Case Studies
Business in the Community [BITC] - Big House, Camberwell
Big House, in Camberwell, is a unique residential facility for London’s long term homeless.
This ‘second stage house’ is designed to facilitate the important final step back into mainstream society and is the result of an innovative partnership between the UK’s largest advertising agency, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO (AMV) and the West London Mission, providers of a wide range of care services throughout London.
The two organisations were introduced by Business in the Community in 1999, when Andrew Robertson, then Chief Executive of AMV attended one of HRH The Prince of Wales’s "Seeing is Believing" visits. Following an initial visit to the West London Day Centre, the agency pledged its commitment to filling the gap between life on the streets and a permanent home.
During the visit Heidi Foster, one of the Mission workers, told AMV what her dream solution would be for helping the homeless.
She explained how they often find adjusting to independent living extremely difficult and return to the streets, despite the best efforts of the support agencies. She wanted a second-stage house, somewhere they could go for six months to learn to be independent before moving into their own accommodation. Thus the idea for Big House was born.
The partnership and fund-raising project was led and co-ordinated by Cilla Snowball, AMV’s Chief Executive in partnership with Revd. David Cruise at the West London Mission, along with AMV’s 300 staff, clients and suppliers.
The strength and success of this unique partnership was recognised by the Housing Corporation who provided a generous grant towards the completion of the Big House.
Big House – with its ten self-contained studio apartments – is the result of a three year, £1.2 million fundraising campaign. As well as access to facilities and training, residents have the all-important address from which to make applications for jobs and benefits. Big House opened its doors to residents in spring 2002 and was officially opened by The Prince of Wales on Friday 11 October 2002.
In addition to the agency’s fundraising activities, the partnership between the two organisations generated a range of other valuable outcomes.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, His Royal Highness met Big House residents and spoke of his enthusiasm for the project: ‘I’ve heard so much from the residents about what it means for them. It gives them security and the base from which to start on a new life. And also it enables them to find accommodation beyond this particular house.’
Click here to visit the Business in the Community website.