London continues to be one of the richest cities in the world. And yet in this great city right now there are 180,000 people experiencing homelessness who do not have a safe place to call home.

At the House of St Barnabas, we know that with the right support and opportunity everyone can rebuild their life. And we know that secure employment is the most effective route to do so. We support individuals affected by homelessness to rebuild their confidence and dignity and find work that works for them. Our vision is of a future where lasting good work, a secure home and a supportive network are a reality for those affected by homelessness.

We achieve this through our Employment Preparation Programme; providing onsite employment and skills training for people who have experienced homelessness. This is followed by 12 months of progression support to enable sustained change, including mentoring, housing support and help with in-work progression.

PAUL'S STORY

I was happily working in a pub in South London until the pandemic struck and really disrupted my way of life. As part of my employment contract, I lived in the accommodation above the pub. Over the course of a year the pub opened and closed several times due to various lockdowns. In December 2020, the pub finally closed its doors, causing me to lose my job and my home in one go. This was an incredibly difficult moment in my life and I was not ready for what lay ahead.

In January 2021 I found myself suddenly homeless. After days and nights of despair, I was rescued by an Outreach Team. Following a short stay in hospital, I was transferred to a homeless shelter where I stayed until around March, during this time I was introduced to people from Thames Reach who helped me get back on track. I made a claim for Universal Credit and started to feel better about myself.

In March I was moved into private accommodation, where I'm presently at. I woke up one day to a message on my phone about an invitation to The House of St Barnabas to join their Employment Preparation Programme. I was hesitant at first as I had lost a lot of confidence and felt anxiety about everything. I decided to give it a go as I had nothing to lose. I went to the recruitment session and was treated so kindly and with so much respect, that I was over the moon when I found out I had been accepted and I couldn't wait to get started.

Being on the Employment Preparation Programme gave me the opportunity to reflect on my situation, and with the amazing support from the staff and my new friends, I was able to believe in myself again and grow in confidence. Over the course of several weeks, I started to feel good about myself, and with the work experience in the kitchen which I really loved.

I graduated from The House of St Barnabas in June 2021. I was referred to Only a Pavement Away, another hospitality charity, where I met with people from the hospitality sector and did 3 days of work experience at the Groucho Restaurant at London Bridge. From there I landed myself a work trial at the Ivy in Chelsea. So, with confidence brimming, I went and did a shift. I put everything I had into it and was overwhelmed to receive the news that I had been successful, and I was the proud owner of a new job.

I have been at the Ivy for 4 months now and it's going well, l I feel great about myself every day. Without the support of The House of St Barnabas, I don't know where I'd be.

SUPPORT US

We hear stories like Pauls far too often, but with your help we can create change. We are aiming to raise £50,000 to fund our vital work to break the cycle of homelessness and to give people a renewed sense of dignity and pride. We need to continue our work to ensure that more homeless people can join the 258 people who have graduated since we launched.

By donating today, you can help support people experiencing homelessness to find and keep work. Thank you.