YOUTH COMMUNITY HOME
SHELTER COMMUNITY
Every night, there are young people in London facing the harsh reality that there is no safe Shelter for them and that there is no one there for them. Finding accommodation as a young person without a supporting Community can be overwhelmingly difficult and many are forced into a disruptive cycle which can have a negative impact on their education, employment, health and well-being.
The Shelter Community’s mission is to be a Community driven by hope, love and faith that creates a Shelter for such young people. Our vision is to create homes for young people in which they can flourish and grow in their personal and social skills.
We believe that we all need a “Shelter Community” in the midst of our life storms and that certain things can be best learnt in a community setting. By connecting our creativity, talents and resources we can become the Shelter Community that protects and transforms lives for good.
OUR RESPONSE
Our response is to create a safe and secure homes that provides quality accommodation that can help young adults affected by the housing crises to stay in education or training, as well as getting a job and enabling them to find more sustainable housing in the future.
We are working in partnership with other charities to support young people in the best possible way and help them to find long-term accommodation.
OUR VALUES
We have three core values that lie at the heart of all that we do and underpin our work and how we go about achieving our vision. Everything we do reflects these core values:
- PURPOSEFUL
To actively search and engage in opportunities to learn individually and as a community - RELATIONAL
To build relationships of trust with everyone we interact with - INCLUSIVE
To show love and compassion to everyone, whomever they may be
A place to relax, to create and to meet new friends
Our priority is to provide a place for young adults who struggle to find accommodation in London.
We believe that certain things can be best learnt in a community and are essential for personal well-being. Therefore we encourage all young people to take part in the shared mealtimes and encourage them to take part in community activities.
A place to discover, learn and realise your potential
We encourage the young people to achieve their next goals into independence. We signpost our young guests to available support and training, which helps them to develop life skills and prepares them to move on.
We give the young guests the opportunity to participate in cooking, cleaning and housekeeping as part of a community.
A place to stay
The housing crisis is one of the greatest challenges facing London and there are many reasons young adults face homelessness such as affordability, adequate support network and lack of housing benefits. Finding suitable accommodation can be difficult and many young adults are forced into a disruptive cycle which can have a negative impact on their education, employment, health and well-being.
The YouthCommunityHome provides quality accommodation to help them to stay in education and training, as well as getting a job, enabling them to find more sustainable housing in the future.
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About Us
Youth Community Home
is run by Shelter Community
(registered charity 1151910)
SHELTER COMMUNITY
Shelter Community runs the Youth Community Home to provide affordable accommodation for young people.
The housing crisis is one of the greatest challenges facing London. Finding suitable accommodation as a young adult can be overwhelmingly difficult and many are forced into a disruptive cycle which can have a negative impact on their education, employment, health and well-being.
Our response is to create safe and secure homes which provides quality accommodation that can help young adults affected by the housing crises to stay in education, training, as well as getting a job and enabling them to find more sustainable housing in the future.
We believe that we all need a “Shelter Community” in the midst of our life storms and that certain things can be best learnt in a community. By connecting our creativity, talents and resources we can become the Shelter Community that protects and transforms lives for good.
Shelter Community is a CIO (Charitable Incorporation Organisation) regulated and registered (1151910) with the charity commission. More information you will find under the charity commission site here.
LIVING IN FAMILY
Stephan and Jeannine Wiedmer will manage the YouthCommunityHome and will live on site with their two daughters Amy and Lyn. They founded Shelter Community in 2013 with the vision to create a home for young people in need of affordable accommodation.
Throughout their ten years of youth work and through their professions as a business school teacher and a nurse, the power of, and the need for, healthy community has become crystal clear. That is why they are very excited for the Youth Community Home in Chiswick.
Jeannine and Stephan have been host been hosting young people in need of emergency accommodation as fully trained hosts of the Nighstop scheme of DePaul UK for the last five years. Prior to that, they volunteered for over 10 years in the youth ministry of a local church. In this role they lead and organised a winter camp every year for around 120 teenagers.
