Erdington event supports Birmingham’s most vulnerable communities

Birmingham, 8 November 2024 – Trident Reach’s PURE Project, in collaboration with the Birmingham Supported Exempt Accommodation (SEA) Forum, offered resources and advice to residents living in temporary supported accommodation impacted by homelessness. It offered advice from multiple services, including housing providers, employability support, mental health resources, substance misuse support, legal guidance, and local community provisions. Visitors were offered advice from stallholders, including:

• Birmingham & Solihull DWP 
• Shelter’s Residents Rights Advice Team 
• Birmingham Mind 
• The Refugee and Migrant Centre 
• Salvation Army Employability Plus 
• Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid

The event also brought together housing support workers and enabled collaboration among SEA providers, local authorities, and service organisations to ensure sustained success for this and future initiatives. The event also welcomed Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Simon Topman MBE, who toured the event marketplace. He was accompanied by Michael Walsh, Head of Service – Commissioning, PURE’s Project Manager Tabriz Hussain, and Birmingham SEA Forum’s Chair Jamie Pearson. Other attendees included senior representatives from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sarah Carpenter and Amy Price.

The event was hosted at St Chad’s Church Centre in Erdington, a region with a high concentration of SEA providers. There was a focus on SEA practices and its impact on local communities. Attendees learned about best practices in tenant engagement. They offered advisory services aligned with regulations like the Supported Exempt Accommodation Quality Standards (SEAQS) and Housing Benefit (Supported Exempt Accommodation) Regulations 1996. 

This event was part of Trident Reach’s delivery of the PURE Project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The groups and types of barriers the PURE Project covers are those over the age of 18, including:

• People who are homeless or vulnerably housed
• Women fleeing domestic abuse
• People with learning disabilities and difficulties
• People with mental health difficulties
• People with physical and sensory disabilities

Anita Brennan who oversees PURE at Trident Reach said “This event highlights the power of collaboration. By connecting SEA residents with trusted organisations and services, we’re helping individuals in our community find the support and guidance they need to thrive. It’s inspiring to see so many people committed to making a real difference, and we’re especially grateful to our guest, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Simon Topman MBE, for his support and interest in the challenges faced by SEA residents in Birmingham.”

The PURE Project Lead, Tabriz Hussain said, “Our marketplace event embodies the PURE Project’s mission to make essential support services accessible to Birmingham’s residents. By bringing together a range of resources under one roof, we empower individuals with the tools they need to overcome barriers, access meaningful support, and work towards a brighter, more independent future. We’re incredibly thankful to our partners and attendees for their dedication to creating positive change within our community.”