http://www.bitc.org.uk/take_action/in_the_community/employability/business_action_on_homelessness/

This is a good scheme, BAOH, which is part of the charity Business in the Community, was launched in 1998 with the aim of creating a partnership with the corporate world to equip homeless people with the skills to gain and sustain employment. Over the past five years, more than 200 companies have provided work placements for 1,700 homeless people in 22 UK cities.

A key component in the ready to work scheme is the job coach. A coach from a partner company is assigned to clients for six months to help support and structure the job search. Marks & Spencer, which has provided 700 BAOH placements through its Marks and Start scheme, has gone one further.

"Each placement is paired with an experienced M&S employee to work alongside them and this helps build confidence and self-esteem," says EJ Walker, the retailer's community programme manager. "The buddy system teaches homeless placements to come out of their shells and work in a retail environment."

Over 40% of homeless people placed with M&S have gone on to paid work with the company. But even when this happens, support has to continue if that employment is to be sustained. "A job coach is vital during this transitional period when someone is coming off benefits and sheltered accommodation,"

Well you know, like I said about the hosp jobs, anyone who is emplyed by the NHS trust is entitled to accomodation on the hospital grounds, its about £175 a motnh which comes out of the wages. Some of my friends have rented these flats and theyre ace, furnished bedrooms, communal kitchen, shared bathroom, shared communal lounge. Usually about 2-4 persons per flat. Plus you have all the extras of being NHS staff - lots of discounts all over the place, cheap food, free use of hosp pool and gym, or at least a heavily discounted local gym. Ffs we are hiring people from Poland etc etc whilst our own men and women are homeless, hungry and unemployed. (They are f*cking good workers though). Plus the NHS pay for you to do courses, anything from simple IT courses right up to Masters degree's.


As I said in the SC thread in the other forum, I will tart him up a cv and submit it if he wants, as much as he annoys me with the endless "getting off with women" stories, I do feel very strongly about people and community. And I feel everyone has a right to a place to call home, free healthcare and a half decent quality of life etc, even though he does annoy me lol

Im just reading through the web site you put the link for - looks a good scheme, the only thing I cant find is a page for a homeless person to apply to get on it!! (I dont know but I think that might be a flaw with it).