St Basils Charity

03/09/2026

Join us for The Birmingham 24-Hour Run (Or Walk!) against Homelessness, 10th-11th October Midday to Midday.

We’re so proud to be hosting this year’s 24-Hour Run at St Basils HQ. A relay event bringing people together to raise awareness of homelessness and support St Basils and SIFA Fireside. 👟

If running isn't for you, you can still get involved! St Basils will be leading a 5km walking lap at 3pm on Saturday 10th October, giving you the chance to take part at your own pace while supporting the event.

Taking place on World Homeless Day, the event is a great opportunity to get active, connect with colleagues and the wider community, and show your support.

The event is free to take part in, and you can run or walk as many or as few 5km laps as you like. There’s no pressure to be a serious runner, the laps are open to all abilities, with run leaders from the University of Birmingham Cool Runnings team supporting every lap.

Fundraising is encouraged, but there’s no requirement to raise money to participate.

Everyone is welcome! Find out more here: https://www.the24hourrun.co.uk/events/birmingham

02/09/2026

Another fantastic Birmingham Live story covered by Hannah Ahmed, this time featuring a young person who bravely shared their personal story of how they became homeless whilst sitting their GCSE's. 🗞️

A situation no young person should have to go through, but St Basils were able to provide support. We often share the importance of preventing homelessness before it begins, and this young person puts it into perspective.

"I would have probably been spending nights at different friends' houses, becoming friends with the wrong people. I'd never gain that sense of trust again. I'd always be looking behind my shoulder." 🏠

Becoming homeless even for short period can have a lasting impact, that's why we strive to accommodate and work with young people before they face further risks of homelessness.

This young person has went on to achieve so much and is active on the Youth Advisory Board, helping shape the future of our charity. We are incredibly proud of our young people who continue to grow in confidence and share their stories to empower other young people to strive for a better future.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/i-middle-gcses-became-homeless-34512466

Birmingham Mail

28/08/2026

'Every Single Young Person Has A Dream Job and An Aspiration' Tamzin Reynolds-Rosser

Tamzin, our Engage 2 Employ Youth Service Manager was interviewed for a Birmingham Mail article by Hannah Ahmed, sharing insight into the experiences of the young people we support and the challenges they can face when trying to move towards employment and independence.

🏠 At St Basils, we know that young people want to work, build their futures and have a safe place to call home. But rising living costs, insecure housing, family breakdown and barriers to employment can make that journey incredibly difficult.

The Engage 2 Employ service helps young people overcome those barriers, build confidence and skills, and take positive steps towards sustainable employment and a better future.

Our Live and Work scheme across Sandwell and Birmingham also provides stability, by offering apprenticeships and genuinely affordable rents with support to any young person, whether they have been homeless or not. 🤝

Young people experiencing homelessness are not defined by their circumstances. With the right support and opportunities, they can thrive.

Read the full story in the Birmingham Mail:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/a-lot-birmingham-young-people-34327893

St Basils provides a range of accommodation and support services to young people

27/08/2026

Thank you for making our St Basils Redditch turns 21 milestone so special. 💚

Yesterday, we celebrated 21 years of supporting young people in Redditch with the local community, and it meant the world to have you there with us for the Garden Party.

The day was filled with celebration, special reunions, and gratitude, all because of the people who took the time to join us.
We raised a total of £280 from the tombola and donation buckets, which will be used for a gift to our young people for inviting us all into their home for the day! 🎁

Further appreciation to Becketts Farm for the tombola prizes, local B&Q team for helping the garden look lovely and support stalls run by Citizens Advice and Emerging Futures, as well as continued support from R.O.A.B, CHIP Charity and EveryYouth 🌱

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the food, or supported us in any way. It’s because of you that we’ve been able to stand alongside young people in Redditch for over two decades.

From all of the Redditch staff team and St Basils, we send out our deepest appreciation to everyone who shared this moment with us. ❤️

25/08/2026

It is a privilege as always to support every young person. Thank you for sharing your story Megan and congratulations on your new job ⭐️

Thank you to EveryYouth for your role in supporting Megan, and keep going with everything you do to help with our shared cause 🙌

💥 At 18, Megan left a very unhealthy relationship and was unsure whether anyone would help her or what support was available.

Two years later, she has secured a job as a care assistant – a career she has wanted to pursue since she was a young girl.

