Wednesday 16th November saw our relaunch in a central London restaurant and social business.
An audience of housing and social care professionals, service users and supporters heard how Brent Homeless User Group has become Lift; a social enterprise that works with its service users to create innovative and collaborative housing and employment solutions for homeless and disadvantaged people.
The relaunch took place in Brigade, a bar & bistro that offers disadvantaged people training and work opportunities.
The relaunch kicked off with a video, in which Lift service users explained what Lift meant to them:
Martin Cheeseman, Chair of Lift explained how in the past 10 years, Brent Homeless User Group has expanded its services to ensure they are providing the best solutions to issues of social exclusion. He said:
“We were set up by a group of homeless service users 10 years ago but we no longer just work with homeless people in Brent.
We now have an award winning employment programme, and train our clients to become community researchers so they have a real part in improving frontline services. We are also developing a housing advice and advocacy service to prevent the damaging effects of homelessness.
Lift is an example of what can be achieved when there is true collaboration between service users and decision makers.”
David Wright, a former Lift service user and now Lift trustee explained what the organisation meant to him:
“Before I came along to Lift, I was an alcoholic, I was sleeping rough. I had no structure, and my confidence and self belief was shot to pieces. I was what you would call ‘hard to reach.’
What Lift does is reach out and touch you; giving you the structure and self belief that you need to make something of yourself once again.”