The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Ken Meeson, and Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Mark Parker, joined staff from St Basils Solihull Youth Hub at their relaunch at Chelmsley Wood Library last week.
Around 20 teams and organisations in Solihull who support young people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness attended the event to hear about the new Hub and what it can offer. There were also performances from young people who have been supported by St Basils, plus opportunities to network and exchange ideas about how to help our young people.
Commissioned by Solihull Council, St Basils Youth Hub plays a crucial role in the council’s efforts to support young people aged 16 - 25, who are either homeless or who are at risk of homelessness. The hub was originally piloted in 2018 and has helped hundreds of young people back into permanent housing by offering housing advice and providing essential housing support.
With the relaunch, the hub has now moved to Chelmsley Wood Library in Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre and provides a drop-in service, making it more accessible and ‘normal’ for young people facing the trauma of homelessness to get help.
The new hub will provide lots of support in a welcoming space with friendly staff and resources tailored especially for younger people, to help prevent them from becoming, or remaining, homeless.
Deputy Mayor Cllr Ken Meeson said: “Having spent most of my life involved in young people’s organisations, I am delighted to welcome the St Basils Solihull Youth Hub to its new home. St Basils does tremendous work in tackling homelessness and the accessibility of this new hub will ensure that they will be able to help many more youngsters. Welcome to Chelmsley Wood Library.”
Mark Kwabia Team leader at St Basils Solihull Youth Hub said: “Situated in the heart of Chelmsley Wood Library, our Youth Hub is friendly and welcoming. We want everyone who comes in to feel comfortable seeking advice and support. But it's not just a change of address. We're doing more than ever to help, from guiding on housing challenges to preventing homelessness. We know young people have unique needs so our hub is designed to give advice and support that makes sense to them, making their housing journey easier.”
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Mark Parker, added: “I am very pleased and proud to be here today to endorse the relaunch of the Solihull Youth Hub. St Basils is one of the largest organisations working with young people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and it is the largest regional organisation of its kind. The new hub is an excellent example of the crucial partnership between the council and St Basils in tackling homelessness and focussing on the root causes of it. This is particularly important for young people because of the impact that homelessness can have on their health, wellbeing and development as they transition to independence.”
To find out more, contact solihullyouthhub@stbasils.org.uk
Residents are also invited to take part in a consultation on the council’s new homelessness and rough sleeping strategy. To view the draft strategy and take part in the consultation – which finishes on 2 February - visit: https://yourvoicesolihull.uk.engagementhq.com/homelessness-and-rough-sleeping-strategy-2024-2029