THE BENJAMIN FOUNDATION
www.icenimagazine.co.uk
ISSUE 83 2020
The Benjamin Foundation The Benjamin Foundation is a local charity which helps people across Norfolk and Suffolk to deal with some of the challenges that life throws at them. Whether it’s the prevention of youth homelessness, helping families to build stronger relationships or providing positive activities for young people with limited opportunities, our work brings hope, opportunity, stability and independence to the people we support.
“The Tools to Go Forward in Life”
We want to end youth homelessness and we’re tackling the problem locally by providing a home and support to over 100 vulnerable young adults every night. We give the young people a stable home and provide them with the skills they need so they can leave us and forge an independent life. Joe* came to live at our accommodation centre in Norwich in August 2019. Aged just 17, he found himself needing a safe place to stay following a breakdown in family relationships at home.
Assistant Manager, Ray, says: “Joe was happy for us to help him to work towards independence. We helped him to secure a place at college in order to get Maths and English qualifications, alongside a Bricklaying course which he found hard at first - but with the support of the staff, he worked through the difficult times.” Joe says: “The house was a nice place to live and my room was great. We called it ‘The Penthouse’ as it was in the top of the house.”
Joe has been a positive resident and has achieved a lot in a short period of time. He always came to staff when he had any problems and since being with The Benjamin Foundation. His relationship with his family has also improved and now they meet on a regular basis. His family are also supporting him as he prepares for his next step - moving into an independent flat.
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