The VINCI UK Foundation has donated £4,000 to St Anne’s Hostel to help replace 18 central heating boilers in their Park View project that is used as move-on accommodation. The project acts as a stepping stone whilst the tenants are looking for more permanent accommodation within the private or rented sector. 

For over three decades, St Anne’s Hostel has been an indispensable pillar of support for Birmingham’s homeless population. They provide shelter, sustenance, and guidance to homeless men aged 25 and above, a demographic often overlooked and marginalised by society.  

One of the main features of St. Anne’s services is their unique approach to accommodating residents and their beloved canine companions. The hostel takes pride in being one of the few in the West Midlands that permits residents to keep their dogs on-site. 

As a non-commissioned service, their primary source of funding comes from Housing Benefit and Service charges. However, to continue their critical work and cover expenses related to projects, equipment procurement, and building repairs, they heavily rely on grants and donations. 

Bob Candlin, Fundraising Manager for St Anne’s Hostel says “The donation from the Foundation will be used towards replacing old and tired central heating boilers in our Move-on apartments next door to St Anne’s Hostel, which are 14 years old and undergoing a period of refurbishment. The VINCI UK Foundation donation will help towards this project and ensure the homeless residents can benefit from efficient heating and reduction in utility  bills.  Having Heidi onboard will help us to navigate our way through HR issues, changes in employment law and ensure that we operate within employment law, and we protect employees and employers. Heidi has been helpful over the last few days in giving sound advice on an employment issue we had little knowledge about”. 

In addition to the financial contribution, St Anne’s Hostel will receive the support of a VINCI UK Foundation Sponsor, Heidi Smith, Actemium UK, HR Manager, who will support the charity by providing HR advice.  

Heidi says “St Anne’s Hostel is open to homeless men with dogs and whilst being homeless is hard enough the majority of hostels will not allow you to keep your dog with you, this can have a further impact on your mental health.  What St Anne’s offers is a place where they can, not only get a bed, food and support but they can keep their dog with them through this journey.  The donation will support them in updating their building and ensuring the facility continues its great work.” 

The VINCI UK Foundation was founded in 2016 with the mission to strengthen communities by improving access to employment, housing and mobility for society’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people. 
 
Since then, the VINCI UK Foundation has combined almost £1.3 million in financial support with the practical skills and expertise of VINCI employees to help over 240 charities or community projects championing social inclusion across the UK and Republic of Ireland. 
 
Find out more about St Anne’s Hostel and the VINCI UK Foundation.