Jean Templeton joins the board of Birmingham Pathfinder CIC

Jean Templeton, the outgoing CEO of the youth homelessness charity St. Basil’s, has just joined the board of Birmingham Pathfinder CIC as chair. Jean has long been a close friend, ally and supporter of our work, and brings invaluable expertise, perspective and drive. We are really excited to be going forward with her at our helm.

I am delighted to join the Board of Pathfinder CIC.

I know from my previous role as CEO of St Basils and former Chair of WMCA Homelessness Taskforce that unless we are able to tackle the systemic drivers of exclusion, including the ultimate exclusion of homelessness, we will always continue to deal with the presenting issues of people at the point of crisis. To me this means making our mainstream systems which work for some of us, Inclusive, so they work for all. In effect, what we would describe as ‘Universal Prevention’.

I have had the privilege of working alongside Pathfinder over the last 10 years and have been inspired by the recognition that collective early intervention involving families as equal partners, working within the community setting of schools, and using a psychologically informed ‘shared authority’ model, co-creates shared learning for all and improves experiences and opportunities.

The Pathfinder’s Shared Authority work offers a truly inclusive approach to community development, enabling some of the most disadvantaged and those facing multiple adversities to become active agents of change in their communities. Furthermore, this work is sustainable because the Pathfinder is deeply embedded in place, aiming to continually deepen and enrich the fabric of the community through a regenerative, ecosystem approach.

The learning from Pathfinder over the last 10 years has been independently evaluated and shared widely and is assisting and encouraging others to consider whether this is a model which can be used more widely.  The support across sectors is invaluable and I look forward to working with all to ensure the work is continued, embedded, extended and provides learning and opportunities for all.

I believe this work is a Pathfinder which contributes to so many shared agendas and as a place-based universal approach can provide a safe and adaptable model for many communities.