More than 60 business representatives gathered at Aberdeen’s Trinity Hall for Homewards Aberdeen: Reframing Perceptions of Homelessness and Inspiring Action, an event focused on shifting perceptions of homelessness and driving change through storytelling and data-led insight.
Hosted by Homewards Aberdeen in partnership with Community Planning Aberdeen, the event highlighted the city’s commitment to collaborative, community-led solutions.
Lord Dean of Guild of Aberdeen, Sylvia Halkerston, officially opened the session, followed by an interactive workshop led by Socialudo, a social enterprise who use immersive game sessions and serious play to highlight employment and housing barriers.
A panel discussion then followed, facilitated by Project Flourish, an employability programme created in partnership by Homewards Activator, Hays and EveryYouth, – a national charity for 16-25-year-olds at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. The panel showcased how businesses can help individuals at risk of homelessness access meaningful work. Representatives from Altrad Integrity Services, Greene King, Specsavers, and Sodexo shared insights on making workplaces more inclusive.
The day concluded with remarks from Pim Gregory, Executive Director of Homelessness at The Royal Foundation, who outlined the next steps for businesses wanting to support Aberdeen’s mission to prevent homelessness. Attendees then joined a guided tour of Trinity Hall and its surrounding areas, led by Invisible Cities Aberdeen, a social enterprise supported by the Homewards Fund that trains individuals with lived experience to become tour guides.
Reflecting on the event, Pim Gregory, Executive Director of Homelessness at The Royal Foundation said: “This event is not just about awareness – it’s about action. Aberdeen is showing that collaboration and innovation can make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated.
Homewards is founded on the belief that ending homelessness is possible, but it requires a collective, societal response where everyone plays a part.”
Aberdeen is one of six flagship Homewards locations across the UK, alongside Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Lambeth (London); Newport; Northern Ireland; and Sheffield.
