Case Studies

The Power of Partnership Between Moxie and The Wallich

Moxie People is on a mission to drive meaningful change, and it all starts with partnerships that matter.

At Moxie, we’re passionate about doing things differently.

Moxie People was born from a desire to help purpose-led organisations find the right people to drive their missions forward.

Alongside our recruitment services we wanted to find a way to support the amazing sectors and organisations we support with their fundamental mission to improve the lives of the tenants and the service users they support. We wanted to prove that profit could come with purpose – and hey presto!

In 2021, the Moxie Foundation was launched, with a commitment to reinvest 5% of our profits into a dedicated bursary. That can support individuals we may not be able to support through our recruitment services with their journeys into the world of work.

We set up the Moxie Foundation because we believe real change happens when recruitment agencies work in synergy with the sectors they support – not only filling their vacancies.

Our commitment goes beyond providing funding; it’s about building trust, aligning on shared goals, and collaborating to create meaningful, lasting impact. This ethos is exemplified in our partnership with The Wallich, a homelessness charity making a real difference across Wales.

In 2023, we awarded our first grant through our Charity Partner of the Year, The Wallich. We sat down with Dave Bennett, Head of Service Innovation and Enhancement at the Wallich to discuss the process and how the grants can make a difference.

The Wallich's Mission

The Wallich’s mission to combat homelessness through their comprehensive support and employability training, aligns closely with Moxie’s commitment to empowering individuals to create a better future.

What we recognise is that giving someone a roof over their head and accommodation is great, but to break those cycles of homelessness, you need to give a sense of purpose. Empower them, and give them opportunities to progress to education, training and employment, to get a secure income so they can get their own accommodation and retain this sort of tenancy.
David Bennett
Head of Service Innovation

The Challenge

Operating across Wales, The Wallich tackles homelessness by providing more than just shelter.

Their programmes aim to support personal growth, employability, and independence, offering pathways out of homelessness and towards meaningful lives. However, the charity faces significant challenges:

Funding:

  • Government support through housing grants limits The Wallich’s ability to offer
    essential, wrap-around services that prevent recurring homelessness. As a result,
    the Wallich relies on obtaining funding through trusts and foundations, such as the
    Moxie Foundation, the National Lottery Fund, Moondance or the Arts Council for
    Wales.
Sometimes, what you get from funders is that they'll give you some money and you don't hear from them. But with Moxie you have those conversations, and it’s important for someone to be directly involved and interested in the outcomes for those individuals.
David Bennett
Head of Service Innovation

Competition:

  • With rising costs and economic pressures, The Wallich finds itself competing for a shrinking pool of funding, often limited to short-term grants that do not fully meet the needs of the necessary long-term projects.

“We've got to come together really, and I think we know that to really end homelessness - corporate organisations included - we need to amplify our voice and raise awareness of the challenges being faced there.”

Moxie's Support

The Moxie Foundation’s partnership with The Wallich extends beyond funding.

Through flexible grants, we enabled The Wallich to allocate resources where they can make the greatest impact. This approach supported them in providing additional support to individuals identified as having the potential to rebuild their lives, offering assistance that was previously out of reach.

Dave Bennett, Head of Service Innovation and Enhancement from the Wallich expresses his gratitude:

"It gives people the belief that there's a funder there, which truly supports the work you do."

Sam, Lucy and Brett Standing in The Moxie Office

This approach has supported projects like the BOSS project, which helps former prisoners reintegrate and avoid reoffending.

“Obviously they face huge barriers and stigma due to that being an ex-offender. So, having an organisation like Moxie saying, we want to help you, it's given a real boost of relief really. Your funding came at just the right time to help get this business off the ground. Without that, he wouldn't be able to get this business up and running and he’d be back to square one.”

Dave Bennett | Head of Service Innovation

Supporting Thomas

Our partnership gave individuals, such as Thomas, a fresh start with Moxie’s grant enabling him to establish a removals business.

Stability:

  • Moxie’s support allowed Thomas to build a viable business, giving him an income
    and reducing the risk of reoffending.

Positive Recognition:

  • His business has since garnered 22 reviews, underscoring his success and propelling his business forward.

"When we first got engaged with Thomas, he was so obviously really motivated to make a life himself and his family. He had the skills from previous employment in regards to the area work that he's now going into with his removal business."

Dave Bennett | Head of Service Innovation

A future:

  • Thomas’s journey highlights the powerful impact of trust-based funding, transforming an individual’s life and contributing positively to the community.
It has made a real difference and we can see that. With that funding he's been able to set up his own business. He's had his challenges, but there's 22 Google reviews saying how good he is.”
David Bennett
Head of Service Innovation

Our Partnership

Moxie prides itself on being more than a funder - we are a partner.

"Moxie People genuinely want to make that difference. It's not done because you want to tick a box, put in an annual report or help you win a contract elsewhere.

You do it for the right reasons, and that's what it's about."

Dave Bennett | Head of Service Innovation

David Bennett - The Wallich

We aim to building strong, collaborative relationships with our partners, staying actively involved throughout the entire project lifecycle.

During times of economic uncertainty, the Moxie Foundation’s funding aimed to support projects that faced these funding issues and create meaningful and lasting changes in people’s lives. Beyond its immediate support, our contributions allowed The Wallich to help provide a long-term solution for one of their service users, making a tangible and positive difference for those they support.

"I've been really impressed by Moxie as an organisation. The values and what they're looking to work towards in regards to supporting, especially the third sector. They understand what the Wallich is working towards, the importance of the work we do, and have that trust really to carry out the work we need to."

Dave Bennett | Head of Service Innovation

The Future

Working with The Wallich has underscored the importance of flexible, trust-based funding.

As we look forward, Moxie aims to expand this model, exploring new ways to make impactful support accessible to organisations that best understand local needs.

Targeted Funding.

  • As Moxie grows, so will the amount of money we pay forward to the Foundation. With increased funds, we’ll further empower our partners to apply for and allocate funds as needed, enabling them to make meaningful, localised impact.

Our partnership with The Wallich highlights the difference that flexible, values-aligned funding can make.

Together, we are helping people like Thomas to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities. With continued collaboration, Moxie aim to work with the Wallich and other organisations to build towards a future where homelessness is addressed at its roots, and support is offered to transform lives across Wales.

Let’s discuss how Moxie can help!

If you or your organisation would like to discuss our upcoming funding rounds in 2025, please get in touch with us today!

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