Businesses take action to help prevent youth homelessness in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Following successful launches in Northern Ireland and Aberdeen, the National Employment Opportunities Network [NEON] is expanding to BCP, bringing businesses together to help prevent youth homelessness through sustainable employment.

NEON is a place-based, business-led, cross sector network supporting young people at risk of homelessness into sustainable work. It connects local and national businesses with public services and community organisations to help create routes into employment, remove barriers to work and help prevent homelessness before it happens.

Employment can provide more than a pay cheque. It can offer stability, confidence, purpose and a sense of belonging. Yet too many young people face barriers that make it harder to access and sustain work. NEON aims to help address those challenges and gives employers practical ways to help prevent homelessness by opening up sustainable jobs, supporting retention and creating pathways into work for young people facing barriers. There is also a mutual business benefit as it helps them to access untapped talent and build more resilient workforces.

In BCP, Homewards is focused on preventing youth homelessness before it starts, recognising the role that early intervention and access to opportunity can play in helping young people build stable, independent lives. The launch of NEON in BCP IS part of Homewards’ growing effort to show how employment can help prevent homelessness before it starts.

NEON in BCP will be chaired by Toni Taylor, Managing Director of Tru Talent, who will bring her extensive experience working with employers across the region to help create opportunities for young people and strengthen connections between businesses and local support services.

NEON BCP Chair, Toni Taylor said:

“Businesses have such an important role in offering support, insight and pathways that can genuinely change outcomes for individuals. I’ve always been passionate about helping others, and being part of this work feels like a very practical and impactful way to contribute to something that can shape a better future for our local area.”

Through NEON, employers will be connected with local organisations that can provide practical support before and after someone starts work, helping employees access jobs and overcome challenges such as housing, transport, finances, wellbeing and training. By creating the conditions for people to succeed and stay in work, businesses can access new talent, improve retention and build more resilient workforces, while helping to prevent homelessness in their communities.

BCP joins a growing network of NEON locations across the UK, helping to test and scale an approach that shows how employment can play a practical role in preventing homelessness before it starts.