self-development courses, such as money management, tenancy skills, and employability, facilitated by The Salvation Army.
- The goal for Mason Boreland, one of the selected participants in the pilot, is to utilize the skills gained from the courses to secure full-time employment and attain further independence, while Athar Hussain appreciates the opportunity to live with other participants during the program, foster mutual support, and work towards a common goal of independence.
- In addition, the courses aim to address concerns of potential landlords by demonstrating that with proper education and outdoor-living, home-and-garden, and career-development skills, program graduates can responsibly maintain their housing and strive for personal growth.
