George Clooney will visit a sandwich shop in Edinburgh today to meet workers there who used to be homeless. Staff at Social Bite cafe, which donates all of its profits to charity, will welcome the actor-director.
One in four members of staff in the five Social Bite shops across Scotland were homeless before working there. The chain runs a “suspended” coffee and food programme where customers can buy a hot drink or food for a homeless person.
“Localised Community Support is not a new concept,” said Lee Dribben, CEO at The Ashley Foundation, based in Blackpool, Lancashire.
“The Ashley Foundation currently operates two Homeless Action Charity Shops that depend on the support of local Lancashire residents, with all proceeds donated to the Foundation’s work”, explained Dribben.
There are currently two Homeless Action Charity Shops in Blackpool, one on Cookson Street; selling furniture and one on Talbot Road selling mixed stock including clothing.
The Ashley Foundation (TAF) is a registered homeless charity, established in 1997 for the purpose of providing accommodation and support to ‘homeless individuals in need’. Committed to treating individuals with dignity and respect, TAF is determined to offer the opportunity and the support necessary to encourage and enable personal growth and self-development. There are many and varied reasons why people become homeless. Relationship breakdown, domestic violence, young people asked to leave home, people with drug and alcohol or mental health issues who are unable to sustain an independent lifestyle and more recently due to recession, where someone might lose their job and are then are unable to pay their mortgage or rent, the list goes on and on. Helping someone to rebuild relationships with family or friends, stay in education, take up employment and training opportunities or deal with their drug and alcohol or mental health problem is as much about tackling homelessness as is securing a roof over their head. For more information visit https://www.theashleyfoundation.org.uk.
