Crowdfunding platform for homeless wins Queen’s Award

Paige was homeless but now works part-time as a healthcare assistant at a hospital thanks to Beam
Beam

A tech company that helps homeless people find accommodation and employment has been handed a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Beam, believed to be one of the world’s first crowdfunding platform for homeless people, has won the “Promoting Opportunity” category and is among 205 organisations to be recognised nationally.

The platform allows people to donate to individual homeless people, helping them retrain or secure work and accommodation.

Since its launch in 2017 it has raised £2 million in donations and has helped more than 250 homeless people find stable jobs and homes.

One beneficiary from the Philippines told the Standard that she became homeless when she fled a family she was working for.

Leslie, 32, was employed by a family in Dubai who forced her to work “what felt like 24 hours a day” and gave her “little to no pay”.

“Cameras were everywhere watching me and all the doors and windows would be locked. There was just no escape,” she said. 

After a year Leslie was taken to the UK where she escaped and became homeless.

Beam supported her and helped her train as a beautician and she is now in the process of completing her qualification. 

Paige, another beneficiary, became homeless with her three children after a relationship breakdown.

After help from Beam she was able to work 11 to 16 hours a week as a part-time healthcare assistant.

Beam’s model uses crowdfunding to remove the “key barrier” facing homeless people when it comes to finding stable jobs and homes. 

Alex Stephany, founder and CEO of Beam, said: “As a social impact business, Beam is committed to building technology that is just as good as Spotify and Netflix, but for the most disadvantaged people in society. Through this award, we hope to inspire others to use business as a force for good.”

Other winners of the Promoting Opportunity category include Luminary Bakery, which uses baking as a tool to take women on a “journey to employability and entrepreneurship.”

Luminary Bakery
Luminary Bakery

Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants will be presenting the awards to businesses locally throughout the year.

Minister for London Paul Scully said: “This year’s Queen’s Awards are about celebrating businesses that have supported people in their communities by helping them to turn their lives around and gain key skills and experience. 

“London’s Luminary Bakery is a truly inspiring example of a social enterprise, helping women who have survived abuse and trauma to recover from what they’ve been through, regain their independence and flourish,” he added.

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