STAFF from Ilkley-based High Speed Training have raised £11,000 for homeless people after taking part in sponsored walk across Ilkley Moor.

Beam is an award-winning social enterprise that helps homeless people, prison leavers and refugees into secure employment and safe housing by addressing their financial barriers and providing guidance and support.

The online training provider began a partnership with Beam in May 2023 which sees them supporting Beam’s members through regular financial donations and the provision of High Speed Training’s online training, with courses including The Care Certificate, PA and Secretarial Skills and Customer Service Skills being offered.

By offering these free courses, High Speed Training and Beam are working together to equip members with the tools they need to secure stable employment and achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

Fifty-five walkers from High Speed training took part in the Beamwalk, walking 15km and 7km routes locally in Ilkley, with colleagues across the country taking part in other walks. Altogether they raised £11,000 for Beam.

Over the last year, High Speed Training have supported almost 400 people in partnership with Beam, providing over 300 training courses and donating £26,000 to the organisation and they look forward to continuing to help people leave homelessness for good by working together.

Amy Mortimer, Head of Strategic Partnerships at High Speed Training, said: “It was great to see so many of our colleagues choose to get involved in the Beamwalk this year! We’ve managed to increase engagement by around 70 per cent, which demonstrates how much people care about the issue of homelessness, and also that they really enjoy getting together to do some good.

“Working with Beam makes us feel like we are doing our bit to help tackle the issue of homelessness in this country. Through their online portal, we can get closer to Beam’s members, read their stories and send them encouragement ourselves. Our colleagues at High Speed Training really love to do that!”

A registered B-Corp, High Speed Training has also donated over 75,000 breakfasts to schoolchildren across the UK in partnership with Magic Breakfast, a charity that provides free breakfasts to children at their schools.