We spoke to the people behind Rebuilt4U, an not for profit organisation that aim to provide affordable housing to those in some of the UK’s most deprived areas.
Rebuilt4U was founded by Daniel Hill, a successful entrepreneur. Daniel makes regular TV appearances on shows such as Channel 4’s Ultimate Dealers and SuperScrimpers, BBC’s 24 Hours in the Past, and most recently the hit Dave show Storage Hunters UK. This wheeler dealer will turn his hand to anything, but his passion is to help others.
Dan struggled at school, and at the age of 10 he could barely read or write. He was later diagnosed with dyslexia and his battle really began. In his early twenties he found himself unemployed, claiming benefits and living in a hostel amongst drug addicts and criminals. Dan knew he needed to turn his life around.
With a bit of knowledge about the construction industry, he had a light bulb moment and set up his first business with just £50. Loaning transport and securing space in a neighbour’s back garden for £20 a week, he began collecting surplus materials from building sites and selling them on for a profit. At the young age of 21, Dan was often laughed at and shunned. No one took him seriously, but his determination did not allow him to give up. Within a few years, Dan was supplying many building professionals. His hard work continued and he now runs several successful businesses.
Life can be a struggle and sometimes you just need a helping hand. That’s where Rebuilt4U come in. We believe in empowering communities to improve their own situations. We are proud of the values we have, we’re passionate about the things we do, and we are committed to the communities and people we work with. Our social enterprise want to tackle three big issues:
- Homelessness
- Unemployment
- Environmental issues
Every 14 minutes a person/family are made homeless, and every year there are more than 50,000 households classed as homeless. That’s a staggering figure in a country full of empty properties. Rebuilt4U renovate dilapidated houses and provide homes for those in need. We work with fantastic companies who donate materials and individuals (skilled & unskilled) to complete our projects. Our aim is use reclaimed, upcycled and surplus materials to help reduce landfill waste. Ultimately, rejuvenating housing that is affordable and accessible for a community is our top priority. As a community interest company, we ensure profits are invested back into the community, ensuring more properties can be renovated.
The first Rebuilt4U project has begun in the UK’s most deprived area – Jaywick, Essex. It’s a seaside village that’s also dubbed “The UK’S Shanti Town”. With buildings struggling to stand and no heating or insulation, conditions are quite extreme and the level of unemployment is above average. Help is greatly needed here.
We invite you to find out more about our project and how you can help us help house the homeless, reduce unemployment and care for our environment.
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