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40 Stories of Impact: LandAid House

As part of our 40th anniversary, we are shining a light on 40 stories of Impact that have shaped LandAid throughout the years.

Today we are shouting out the opening of the LandAid House, a true milestone in our history. What started off as a new challenge for LandAid, today is an incredible resource helping hundreds of young people towards independence.

LandAid House is the first purpose built accommodation to open in London for over a decade and offers 118 ensuite bedrooms in flats for six people, four one- and 12 two-bed flats and 16 fully-accessible rooms. The building provides a safe space for 146 young people to transition from a life on a street or a friend’s sofa to independence. Over 10,000 young people will benefit over its 60-year lifespan.

For this piece, we sat down with our CEO, Paul Morrish, YMCA City & North CEO and LandAid Trustee Gillian Bowen, and former Head of the Board Liz Peace, to talk all things LandAid house: its origins, the process, the obstacles and big wins.

 

 

How it all began...

How it all began...

We were first approached by YMCA around 2016, asking for our support on the rebuilding of their existing Old Street hostel.

“It was one of the biggest grants we’d been asked for to date, which certainly meant we were up for a challenge. Nevertheless, one we would be up for. So we decided to go to the hostel and take a look at the work that was needed.” – Paul Morrish, CEO at LandAid

When the LandAid team acquired the building, it was clear that a lot of work was needed. The existing infrastructure was no longer fit for the purpose of rebuilding young people’s lives; it needed a fresh start. Which meant completely demolishing the building…

Even though this project required us to raise more money than ever before, we recognised that what they were trying to produce was incredibly progressive, and clearly there was a large need for it.
Paul Morrish, CEO at LandAid
Mike Slade OBE donates £1 million to LandAid House

Mike Slade OBE donates £1 million to LandAid House

Mike Slade, one of LandAid’s Trustees at the time, generously donated an incredible 1 million pounds for this project exclusively, truly allowing it to take off.

Becoming LandAid legacy

Becoming LandAid legacy

With LandAid raising an additional £500,000 through events such as the SleepOut for LandAid House, the building became part of LandAid legacy.

Thanks to our property industry connections, we were also able to introduce thousands of pounds worth of pro bono support into the process.

LandAid House was a real innovation for us. We had always prided ourselves on being able to identify the best and most effective agencies to support in our campaign against youth homelessness. But being able to put funds into an actual building - which we were able to do largely thanks to the generosity of the wonderful Mike Slade - really showed the world how our industry could play to its strength and come up with a real asset that could contribute so much to helping young people
Liz Peace CBE, LandAid Patron and former Chair of the Board.

LandAid House opens its doors.

In order for the accommodation open its doors in 2019, LandAid got involved at many stages of the process: from planning, to overcoming legal challenges, and beyond. YMCA enabled regular visits to the site, allowing us to follow the process closely, whilst bringing people along the journey, showcasing what LandAid does, and explaining the challenges that young people face.

The final result? A resource that is better designed, more psychologically informed, and supports the evolution of young people as they gradually move towards independence.

LandAid House is home to Kai

LandAid House is home to Kai

Kai was ‘asked’ to leave his family home due to a breakdown in the relationship with his parents. He arrived at LandAid House feeling stuck and uncertain what to do next. He already had many of the skills that he needed to live independently but was unsure which direction to take next. He needed time to settle and reflect.

It took time, but Kai started to believe that he could change. He started to believe that there was a better life ahead.

After a few months he was offered a job and quickly started to get a sense of satisfaction through it. In turn, that sustained his interest in becoming self-reliant. He has now decided he wanted to find his own home. With help he set a budget and started saving for a deposit. Today Kai has got his own room and is living independently.

YMCA’s LandAid House stands as a powerful example of what is possible when the property industry, philanthropy and frontline services come together with a shared purpose. Crucially, this investment has transformed the living environment for young people who have experienced homelessness. High quality, purpose built accommodation has replaced instability with safety, dignity and consistency. This creates a foundation from which residents can engage with tailored support, rebuild confidence and move towards independent living. The impact is both measurable and deeply human. Independent analysis shows that for every £1 invested in LandAid House, more than £2.70 of social value will be generated, improving individual futures. Strategic partnerships can deliver lasting solutions to youth homelessness.
Gillian Bowen, Chief Executive of YMCA London City and North & LandAid Trustee

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