Homes
A safe, stable home is the foundation for everything else – health, education, family life and the chance to thrive.
Why this matters
We believe everyone’s future should be shaped by a safe and stable home.
We back the organisations advocating for change and those on the ground delivering safe, stable homes, working to build a housing system that prevents homelessness and protects those already affected.
Our ambition
Children and young people should never have their futures limited by the risk of homelessness. We’re working towards widespread provision of housing that enables every family to live in a stable, healthy home and build strong foundations for the future.
What began as a question—“How can we create better options for young people in mental health crisis?”—became a shared mission between Look Ahead and the Wates Family Enterprise Trust.
Read more about Funding that moves things forward: look ahead’s action‑driven partnership with WFETThis research exposes how housing-related debt traps single mothers and their children in temporary accommodation, and how fairer policies could help families move towards safety, stability and a real home.
Read more about A researcher’s story: what our work means for single mothers and their childrenFor many families, temporary accommodation is not just a housing issue, it shapes childhood itself. Frequent moves disrupt schooling, access to healthcare is inconsistent and the conditions many families face can harm both physical and mental health.
Read more about Hidden in plain sight: making children in temporary accommodation visibleHow we're creating change
Tim is Chairman of the Wates Group and has worked in the business since 1993, for much of that time focusing on complex housing issues, whether in land development, urban regeneration, or his role as trustee of the Wates Family Enterprise Trust leading the work on Homes as a Foundation for Life.
Tim has a particular passion for bringing together the public, private and charitable sectors to foster collaboration. He has done so in recent years in roles such as Chair of the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, High Sheriff of Surrey, and trustee of various charities including The Clink.
He draws on these experiences, as well as the Wates business’s deep housing expertise, in guiding WFET’s work on homelessness, the needs of vulnerable populations for safe and secure temporary accommodation, and other pressing housing issues.
Learn more and connect: LinkedIn
I lead the Wates Family Enterprise Trust and I also oversee our Homes programme. I started my career as a teacher before moving into international development, living and working across Africa and Asia in education and child rights. That experience brought me face to face with the link between a safe, stable home and a child’s ability to develop, learn and thrive.
It also taught me to question power dynamics in funding relationships – and to recognise the strength in working collaboratively. In most of the grants WFET offers, we encourage other funders to work alongside us. In many cases we’re one of three or four funders supporting work on a particular issue, which brings benefits, insights and opportunities for organisations to join forces. That shapes everything about how WFET works.
I am trained in Art of Hosting facilitation, which underpins how I convene and lead conversations across the Trust’s work.
If you are a funder and are interested in learning more, please get in touch.
We welcome conversations with organisations, partners and fellow funders who share our commitment.
Insecure, unhealthy housing prevents children and families from getting the fair start and stability they deserve. We back the people delivering safe, affordable homes and those driving for change – so everyone has a secure place to build their future.
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