Podcast: Homelessness charity sets out Jamie Oliver style vision for Soho club

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Since 1862, the House of St. Barnabas has been a charity supporting homeless people in London. But what do you with a beautiful but run down grade-1 listed building in the centre of Soho that can't cut it anymore as a homeless hostel?

Sell it, rent it out? They'd be the obvious solutions. But what would a social entrepreneur do? 
 
“Our plans are brave... I think that’s one way of putting it” said CEO Sandra Shembri, “We intend to open a not for profit private members club within the building.”
 
Following the lead of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen, the club’s vision is to integrate a scheme into the day-to-day workings of the club, giving professional skills training to homeless people and individuals struggling to find employment. But it wasn’t Jamie that gave them the idea.
 
During a new lease of life as a Soho events venue, frequented by Bloomsbury, 21st Century Fox and members of Quintessentially, The House of St Barnabas thronged with people enquiring into the charitable work of the house and offering their help.
 
And then came the light-bulb moment:
 
“We sat down and said, hang on a second, we could integrate this, we have an employment academy upstairs, where we are training people in hospitality… we have a hospitality business downstairs… why are we not joining this up?”
 
After government cuts threatened to strip out its social foundations, the House of St Barnabas is innovating with a renewed sense of purpose. Tim West went along to meet the team to find out more...
 
 

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