Innovation

The innovation of Aberdeen Foyer is the implementation of the Foyer model, which has generally been used within European government frameworks, in an independent organization. As a social enterprise, Aberdeen Foyer has the ability to manage its own operations as well as the freedom to collaborate with other services, i.e., partnerships with the local North East Scotland College (learning and training) and NHS Grampian (mental health services).

A social enterprise, the Foyer is heavily reliant on public funding. However, with the lack of security of guaranteed public funding, they must find other ways to generate financial resources. The way in which they do this is by integrating small businesses that invest their profits in the Foyer, as well as providing opportunities for employment and skills development for their clients.

In the late 2000s, it was identified that there was a clear link between pupils disengaging in school and youth homelessness. Therefore, the Foyer, with the support of schools in Aberdeen City, extended their reach to work with 14- to 19-year olds, aiming to encourage their re-engagement in education or vocational training. The aim was to intervene at an earlier stage to prevent social issues later in life, including possible prevention of homelessness. Importantly, the work also involves the wider family.

Inspiration

Ken Milroy, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Foyer, believes that “investing in young people is not optional. We cannot fail those who need accommodation with support, who need someone to listen to them, sometimes challenge them, and respect them; who need to know there is hope and opportunity; who need to know that they too can succeed.”

The growth in youth homelessness, for which there are many causes, led to the formation of Aberdeen Foyer. It is dedicated to tackling the issues by:

• Providing employment support opportunities and skills development.
• Reintroducing disadvantaged people back into society.
• Improving the level of education of young people.
• Assisting in recovery from substances abuse.
• Protecting them from domestic issues.

Historically, it has been the responsibility of local government to deal with the causes and consequences of youth homelessness by providing a range of services. Aberdeen Foyer found that young people using these services were disaffected and felt they were “being pushed from pillar to post” (Ken Milroy, CE). This inspired the Foyer to implement the Foyer model within the local setting of Aberdeen City and Shire. The model provides a haven for young people to grow and to explore their aspirations, allowing them to achieve goals they could not have dreamed of before.

Aberdeen Foyer endeavors to join up services to address the challenges facing this disadvantaged group of young people by providing shelter and a safe environment for young people who may have experienced a difficult start in life, allowing them to overcome personal challenges and barriers to employment, and in the process helping them to feel valued in society and build their future.

Overall impact

Aberdeen Foyer has had a profound local impact. Every year they assist, on average, 2,500 people across the organization. Data from 2016 shows that 153 young people were housed; 440 achieved accredited, employer-recognized qualifications; and 530 moved on to either employment, education, training, or volunteer work. These figures demonstrate Aberdeen Foyer’s contribution to reducing levels of youth homelessness, providing employment opportunities and skills development for young people and the wider community, supporting reintegration of disadvantaged youth back into society, facilitating recovery from substance abuse, and building a sense of worth, purpose, and community.

When established, Aberdeen Foyer intended to make a positive impact in Aberdeen City and Shire. Their practices have been recognized and emulated by Foyers in Australia and Norway. In recent years, through staffing exchanges, the Foyer has assisted these countries in implementing their own models, creating impact on an international scale.

Business benefit

Due to the social purpose of the organization, one of the business aims is to secure sustainable funding to support the Foyer to operate.

As a social enterprise, Aberdeen Foyer has a mixed funding model, adding value from commercial activities alongside public-sector support. While public-sector funding is often based on meeting targets, Aberdeen Foyer tops up its finances through entrepreneurial activities that are integrated within the Foyer, such as Roadwise Driver Training, Foyer Graphics (graphic design) and Foyer Works (property maintenance).

To track and evaluate continual progress Aberdeen Foyer has partnered with Robert Gordon University in a project to assess and measure overall impact. This collaboration benefits Robert Gordon University’s PhD students by expanding their expertise and knowledge of social enterprise in the community.

Social and environmental benefit

Aberdeen Foyer was established to tackle rising levels of youth homelessness. In 2016, they managed to accommodate 153 people, despite only having 65 units. The company attributes this to efficient processes and understanding their clients’ needs. Many young people are “going through a massive transformational time in their life” (Ken Milroy, CE), underlining the importance of early-stage interventions, which act as a springboard to overcome challenges for a brighter future.

Aberdeen Foyer has attained SQA accreditation, which allows them to provide employer-recognized qualifications, enhancing core skills and helping clients to improve their CVs and prospects of employment as well as working with employed people who wish to upskill and gain qualifications. In 2016 the Foyer supported 440 individuals in their efforts to achieve accredited qualifications and a further 530 people into employment, education, training, or volunteer work.

Foyer Futures is a service provided by the Foyer that supports young people of secondary school age who are disengaged from education. Foyer Futures has been providing support and assistance to reconnect young people showing signs of disengagement with education and learning. Their aim is to raise young people’s confidence in their own abilities and help themselves to progress successfully into adult life. Aberdeen Foyer believes in customized (as opposed to standardized) services, acknowledging diversity in the group and providing tailored services. Through working with families, young people, and schools, Foyer Futures has successfully reunited 11 young people with their families.

The Foyer tackles other important social issues such as reducing risks of mental health issues, as well as reducing the chances of violent behavior, substance abuse, and alcohol-related illnesses.

Foyer Health can help address issues relating to the health and wellbeing of clients by working alongside NHS Grampian, the local health service. Providing resources and information, NHS Grampian assists the Foyer, which offers a holistic approach to wellbeing. One way in which they do this is by offering counseling to deal with anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma, relationship issues, family issues, and drug and alcohol problems.

The Foyer has also set up the Impact Project for adults suffering from long-term mental health issues. The aims of this self-management project are to:

• Reduce feelings of isolation.
• Aid recovery.
• Enable effective self-management of client’s condition.
• Build confidence in dealing with everyday life.
• Identify client’s capabilities, skills, and aspirations and provide opportunities.

Aberdeen Foyer continues to benefit the local community through their hard work, passion, and innovation.

Interview

Ken Milroy, Chief Executive