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Guest editorial

Pink cow by Keith Towler

Do you remember that poem about a purple cow? I remember it from somewhere deep in the corner of my mind. A childhood memory perhaps:

I never saw a purple cow,

I never hope to see one,

but I can tell you anyhow,

I\’d rather see than be one!

This poem came to mind as I watched one of two films made by young people involved in Llamau’s youth research teams. All will become clear if you read on. The films were shown at a meeting I had with three groups of young people from Flintshire, Pembrokeshire and Merthyr Tydfil who are currently working on ideas for social enterprises which link youth homlessness with learning, skills and work.

In April last year I visited Llamau in Cardiff and one of the people I met that day was Russell Sykes. Russ recently got back in touch to say that their work was making good progress and he asked me to meet the youth research teams. Russ told me that the research that Llamau did last year showed that 80% of young people using homelessness services aspired to finding a job, but the majority were not in education, training or employment and many cited their current housing situation as a crucial factor in restricting their ability to find something. Llamau wanted to build on these findings and secured funding to run some specific user-led consultation projects in five pilot areas. The groups were tasked with developing learning, skills and employment opportunities for young people accessing homelessness services. Each has developed a social enterprise idea and I met with three of the groups.

The social enterprise ideas had to be commercially viable and include robust business plans. Advisers are on hand from the business sector and Llamau have a fundraiser who will be working with the young people to raise the monies needed.

First up was Us UnLtd from Flintshire. They have developed a business model for ‘The Getaway’ offering advice, accomodation and opportunities for homeless young people. They have found a potential property or two and have a business plan in place. It was clear when we discussed their proposal that their design will make a difference. The business plan sounds pretty good as well. They have still have some way to go, but have made huge progress in a short time.

The next film was from Pembrokeshire – the Pink Cow Project. Not purple but pink but now you can see how my mind works. The film had young people talking from their own experience and outlined the barriers young people experience. ‘Things like getting food. Getting a shower and washing. You can get a shower at the leisure centre but it costs money’. This from a young person who has been sofa surfing and had lived in a tent until it flooded out. The business plan is for an organic dairy farm offering the opportunity to acquire skills, qualifications and work for homeless young people. A great idea and the business plan is in place. The pink cow is even possible, I’m told, if you feed your cattle with an organic beetroot concentrate – they have thought of everything!

The third group was from Merthyr. They have not been working on this as long as the other two so their film is not yet finalised. But just like the other groups, they have made quick progress. They have developed a business plan for a user-led cyber café offering information, advice and support for homeless young people.

There is also a group in Gwynedd working on a business plan for an outdoor pool and walled garden in Dolgellau. Another is working in Conwy on a Business Hub idea where a unit would be rented out to a local business on the condition they take an apprentice. The hub will provide business support and as the business grows and moves on, the apprentice stays and establishes their own business and takes on an apprentice. As the process repeats itself, small businesses should grow.

At the end of our meeting I was asked what I thought. How could anyone not be impressed by all these business ideas? I told everyone that I was pretty blown away by what I had seen.

What an inspirational and fantastic group of young people. Real experience coupled with a vision for the future and backed up with a business plan centered on commercial viability. All too often society is quick to condemn homeless young people, to judge them before they even know or understand. Here we have groups of young people working across Wales on social enterprise ideas that have the potential to make a real difference. What better example can there be of the positive things that young people can contribute to society if they are given the chance?

This is an edited extract from the blog of Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler www.childcom.org.uk/en/keiths-blog.


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