For many of our clients, gaining access to education, training and employment (ETE) opportunities is seen as the last step in their recovery and moving on from homelessness to have a fulfilling life.

However, our clients face multiple barriers that put them at a severe disadvantage when trying to find and maintain employment. 

These disadvantages include practical barriers into the job market such a lack of a permanent address, minimal access to opportunities, welfare changes when employed and an offending history, as well as possible discrimination from employers. People with multiple needs - sometimes described as people facing severe multiple disadvantage (SMD) - are known to achieve very poor employment outcomes by comparison with the rest of the population.

Our own research has shown that while 70 per cent of our clients listed employment as a goal, only four per cent were actually employed.

We support our clients to overcome these barriers at whatever stage they are at on their ETE journey, providing a spectrum of activities supporting people to access education, training, employment and volunteering opportunities.

Our work in action

Our recovery services in Camden and Islington have demonstrated a successful track record in helping clients in North London who are in recovery from substance misuse to move into education, training and employment. Last year, these services worked with a total of 557 clients, of which 88 per cent found employment or completed accredited education or training courses.

Our Fuchsia programme works with clients to build their confidence and self-esteem, and gain new skills in order to support them to move into employment. The programme does this by providing clients with an opportunity for self-reflection and learning, enabling them to recognise their own skills as well as identifying areas of themselves that may need development. Delivered via a series of engaging and interactive group work sessions, the programme also promotes peer support, giving clients a chance to make new social connections both inside and out their community.

Over the next two years we will expand our ETE programme across the organisation, supporting 300 people each year into ETE.

People that are going to boost your confidence – those are the people you need around you.

After being released from prison, Junior enrolled on an IT course with the help of his support worker. He is now volunteering with us, teaching IT skills to other clients in similar situations, and hopes to pursue his dream of getting a full time job. 

 

  

Read Junior's story