I’ve worked in Crisis’ Employment Team for five years and each year Christmas is something incredibly special to be a part of. But actually what makes it really important is what happens afterwards – the long-term support which helps people to rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind for good.
Christmas is just the start of many people’s journeys out of homelessness. Crisis coaches like me spend time at our Christmas centres and talk to the guests about how we could help them in the future. One of the best things about Christmas is that we get to talk to so many homeless people who wouldn’t otherwise know about our year-round support with housing, employment and health.
We invite the guests to visit us in the new year. Then we can make an initial assessment of their needs and start to put together an action plan for what we’ll work on together and which classes and workshops they could go to. In my team’s case, we’ll help with things like filling in application forms, writing a CV and interview practice – all essential to help someone find and keep a job and get back on their feet.
I’m inspired on a daily basis by the clients I work with. They have such determination to succeed, such energy when tackling adversity, and an empathy with their peers that I can only aspire to. One of the highlights for me is when someone returns full circle to volunteer at Christmas or finds a job helping others, maybe with Crisis, working to end homelessness.
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E: media@crisis.org.uk
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For general enquiries:
E: enquiries@crisis.org.uk
T: 0300 636 1967