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From
the street to the shop floor
Headhunting
the Homeless: Wednesday 7 May, 9.50-10.30pm, BBC TWO (3-part series)
Starting
a new job is daunting at the best of times but the workplace can
be a particularly frightening prospect for the homeless.
With
issues surrounding substance and alcohol abuse, low self esteem
and mental health problems, finding work can be intimidating and
difficult.
Headhunting
the Homeless follows five people as they try to make the demanding
transition into the working world with the help of a radical campaign
run by Business Action on Homelessness.
The
campaign aims to build people's confidence and improve their employability
by finding them work placements with major companies such as Marks
& Spencer and Pret A Manger.
Campaign
Director Eva Hamilton says: "What we're trying to do on this
programme is firstly change perceptions... change the attitudes
that business people have towards homeless people... homeless people
are just like you or I, anyone could go down that slippery slope."
A two
week placement at Sainsbury's will be Carol Thatcher's first job
in almost 20 years: "I proved to myself that I can do it...
I had tears of joy running down my face... it feels just great,
getting another job after being out of work so long."
Carol
hopes that this will offer her a new start and help her to reconnect
with her children who were taken into care 12 years ago.
Meanwhile
19-year-old Jide Sosimi hopes his placement with top advertising
agency Publicis will help him fulfill his dream of being a shoe
designer.
But
he runs into difficulties when his hostel evicts him for missing
his curfew while he rehearses for a play in the evening.
Notes
to Editors
Business
Action on Homelessness, an initiative of Business in the Community,
was launched in 1998.
Business
in the Community aims to inspire, challenge, engage and support
business in continually improving its positive impact on society.
www.bitc.org.uk
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BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
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BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
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