Press

How ACH is working with UK Youth and Starbucks to help young refugees in Bristol into employment

ACH is partnering with the Engine Shed and Barton Hill Settlement to bring Bristol and Bath’s established business support ecosystem into under-represented communities.

'ACH, an Easton-based social enterprise, launched 10 years ago and has grown to become a leading provider of resettlement and integration services for refugees in the UK, with 60 employees. The organisation works with Bristol businesses to help them recruit talent from local communities they previously struggled to access.'

A social enterprise and an investment company worked together on an investment model said to re-balance the present system.

ACH have been working with Bristol City Council to renovate empty properties in the city and turn them into move-on accommodation for our tenants. So far, we have fixed up 7 properties which have been leased to us from the Council. 

'With more than 11,000 people on Bristol’s social housing waiting list and Local Housing Allowance rates insufficient to access the private rental market, ACH’s housing manager Said Mohamed says the new homes can play an important role.'

ACH have been working with Bristol City Council to fill empty homes in the city. ITV West Country filmed a story about one of our tenants, Ahmed, and interviewed our Housing Manager Saed. Hear Ahmed's story and about how ACH are helping to house the homeless in Bristol. 

At the heart of the 10 year plan was a ‘eureka’ moment, where I realised so much of the work I had been involved in was creating marginalisation and then perpetuating it.' 

Richard Thickpenny, Business Development Manager for ACH, talks through his ideas behind creating a 10 year business plan.  

Published on 21/02/2018 in Up Our Street Spring 2018 edition.  

SETsquared Bristol, a tech business accelerator based at the Engine Shed, has partnered with Ashley Community Housing (ACH) and Up Our Street (UOS) to identify barriers faced by BAME communities and help break them down, to ensure those with the right skills get the support required. 

Director Abdi Mohamed said: “This is a great initiative because it will give us an opportunity to explore the skills and experience that the BAME community can offer the high tech industry in Bristol, along with the challenges they face.” 

Published on 19/02/2018 by Bristol 24/7.