When homeless, it is difficult to keep track of personal documents.
You may have to leave where you are staying quickly, and not be able to take anything with you. If you sleep rough, your ID may be stolen.
Without ID, you cannot apply for any number of jobs, or even volunteer to gain work experience.
Tony and Gemma were in this predicament. They live at a residential rehabilitation treatment programme for addiction. They are in Stage 3, which is independent housing, after both successfully graduating from Stage 1 and 2.
Having been through the treatment programme themselves, they regularly volunteer in Stage 1. They want to give something back to the recovery community and the service that changed their lives. They support those beginning their recovery from addiction and act as examples of what can be achieved.
Tony wants to complete a social care NVQ course, but cannot enroll with ID. Getting passports would mean he and Gemma can volunteer for other services in the wider community. But the cost was too much for either of them to afford.
Your donations meant that paying for new passports was not an issue. Since getting his ID, Tony completed a First Aid course and signed up for a qualification in handling medicines.
Gemma had an interview to join another hostel’s volunteer programme, which will lead into a paid trainee position and eventually a full-time, paid role.
Thanks to our donors, their ambitions can flourish.
