London partnership

Inspired by the Chief Executive of South London YMCA to form a partnership, seven major London agencies have come together, with support from Homeless Link and Thames Reach.

The seven agencies are South London YMCA, Broadway, Centrepoint, Depaul UK, Look Ahead Housing and Care, The Passage, and Providence Row Housing Association. Each agency brings expertise and opportunities in both providing work and volunteering options and in supporting clients to access these, and sustain them.

The partnership has met several times and a case study will be available shortly. The photo above shows Jeremy Swain, Dennis Benn and Maxine Gilroy of Thames Reach presenting at South London YMCA's staff conference in 2009. For more information about the partnership, or to circulate your own agency's vacanices and opportunities that are open to service users please contact beth.coyne@thamesreach.org.uk

Pilot Project Outcomes to date

Since December 2009 the partnership has developed and opened up over 75 opportunities for volunteering and paid employment, that have been filled by 45 clients of the nine agencies.

"The partnership will work together to increase opportunities of paid employment for clients across all agencies."

Partnership working in action: An example

In February 2010 South London YMCA advertised for a general maintenance role. The post was ringfenced for current or former clients of homelessness services and promoted via support workers, ETE workers, resettlement workers and tenancy sustainment workers across all nine agencies.

9 customers applied
5 customers were shortlisted for interview
3 customers attended interview, 1 cancelled beforehand, having secured other employment, 1 did not attend
1 customer was successfully appointed.

Read our case study: Partnership working in action - a volunteer's experience