Groundbreaking UK charity, Only A Pavement Away, that supports people facing homelessness and those wanting to rebuild their lives through employment, has announced the placement of its 500th member into work since its conception in 2018.
Only A Pavement Away calculates that the impact of placing 500 people into employment has added £25.6 million to the British economy through reduced government support, financial independence, and increased household expenditure.
This marks an impressive milestone for the charity, which connects forward-thinking employers in the hospitality industry with individuals facing homelessness and those looking to rebuild their lives through a career in this sector. Only A Pavement Away, established by Greg and Gill Mangham on World Homelessness Day in 2018, provides people experiencing barriers to employment with support and resources, covering everything from training and development to financial grants, to secure long-term employment in the hospitality sector. Since it began, the charity has supported over 1,800 candidates at recruitment fairs and workshops, and has supplied £50,000 in grants to help with everyday necessities such as shopping, travel fares, clothing and rent.
Only A Pavement Away’s impact is significant, providing stability through employment for the people they help, an important resource for hospitality businesses that continue to struggle with recruitment, while adding money back into the UK economy.
Recent figures from the charity have uncovered a strong retention rate, with 60%1 of their members remaining in employment for more than a year, higher than the average tenure of a hospitality professional. The average length of service is 53 weeks, demonstrating this is an approach that works for both employers and the members Only A Pavement Away support.
Only A Pavement Away aims to change perceptions about ‘typical’ candidate profiles, connecting their employment partners with hard-working individuals. The charity has recently expanded their operations into Manchester and Scotland, taking their cause UK-wide and helping yet more people to rebuild their lives and reintegrate safely back into society.
Ben, Only A Pavement Away Member and now Comis Chef: “Only A Pavement Away has been incredible both in setting up and guiding me through the process of starting my new job and with support once I’d begun working again. They’ve checked in and made sure I’m doing ok and helped with making the transition back into employment achievable. I’ve no concerns about reaching out and have truly enjoyed my time with them.”
Greg Mangham, Only A Pavement Away Founder and CEO said “We are delighted to announce that we have successfully placed 500 members in workplaces across the hospitality industry in as little as five years – we didn’t expect it to grow to this size so soon.
“As our number of members is growing, so is awareness of our mission, which is vital in continuing to help people facing homelessness into stable workplaces, and, in turn, create happier, safer lives. We want to thank everyone who has made this possible – from referral charities to our employer partners – who make it possible for us to have this positive impact on these communities”.
For further information, visit www.onlyapavementaway.co.uk
-ENDS-
For more information, contact Fleet Street Communications: onlyapavementaway@fsc.uk.com
Notes to Editors
About Only A Pavement Away:
Only A Pavement Away was established by hospitality industry consultant, Greg Mangham & his wife Gill, on World Homeless Day, 10th October 2018, to help anyone facing or at risk of homelessness, find employment in the hospitality sector. The charity connects forward-thinking employers to charity referral partners to rebuild lives and reintegrate people back into society. To date, the charity has placed 500 people into work, adding an approximate value of £25.6M to the economy through reduced government support, financial independence, and household expenditure. www.onlyapavementaway.co.uk
Supporting imagery that can be downloaded here
For more information, contact Fleet Street Communications:onlyapavementaway@fsc.uk.com
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