Stability Through Employment

HOW YOUR DONATION WILL CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE FOREVER

Starting a new job can be daunting for a person who has been homeless or is leaving prison or the military without adequate support systems in place and may require a significant amount of additional support with the adjustments of having a place to call home, as well as a new job.   

Your donation will be used to provide introductory life skills training to people who have been homeless and are ready to be rehoused and re-employed, on how to live independently whilst developing their employability skills to take them into new careers in hospitality. 

Following a successful pilot held in London over the summer, generously funded by the London Freemasons, we are now looking to invest in our Life Skills Hub project by securing additional funding to deliver a series of free 2 week programmes in 5 other major cities across the UK over the next 12-18 months. 

Join our crowd, share with your crowd and help people facing homelessness find meaningful, stable jobs in our industry, giving each the chance to step forward into a brighter future.

ONLY A PAVEMENT AWAY : LIFE SKILLS HUB PROJECT 

We want to ensure that every person coming onto our programme achieves stability and independence through employment and to help, we have created the Life Skills Hub programme, where the purpose is to provide introductory skills training to people who have been homeless and are ready to be rehoused and re-employed, on how to live independently whilst developing their employability skills to take them into new careers in hospitality. 

Each free 2 week programme covers sessions on the practical benefits of cooking for oneself, training in the production of menus from Only A Pavement Away’s employer partners, budgeting, practical work experience by visiting a partnered pub/restaurant or hotel, CV writing, interviewing skills the use of IT, guidance to the additional support that they might need and access to the Only A Pavement Away Jobs Board. 

We have also developed with our training partners, a range of comprehensive online hospitality training packages that support future employment in the hospitality industry of sufficient quality to achieve NVQ level 1 and 2.  At the end of the programme each graduate is provided with an Only A Pavement Away Life Skills Course certificate to show each of the modules completed which can be added to their CV, and be provided to potential employers.

ABOUT US 

Established in 2018, Only A Pavement Away connects forward thinking employers in the hospitality industry and charities working with people facing or experiencing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans, to help place them into long term, stable employment within hospitality.

The charity was founded and inspired by Greg & Gill Mangham, who refused to accept that all people facing homelessness or sleeping on the streets, were in these situations due to some fault of their own. Many situations being the result of circumstances beyond the individual’s control. 

At the same time, there was an increasing awareness that the hospitality sector needed to employ a large number of team members to meet the needs of a growing industry.  It seemed only sensible therefore, to marry the need for new team members within the hospitality industry with those who, with the right opportunity, would be able to get their lives back on track.

Only A Pavement Away is a free of charge employment programme. It makes no charge for finding jobs and aims to be an effective conduit between hospitality employers and the charities and organisations who are supporting people facing homelessness back into work.

Every donation we receive contributes to providing every person on the Only A Pavement Away employment programme, with the skills and stability needed for their smooth transition back into society and into a career for life. 

THE PROBLEM 

There are many reasons why people are forced into homelessness such as lack of affordable housing, losing a job, mental health, leaving prison or the armed forces with no home to go to or escaping an abusive relationship.

Today, there are many thousands of people facing or experiencing homelessness across the country. Being ‘homeless’ can take many forms such as rough sleeping, people living in sheds, garages and other unconventional buildings, sofa surfing, hostels and unsuitable temporary accommodation such as B&Bs. 

On average, one homeless person dies every fortnight on our streets -  the average life expectancy of a person living on the streets is 44. In addition, 70,000 prison leavers are released each year with just £76 discharge grant in their pockets. 7,000 veterans have no permanent address and a shocking 50,000 are coping with mental health issues. 

We understand the importance employment plays in breaking the cycle of homelessness not just through income which helps sustain housing but, by raising confidence, improving mental health and wellbeing, increasing self- esteem and creating new personal and social networks.

 A WORD FROM OUR MEMBERS 

"My support worker told me about Only A Pavement Away and encouraged me to apply for a role. I started as a Kitchen Porter and I am now the sous chef of a great restaurant at the Ivy Collection. When you go from being homeless to going into your new home and being given a chance to forge a new career, it is a feeling I cannot easily describe. I am proud and know I have accomplished something amazing." Iulian, Only A Pavement Away Member

"I am learning new skills every day with the support of the team and the new head chef. They make the workplace more enjoyable and friendly. At work I have learnt the importance of teamwork and patience when it comes to details and struggles." Mohammed, Only A Pavement Away Member

Hels had been an army nurse but found herself sofa surfing when she returned to the UK after living in Spain. Following a successful trial shift at The Wolseley, Hels became the first female door person on Piccadilly (a title she is, rightly, very proud of!) and a highly valued and respected member of the team. When lockdown started Hels was placed on furlough. Her pay was topped up to 100% via a grant from Only A Pavement Away. Hels, Only A Pavement Away Member

WHY DOES OUR PROJECT MATTER?

Homelessness doesn’t just affect an individual or the people immediately around them, it has wider negative effects on communities, services, the economy, our society.

Right now, many people in our country are homeless and this affects us all. Making sure that everyone has access to a job and safe and stable housing benefits us all by creating a stronger society.

It is estimated that it costs c. £20,000 a year to provide support to a person sleeping on the street.  If we can support 250 people into stable employment over the next year, we estimate that the value to the economy gained through their employment will be c. £9.9 million.

To date, we have helped 143 people into work and over the next year, we want to support a further 250 people facing homelessness into work and help them forge a pathway to a brighter and more stable future.

     THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!