The Benjamin Foundation Monthly Update

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.

Preventing Youth Homelessness

We want to end youth homelessness and we’re tackling the problem locally by providing a home and support to over 100 vulnerable young people in Norfolk and Suffolk every night. We give them a stable home and the skills they need so they can leave us and forge an independent life.

Forming part of our Housing and Homelessness service and in addition to our accommodation centres is our network of Hosts, who are trained and supported by us to look after young people in the Hosts’ own homes. We call this service Heart and Home.

Hosts offer a bedroom, support, tolerance and understanding to young people, who are usually aged between 16 and 18, to provide them with stability and a safe place to live. Many young people benefit far more from a home-like environment and the support of a family or individual than from a more formal hostel environment.

We work closely with Hosts, other agencies and local authorities to provide the young people with the support they need to become independent. This includes providing them with important life skills, such as cooking, shopping and budgeting money, as well as supporting their education, training and career.

“If The Benjamin Foundation’s Heart and Home service didn’t exist, I’d be homeless, in a Bed and Breakfast. It’s a unique service, which offers personal growth and independence with the fall back of support.” Leah, one young person previously supported by Heart and Home.

If you could like to learn more about our Heart and Home service, please contact us on 01603 886930 or email: heartandhome@benjaminfoundation.co.uk

Letters from Lockdown

“I’ve written the poems from different perspectives; the poem ‘Message to Mum’ for example is from a child’s point of view. There’s also poems about home-schooling, new ways of learning and I began to realise that they all started to tell a story: That lots of positive things, such as family time, have come out of lockdown and we need to remember this.” (Karen Li, Branching Out Books)

Thank you to Branching Out Books for their kind support of The Benjamin Foundation. ‘Letters from Lockdown’ is a collection of poems and a perfect way to collect a snapshot of history. With a space for a personal dedication to be written, the books also make wonderful gifts. Money raised will support The Benjamin Foundation and Finnbar’s Force.

Purchase your copy (priced at £5 each or a bundle of 5 for £20) on the Branching Out Books website: https://www.branchingoutbooks.com/buy.html

The News at Ben

The News at Ben is our e-mail newsletter.

Usually sent quarterly with some special editions when we have exciting news to announce, News at Ben is packed full of the latest news from The Benjamin Foundation, how you can get involved in events, fundraising, volunteering or making a donation, and how your support makes a real difference to young people in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Sign up and stay in touch here: https://benjaminfoundation.co.uk/keep-in-touch/