Kier, a leading provider of construction and infrastructure services, is today announcing its new corporate charity partner, End Youth Homelessness (EYH), a UK-wide movement of local charities that have joined forces to tackle homelessness together.

The new two-year partnership will help in the charity’s aim of ending youth homelessness on a national scale, to give vulnerable young people a future. The Kier Foundation, an independently registered charity that support Kier’s charity partner, has worked with EYH to create a new campaign ‘Shaping Futures’. The campaign has three objectives over the next two years:

• Shaping Lives: to raise £200,000 to fund employment, education and training programmes that will give 1-2-1, tailored support to 160 homeless young people across the UK;
• Shaping Homes: donating ‘gift in kind’ donations of up to £10,000 to support and help EYH member charities through volunteering and the renovation of youth hostels and homes;
• Shaping Careers: by providing opportunities for young homeless people through work experience and apprentices on local projects spanning the UK.

Andrew Davies, chief executive of Kier, said: “Working together with End Youth Homelessness will allow our people to use their collective skills and experience to offer career opportunities and guidance to some of the UK’s most vulnerable young people. Over the next two years, we aim to change the lives of as many young homeless people as possible by giving them dedicated support and advice.”

Nick Connolly, MD of EYH said: “We are thrilled to launch End Youth Homelessness’ partnership with Kier Group.  Although these are tumultuous times, homeless young people need the same support they ever have, albeit more urgently. 

“Kier Group will be at the heart of our efforts to help homeless young people secure high quality and sustainable jobs. Our Shaping Futures programme will help hundreds of young people become successful and independent adults.”