Building homes and combatting homelessness with Barratt Developments

As the country’s largest housebuilder, Barratt Developments is committed to creating a positive legacy. This extends beyond the communities we build and includes our work with charities and good causes throughout the UK. We have recently launched several new initiatives, including corporate partnerships, with organisations that focus on improving the lives of vulnerable and homeless people. 

Last year we made our largest ever corporate donation of £750,000 to Royal British Legion Industries to help fund a specialist centenary village for veterans and their families. The village will provide much-needed accommodation for those veterans who need a home. This will sit alongside a new community centre where veterans and their families will have access to a range of services, welfare support and training, tackling isolation through social engagement and promoting independence.

On top of the financial support, we are actively working with the RBLI on the project as well, offering planning and design guidance. A team of current Barratt graduates is working on building a £20,000 dementia garden at the village. This will feature raised flowerbeds, be wheelchair accessible and will incorporate the latest expert advice on how best to layout a project of this nature.

Good luck to the @Barrattplc Graduates who are taking part in #TrekFest@GlobalAdv The Beacons this Saturday – raising money for the new dementia garden they are creating, as part of the redevelopment of Gavin Astor House Nursing Home located on our village. pic.twitter.com/Vykpnppjxg

— Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) (@RBLI) July 5, 2019

In addition to our involvement with the RBLI, we have just teamed up with homelessness charity St Mungo’s to announce a major new £500,000 three-year partnership to improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness. We also support a number of other local and national causes, including The Big Issue, which is delivered weekly to each of our 27 divisions across the country. Our values closely align with The Big Issue’s, and particularly its focus on
creating opportunity.

Sixty years ago our founder, Sir Lawrie Barratt, built his own house when he could not afford the one he wanted for his family. He was an entrepreneur who chose self-help to overcome challenges, much like the Big Issue vendors today, who are each micro-entrepreneurs.

Our history continues to shape the way we in which we operate, and, like The Big Issue, we try to give opportunities to people from a range of different backgrounds. This is why, for example, we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and run a special programme training ex-forces personnel as site managers.

We are delighted to be supporting the 2019 Homeless World Cup. The tournament provides over 500 people who have faced homelessness with the opportunity to play sport competitively, build their confidence and develop new social relationships. Each of these is vitally important and will improve lives. We wish each player the very best of luck this summer.

The 17th edition of the Homeless World Cup takes place in Cardiff’s Bute Park, from July 27 – August 3.