University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) is helping to train young homeless people to become apprentices as part of an innovative new scheme.

The Learning Hub, based at UHB, is providing pre-apprenticeship training for 30 homeless people aged 18 to 24, who have been nominated by the St Basils homeless charity.

The scheme, entitled RISE – Raising Individuals’ Skills for Employment – and funded by Health Education West Midlands, will result in the homeless young people being offered apprenticeships by Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.

They will also be able to apply for jobs at UHB as other Learning Hub trainees.

Those trainees offered apprenticeships at Sandwell and West Birmingham will also be offered temporary accommodation in a block of apartments opposite Sandwell General Hospital in West Bromwich.

The building, which previously housed Sandwell and West Birmingham staff, has been refurbished after becoming disused.

David Taylor, Head of Regeneration at UHB, said: “We strongly support Sandwell and West Birmingham’s proposal to provide apprenticeships and accommodation for homeless young people.

“This is a highly innovative project and certainly one of the first times in the NHS that pre-apprenticeship training, apprenticeships and accommodation have been specifically targeted at homeless people.”

He added: “Only two per cent of homeless people are in full-time employment, and the average age of death for a male homeless person is 45. So there are really strong economic and health benefits of getting homeless people into work.

“UHB is actively supporting this through its Learning Hub by providing a five week pre-apprenticeship training programme for 30 young homeless people, funded by Health Education West Midlands.

“This is aimed at better preparing them for working in the NHS and reducing the potential drop-out rate during the apprenticeship by providing a better understanding of the NHS, training on job roles and confidence-building, all of which are essential for such a disadvantaged group.

“The initial results are very encouraging indeed.”

The third and final group of homeless young people are due to start their pre-apprentice training at the Learning Hub in October, but it is hoped to continue the scheme next year with further Health Education funding.

Professor Janice Stevens, Managing Director of Health Education England, said: “We are proud to be part of the collaboration in this ground-breaking project that will help support the young people who previously found it hard to gain confidence and self-belief, to enable them to ultimately gain employment and a career in the NHS, through this programme.”

Richard Samuda, Chairman of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust said: “There's real drive and energy around this scheme given the impressive gains achievable in public health where all stakeholders benefit. It encapsulates what integration really means at a practical level.”

Jean Templeton, Chief Executive of St Basils said the initiative was a response to homeless young people telling them what they really needed was a home and a job.

“The scheme provides support, apprenticeships and accommodation. The innovation is that they will be able to take up an apprenticeship and live in safe, affordable accommodation without recourse to benefits. This is only possible through a whole community approach.”