Pivot
1821. Alice Moxley
Alice Moxley, from London, who trained as an architect, founded ‘Pivot’ in November 2019, a social enterprise running jewellery-making programmes for people based in temporary accommodation, aiming to alleviate the effects of homelessness by providing meaningful work-based and creative training in hostels whilst providing coaching and support.
Alice spent two years helping other organisations build innovative solutions to tackling homelessness, including working with the YMCA, the catering social enterprise Fat Macy’s and UK national homelessness charity Crisis, before realising she could make her own initiative, utilising her technical expertise of making jewellery to support others in gaining new skills and pivoting their lives towards greater financial security. ‘Pivot’ runs a 12-week programme made up of weekly sessions which take the ‘makers’ through areas of design, marketing, making and selling jewellery on market stalls across London. The enterprise also financially supports makers by paying their hostel service charge and offering them regular group and 1-1 coaching with a life coach.
In a personal letter to Alice, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“Your initiative ‘Pivot’ is an excellent example of how social enterprises are tackling social issues in our communities.
“With your jewellery making programmes, you have created an innovative and engaging platform for people staying in temporary accommodation. This is a brilliant way of building confidence and teaching skills that will lead to employment.”
Alice said:
“Pivot started just 49 days before the first UK national lockdown – and so it’s been a tough few years as a small business, and an even tougher few years for those experiencing homelessness. Our Makers have experienced so many hardships through the pandemic, and a lot of social isolation, which we’ve hoped to alleviate some of. This recognition means a lot to our team, and to our Makers, and so we dedicated this to them and everyone, from hostel staff to people who purchase our jewellery, who makes our work possible.”