With support from her local EveryYouth charity, St Basils, and EveryYouth Employed, Megan found somewhere to live, received practical support and worked with the employability team to take steps towards her ambitions.

🗣️ “I have become much more confident in asking for help and starting conversations...I am thankful for everything they have done for me and for the way they have supported me.”

24/08/2026

Take a break from infinite scrolling, as the Youth Voice Podcast is back with a brand new episode! 🎧

This time our young people discuss the vast world of social media and the many challenges it presents to young people who are trying to navigate the harsh realities of homelessness.

A big St Basils thank you to our young people for their contributions and to Youth-Led Content Producer Joseph for hosting. It is a fabulous episode that offers some great insights into a key societal issue of our time. ❗

Additional thanks to Tamzin from the Engage 2 Employ service, advocating for young people to visit 11c Media studios and create this youth-led podcast.

Episode available for free on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oRRO0f9oFELVMvtKIjLgM?si=QYix0syXTROwlw9obV3M1Q

21/08/2026

Our CEO, Marsha Blake, shares her thoughts on the Prime Minister's latest statement on homelessness:

"Andy Burnham’s commitment to ending rough sleeping is a significant moment for homelessness in England.

No one should have to sleep on our streets. The ambition to ensure everyone has a route off the streets this winter, backed by £442 million of funding, is both welcome and urgently needed.

But if we are serious about ending homelessness, we have to look beyond what happens when someone reaches the street.

Prevention has to be at the heart of the solution. ✅

Every day at St Basils, we see how quickly a young person’s circumstances can change. A relationship breakdown, leaving care, family difficulties, financial pressure or a lack of affordable housing can turn a housing problem into homelessness remarkably quickly.

And once someone becomes homeless, the impact can stay with them for years.

Young people are trying to build their futures at a time when many are facing pressures that make finding and keeping a safe, secure home increasingly difficult. We cannot wait until someone is sleeping rough before we decide they need help.

We need to intervene earlier. We need to listen to young people, strengthen the support around them and make sure there is somewhere safe to turn before a housing crisis becomes homelessness.

Getting people off the streets is essential, but preventing homelessness in the first place is better. And lasting change means making sure people have the stability and support they need to build a secure future and avoid returning to the streets.

I welcome the Government’s ambition and the recognition that ending homelessness requires all of us, government, local authorities, charities, communities and partners, to work together.

Now we need to make sure prevention, early intervention and long-term support are central to that work." ✅

Andy Burnham

20/08/2026

There was a heroic team effort to transform one of our Redditch accommodation's garden area. With a volunteer group from the local B&Q, plenty of young people and St Basils staff all getting stuck in.

The results were beyond incredible! 🪴

Young people built and painted garden furniture, potted plants, learnt new skills and showed real pride in the place that they live.

In addition, thanks to Heart of England Community Foundation grant funding, a new gazebo has been assembled for resident activities, movie nights and much more!

A massive St Basils thank you to the B&Q staff team for providing materials, their time and hard work, as they painted the entire car park fence!

Your kindness makes a difference. 🧡

We hope to see you all here next week, for a big celebration on Wednesday 26th August, as our St Basils Redditch projects turns 21! (See poster in comments!).

19/08/2026

Welcome to the role, Florence Eshalomi MP.

Florence Eshalomi has been appointed as the government’s new Minister of State for Homelessness and Rough Sleeping.

🔴 “The right support at the right time can be life changing.”

Her comments about the difference a safe place to live, people who care and the right support at the right time makes, really resonate with us at St Basils.

🔴 We see this everyday at St Basils

Every day, we see the difference that early intervention, safe accommodation and the right support can make to a young person’s future.

🔴 Tackling Youth Homelessness

We need renewed focus and long-term commitment to tackling homelessness and preventing it, before it starts and look forward to working with the new minister, to keep youth homelessness firmly on the agenda.

14/08/2026

In loving memory of a young person, a compassionate soul who dearly cherished his dog, a companion that was side by side with him, through everything he had faced in life.

To honour this lasting friendship, St Basils staff Rachel and Kerry walked up Snowdon, completing the challenge for a local Dog Rehoming Centre and raising awareness of youth homelessness.

He will be sadly missed by the staff known to him and all his wonderful friends who continue to care for his dog, in the moments after his passing.

A fundraising page has been set up by our colleagues, on the Dogs Trust website.

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far. Link below for anyone who’d like to contribute further.
https://events.dogstrust.org.uk/s/13891/15136/w