Welcome Note, by Director, Warren Rogers
Director Warren Rogers, somewhere in the middle, and most of the office team at HQ 2025
A little over twenty years ago, I was looking to find my place in the live events sector, working across multiple venues in South London and on the festival circuit at Big Chill, Green Man, and Glastonbury. I was pulled in by the grit and spark of an industry that builds experiences from almost nothing. Back then it was grassroots and DIY. It was creative. It was people hauling ideas into reality together. I loved that spirit then, and I still do now.
Along the way I found Connection Crew, born out of our founding charity, The Connection at St Martin’s, whose mission is to help people move away from and stay off the streets of London. What started as a crewing company connected to a homelessness charity has grown into a social enterprise with a clear purpose: to prove that business can drive lasting social change. I never imagined I’d be writing the welcome note for our 20-year social impact report, but I’m proud that we are here.
Some of the achievements in this report speak loudly on their own:
Hundreds of people affected by homelessness supported into training and work
Thousands of hours of employment created
20 years of support from clients and partners who believed the business model could work
A thriving business demonstrating, year after year, that commercial excellence and social mission strengthen one another
But these numbers only scratch the surface. Behind every statistic is a human story: someone gaining stability, someone taking a step forward, someone finding belonging, purpose, and confidence. These are the stories that matter most, and they are the reason we exist.
For much of our journey, especially through the disruptions of recent years, we haven’t always been able to shine a light on those human stories. This report begins to change that. It brings together reflections from our leadership, the voices of trainees and impact graduates who are now part of our crew, insights from our Academy, and learning from our roundtable discussions with clients and partners who are helping us to create better working conditions and more sustainable futures. Together, these perspectives show not just what we do, but why we do it.
They also anchor our updated Theory of Change, which guides our impact programme and the next chapter of our business. Because at its core, this report isn’t just a collection of numbers or testimonials, it’s a reminder of the role our industry can play in reducing inequality and poverty across the UK. It shows that every choice made in this vibrant, resourceful, fast-moving sector can open doors, create fairer work, and help prevent homelessness before it begins.
Many of you in this room are already part of that change. Our stakeholders, our charity and referral partners, our long-standing clients, our board members, our brilliant team, our crew and our Academy graduates, you make this mission real. We are deeply grateful. And we also know there is more we can do together.
So our call to action is simple, and urgent:
What small change will you make tomorrow to further accelerate the fight against poverty and inequality in the UK?
Small actions, taken collectively, reshape lives. They reshape industries. They reshape society. And they act as a catalyst for change.
As you read this report, we hope it offers not just information, but inspiration and practical ways to take the next step. Sharing it marks the beginning of a new era of collective effort.
Twenty years in, our mission remains unchanged: to use the power of our industry to fight homelessness and reduce inequality across the UK.
Thank you for being part of the journey. And we invite you to continue it with us.