Barclays and Crisis set up the Changing Lives programme in 2002.  It is the only financial award-giving programme aimed at funding vocational needs for single homeless people.  The aim of this programme is to help homeless people develop independent lives through gainful employment, with increased confidence. 

The programme makes awards to pay for learning that rebuilds skills to get back into employment or to set up a business.  It is an extremely cost-effective solution to unemployment, costing on average £1,000 per recipient for their first step back into training or work. It also provides ongoing help and support through a dedicated team at Crisis.

Research shows that the majority of homeless people have worked before (90%) and are ready to work again (77%), but are often caught in a vicious circle of dependence, eroding skills and declining social networks. Figures such as these demonstrate the crucial need for Changing Lives.

 

Project targets

40% of the Changing Lives clients will gain employment within first 12 months of receiving their award

30% of those clients will remain in employment for 18 months

30% of those clients will remain in employment for 24 months

Recruit 15 Barclays colleagues to volunteer as mentors to the Changing Lives clients

Over the past six years more than 1,000 people have been given support to move their lives on.

 

Impacts to date

85% of the Changing Lives clients surveyed undertook formal training

60% of those undertook some form of paid work in first 12 months

63% of those have sustained employment for 12 months

43% of those have remained in work for more than 24 months

Five Barclays colleagues have been recruited as Changing Lives mentors

 

Brian’s story

Brian had an unhappy childhood spent in an alcoholic family, which culminated in binge drinking, a weight problem, drug taking and sleeping rough as an adult. Brian admits that he was caught up in a vicious cycle of taking drugs and offending and was constantly in trouble with the police. He says: “I first started drinking to relieve a lot of emotional stress.” But the probation service led him to detox and counselling.
However, the road to redemption wasn’t easy, as depression still had a hold on Brian. Although free of drugs he was smoking up to 60 cigarettes a day and weighed 24 stone. After collapsing one day, Brian realised that he had to do something about his life. This defining moment led him to fitness training, Learn Direct Courses and a new found interest in body chemistry. With a small tax rebate he developed a wheatgrass growing business and to expand the business he applied for funding through Changing Lives. He currently has plans to use local farmland to grow the wheatgrass and is in negotiation with a local gym to sell the product. Brian told us that the award and subsequent business creation: “Gave me the opportunity to be creative, learn how to solve problems, take responsibility, meet people and hopefully, earn a good living"

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