Stephan Wiedmer taught for 5 years at an official state business school for 16-25-year olds (further education). He taught accounting, law, economics and business management to finance trainees and was coaching students with learning or personal problems. Prior to that he was for over 2 years the Chief Financial Officer for a charity called WBZ in Switzerland. The charity provided accommodation for 70 and work for over 120 people with disabilities. The charity had at that time a turnover of over 18 Million Swiss Francs. For four years Stephan Wiedmer was the treasurer and a trustee of the Swiss Charity Intermission providing homes for orphans, education and health care for around 2’000 children in India and Africa. Stephan Wiedmer is currently managing the St Paul’s Money Advice Charity (Crosslight Hammersmith). He manages the charity and 40 volunteers by providing expert advice and guidance with their roles and ensuring consistency and accuracy of advice given to clients.
TRUSTEES
Simon Thomas
Simon Thomas is a Co- Founder of Habitat for Humanity Homes, a housing charity that works with individual and corporate volunteers, to build and renovate homes, nationally and internationally. He also is a co-founder and director of Jubilee Resource which builds community buildings and provides low-cost housing solutions. Simon was a trustee for several years of XLP a registered charity working with inner-city youth to create positive futures through education and art projects. He has worked in community training and social environments across the UK, helping to re-think issues and provide practical solutions to enhance community and family cohesion. He is an education consultant nationally and internationally and has a passion to develop innovation, inspiration and intentional action in to urban contexts. He has recently developed a global network who’s ethos is “Engaging all spheres of life to inspire fresh conversation rooted in ancient wisdom to reshape society” (www.citytocity.org).
Donna Wright (Systemic and Family Psychotherapist)
For the last four years, Donna has worked as a Systemic and Family Psychotherapist for Social Services and in Child Protection. Her role includes: providing clinical consultation and supporting Social Care Staff, Social Workers and the wider network in their work with children and families; teaching and supporting the application of Systemic Ideas to Social Care Staff and teams. Prior to that she working in a Adult Community Mental Health team. It is really important that young people have a safe and secure place to be and it is my hope that Shelter Community can provide this for them and help them.
Timothy Brown LLB (Hons) Solicitor of the Supreme Court
Tim Brown qualified as a Solicitor in 1987 and is also a Higher Court Advocate able to provide representation at all levels from the Magistrates court through to the Court of Appeal. Tim Brown is a Solicitor at the Magistrates Court, Youth Court and Crown Court and works for Tucker Solicitors.
Victoria Halser
Victoria Hasler is the Head of Research at Square Mile Investment Consulting and Research, and a member of the Executive Management Team, which provides input into the strategic direction of the business. Victoria is responsible for managing and developing the research team, in addition to focusing on fixed income fund research and looking after clients. Victoria has worked in the investment industry since 2001 and holds a BA (Hons) in Economics with French from the University of Durham, the Investment Management Certificate, has passed the CAIA exams and in addition is a CFA charterholder. Victoria is also a volunteer debt adviser at Crosslight Advice, a debt advice charity.
Wayne Wei-YI Chen
Wayne Chen qualified as an actuary and started his career as a management consultant, advising corporates and insurance companies around the world on diverse range of risk management topics. In 2007, he co-founded RiskFirst which revolutionised the way risk is viewed and managed in the defined benefits pension industry. He now focuses on managing his own property investment business. Wayne is also a trustee of TW Money Advice Service (TWMAS) a local charity which exists to support the provision of debt and money advice in the TW postcode area.
Ian McLeish BA (Hons) ACII
Ian McLeish is Head of Engineering for Willis Re’s Global Engineering Practice and is based in London. His responsibilities include the production, placement and management of Engineering and Construction RI treaties handled through the intermediary of Willis Re. He also works in conjunction with the Willis Re office network in an advisory role for local clients. The client base is a mix of International, Regional and territorial specific (re) insurance companies. Ian has extensive knowledge of dealing with Global Construction Clients and the delivery of bespoke specialist Engineering and Construction reinsurance solutions both on a transactional as well as an advisory basis.
FUNDING PARTNERS
We are hugely grateful to the following organisations who have generously provided funding for the Youth Community Home and the generous donation in memory of Andy Stallman.
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Product Donation for living area & bedrooms
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PROJECT PARTNERS
New Horizon Youth Centre
We will run the Youth Community Home in partnership with the charity New Horizon Youth Centre. They operate a day centre for young people in housing need, that provides comprehensive services including counselling, family mediation, primary health care provided by a full-time nurse, education, employment, benefits advice, budgeting and life skills.
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HighwayOneTrust
Our first and main partner for the Youth Community Home is HighwayOneTrust. They are leasing the property to us and share our vision to create an affordable home for young adults in housing need.
Find out more by clicking here