Thames Reach recognises that by creating enough momentum to change the current culture in this sector, a large number of jobs could become available for people who have:

first hand knowledge and experience of homelessness and the use of homelessness services
sorted out their own lives to the point where they are able to help others
immense value as influential and positive role models for current service users.

By employing homeless people Thames Reach intends to:

improve the quality of the services we provide by benefiting from former homeless people’s expertise and enthusiasm
raise the standards of the organisation
address the discrimination homeless people face in the employment market
ensure current and former homeless people are fully integrated in the organisation at all levels.

Support of senior managers

Any vision for change within an organisation needs to be fostered by senior management. Commitment at this level is imperative for a culture change programme to be successful. Senior managers can be an invaluable source of inspiration and support for the rest of the organisation.

Organisations that are thinking of creating a programme to increase the number of employees with a history of homelessness (service user employees) need to determine:

Do we have a clear vision?
Is the vision held and expressed at a senior management level?
Are any key members of the senior management team (and Board of Directors) opposed to the concept and, if so, do they have enough influence to stall or block its development?

Audio - The inspiration behind GROW and its implementation - [6.00 MB] John Crowther, Director of Operations, discusses the inspiration behind GROW; the advantages of employing service or ex-service users; how initial fears such as issues of confidentiality were overcome; and concludes with his hopes for the future.

Photo of Thames Reach's senior management team

Thames Reach's senior management team, from left: John Crowther, director of operations, Bill Tidnam, director of housing and community support, Chris Smith-Gillespie, director of finance and central services, Jeremy Swain, Chief Executive

"GROW has been inspired by models in New York, where user employment is far more commonplace, and we see potential benefits for all concerned.

"Thames Reach is prepared to put its money where its mouth is and give real jobs to people who have been homeless. We need to ask ourselves; "if we aren’t, why should we expect other employers to do so?"

John Crowther, Thames Reach Director of Operations

"Thames Reach is an organisation that continually seeks innovative solutions, looks to the future and accepts risk as normal. GROW is an example of ensuring we turn our organisational ethos and values into tangible results rather than maintaining the status quo.

"We know there is much work to do, and it was never going to be easy, but the positive changes the GROW Revolution can bring to our work with homeless people are, in my view, both enormous and undeniable."

Jeremy Swain, Chief Executive