{"id":6327,"date":"2020-09-11T15:21:57","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T15:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=6327"},"modified":"2020-09-11T16:52:46","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T16:52:46","slug":"transforming-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2020\/09\/11\/transforming-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Transforming Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Launchpad \u2013 which started as a soup kitchen run by Reading students \u2013 is now Reading\u2019s leading homelessness prevention charity. Ian Caren, the Chief Executive Officer at Launchpad, tells CONNECTED what inspired him to join the charity, how it has changed and how they have been helping the homeless during COVID-19.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Protecting the community and helping people to grow, develop and achieve has always been the primary motivation throughout Ian\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

Ian initially trained as a teacher, but soon after decided to become a social worker where he worked with vulnerable young adults \u2013 mainly from black and Afro-Caribbean backgrounds \u2013 who were living in East London. He said:<\/p>\n

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\u201cGiving these people the opportunity to grow and develop was truly wonderful \u2013 I experienced some of the best and worst moments of my life\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In 1990, Ian went on to work as a probation officer with Hampshire Probation Service where he continued to work with vulnerable young adults. Ian explained: \u201cThe people I worked with were full of life, bright and intelligent, and who, if they had had a decent education \u2013 which most of them didn\u2019t have \u2013 would have been very successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cI helped set up programmes such as the \u2018Sex Offender Treatment Programme\u2019 and the \u2018Domestic Violence Perpetrators Programme\u2019. It was really challenging and difficult, but worthwhile, because what you\u2019re doing is protecting the community and helping people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ian became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Launchpad in 2006, and it was his commitment to social justice and helping to give everyone an equal opportunity to achieve, that inspired him to take on the role.<\/p>\n

Transforming the charity<\/strong><\/h4>\n

When Ian first joined Launchpad, there were 15 staff members and 20 volunteers. Since 2006, the charity has grown considerably \u2013 they now have 50 staff members and over 100 volunteers \u2013 and focus on offering three key services to vulnerable people in Reading: preventing homelessness,\u00a0providing homes\u00a0and\u00a0rebuilding lives.<\/p>\n

Ian explained: \u201cWhat we\u2019ve managed to do over the years is to find accommodation, buy houses and build houses \u2013 which I never imagined we\u2019d be able to do. A big part of our future strategy will be investing in property so that we can provide more accommodation\u201d.<\/p>\n

To help vulnerable people rebuild their lives, this autumn the charity will be opening Reading\u2019s first work and life skills centre which will offer the following facilities:<\/p>\n