Our CSR Agenda

As part of our commitment to the partnership, Blue Arrow has signed the Crisis Homelessness Covenant. The Covenant, developed and launched by Crisis, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in September 2023, is an initiative aimed at addressing homelessness in communities together with employers.

The covenant creates inclusive opportunities for job seekers who have experienced homelessness and helps employers adopt helpful work practices for those at risk of homelessness within their own workforce.

 

More information about Employer Pledges:

 

1.     Provide employment and training opportunities for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness

 

What this might look like .. 

•           Provide jobs, work trials, work experience, placements, traineeships, and apprenticeships for people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness, including rough sleepers

•           Engage with our Employment Brokerage Service

•           Provide career and personal development support to enable employees to sustain their employment.  This can include on the job training, access to courses, mentorship and progression opportunities. 

•           Develop a wrap-around support package for new/existing employees i.e., dedicated HR partner, mentor, coach

•           Collaborate with referring partners to deliver wrap-around support

•           Feedback/improvement: engage with the Employment Brokerage Service/referring partner/Crisis to for feedback to make adjustments if needed

•           Measuring and reporting: share data with the Homelessness Covenant such as case studies or surveys to demonstrate changes that have occurred since implementing the Pledges

 

 

2.     Adopt fairer recruitment and employment policies and practices to support people affected by homelessness.

 

What this might look like ..

 

•           Adopt, or commit to work towards fair employment policies that prevent and end homelessness, including (based on the Good Business Charter commitments):  

•           Pay the Living wage: Real Living Wage set out by the Living Wage Foundation

•           Fair hours and contracts: Either no, or work towards, zero-hour contracts

•          Employee wellbeing – including support for staff at risk of or experiencing homelessness: fair and transparent policies that support and encourage employee well-being  eg Employee Assistance Programme, rent/deposit loan scheme, support for staff at risk of or experiencing homelessness 

•          Employee representation: employee representatives that ensure employers have a voice 

•          Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: employers to evidence that EDI is being monitored and data is analysed and is used to addressed issues related to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

•         Mentorship and onboarding

  

   Commitment to review recruitment processes:

•     Enhancing accessibility to jobs (using our employment brokerage service)  

•        Offering guaranteed interviews to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness (if they meet the vacancy criteria)  

•        Offering Work Trials  

•        Eliminating bias  

•        Demonstrating a commitment to inclusion (based on BITC’s inclusive recruitment campaign) 

•        Policy review and revision: review current policies and practices 

•        Inclusive job postings 

•     Flexible applications processes

 

3.     Help end homelessness in local communities through fundraising, raising awareness, partnerships, and volunteering.

 

What this might look like ..

 

•         Fundraising campaigns
•        Awareness raising campaigns
•        Partnership development with local businesses and community organisations
•        Volunteer recruitment and programmes
•        Support local housing initiatives
•        Engagement with local support services
•        Supporting Homelessness prevention initiatives and campaigns
•        Education and job training
•        Advocacy
•        Community engagement
•        Data collection and analysis

 

For more information click here

To sign the petition click here