Firms create homeless work scheme

Business representatives visited homeless hostels in Wrexham

Homeless people in parts of north Wales are being offered work placements at businesses and organisations to help them reintegrate into society.

The move is part of a new scheme which asks companies to impact on local issues by working together.

Cadbury's in Chirk, Wrexham, with firms like Airbus, Arriva, and North Wales Police are also offering free travel to work and computer lessons in hostels.

There are around 50 businesses in Wales taking part in the scheme.

Cadbury's, which has a factory in Chirk, said it chose to focus on the issue after representatives from a number of different firms visited homeless hostels in Wrexham.

Jim Davies who works for the chocolate producer, said the visits to the hostels struck a chord with him and the other companies.

'Dignity'

He said: "We often judge people in that position but generally until you have spoken to them as people you don't know why they are there, and it can happen to anyone.

"By giving people respect as human beings it makes them feel worthwhile and a few have made successes of the work programmes.

"What we are trying to do is give these people their dignity back and give them the opportunity to get back into society and add value to it."

The scheme is part of the Seeing is Believing programme, which is run by Business in the Community and was inspired by the Prince of Wales' efforts in helping to regenerate the town of Halifax in West Yorkshire.

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