ONLY A PAVEMENT AWAY
ONLY A PAVEMENT AWAY
Creating an effective conduit between employers in the hospitality industry and those charities/associations whose main aim is to support the homeless, ex-offenders and veterans reintegrate back into society.
ABOUT US
A PATHWAY TO A CAREER AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE
ONLY A PAVEMENT AWAY is a charity founded by representatives from the hospitality industry who believe that everyone deserves the chance to find and forge a career. Our aim is to act as a conduit to employment to help those people struggling to get into work, overcome hurdles by finding jobs within the hospitality, pub and restaurant industry, whilst negating the need for people to face an existence of living on the streets. Our industry is an exciting one, built on people.
Outside of the moral benefits, the project is underpinned by a strong commercial and financial benefit to the hospitality, pub & restaurant industry whilst reducing the ever-increasing strain on government funding required for those who find themselves in such extreme circumstances.
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Homeless charity, Crisis, have worked with us from the very beginning to ensure that the standards required to help someone return to work are adhered to and are in no way compromised. For those who are on the project but are not/ nor are in danger of being homeless or sleeping rough then the same high standards apply.
The funds raised by ONLY A PAVEMENT AWAY will be used to support those returning to work, supplement the resources required by the charities/associations to manage the project and promote the jobs available in the hospitality sector.
Click on the video below to hear more about how the charity was founded and our mission.
FEATURED NEWS
Calling all Drinks, Food and Catering Specialists – sponsorship opportunities available!
Only A Pavement Away and Tom Kerridge launch Cook and Dine
Only A Pavement Away (OAPA) and Chef Tom Kerridge, are excited to announce the launch of Cook and Dine, the ultimate dining experience for the hospitality industry. The special fundraising lunch will take place on Wednesday 29 January 2020, from 1pm – 4pm, at a central London location to be announced shortly.
FEATURED EVENT
WINTER WARMTH CAMPAIGN
Winter adds to the horrors of having to sleep rough. A simple gesture can help to make things a little better. The donation of a coat, a blanket and/or a sleeping bag can help keep someone warm this winter. See how you can make a difference.
THE PROBLEM
HOMELESS
REGISTERED HOMELESS IN 2018 - AN INCREASE OF 4%
ROUGH SLEEPERS IN LONDON FOR 2018-19 - AN INCREASE OF 18%
ROUGH SLEEPERS IN GREAT BRITAIN - 49.2% INCREASE SINCE 2011
AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A WOMAN LIVING ON THE STREET
AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A MAN LIVING ON THE STREET
COST IN £ TO GOVERNMENT FOR EACH PERSON SLEEPING ROUGH
AVERAGE COST IN £ TO NHS PER HOMELESS PERSON
EX OFFENDERS
PRISON POPULATION IN 2018
EX-OFFENDERS RELEASED EACH YEAR
%
IN P45 EMPLOYMENT ONE MONTH AFTER RELEASE
%
IN P45 EMPLOYMENT TWO YEARS AFTER RELEASE
%
OFFENDERS WHO WERE HOMELESS BEFORE OFFENDING
%
AN EMPLOYED EX-OFFENDER IS UP TO 67% LESS LIKELY TO REOFFEND
£46: THE DISCHARGE GRANT GIVEN TO PRISONERS ON LEAVING PRISON
VETERANS
VETERANS COPING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
VETERANS IN PRISON
VETERANS ON PAROLE
VETERANS HAVE NO PERMANENT ADDRESS
SOLUTION: THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
1.3 MILLION
VACANCIES IN PUB & RESTAURANT INDUSTRY BY 2024
WILL BE NEW POSITIONS
3RD LARGEST EMPLOYER
IN THE UK
£130 BILLION IN SALES
PER YEAR *
3.2 MILLION
DIRECT JOBS
2.8 MILLION
INDIRECT JOBS
* Bigger than automotive, pharmaceutical & aeronautics industries combined (£126 billion)
The ethos of the project is based on a very simple concept, that no matter who or where you are, you are ONLY A PAVEMENT AWAY:
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WHAT OTHERS SAY
“I am excited and delighted that UK Hospitality will be working in partnership with Only a Pavement Away to offer real, full time job opportunities within the Hospitality Industry, to the homeless, ex-offenders and veterans. This will not only provide much needed new team members/employees for the industry, but also a helping hand to the disadvantaged which enables sustainable reintegration back into their families, local community and society as a whole.”
“We are delighted to be working with Only A Pavement Away and thoroughly believe in the benefits this will bring to many lives, as well as being thoroughly rewarding to us as a company. We are in an extremely fortunate position to be able to offer roles to people who don’t have any work experience, and we can offer a clear career pathway in our pubs. Generally this starts in junior level roles such as a Team Member or Kitchen Porter – we have many employees who started in these positions and through hard work and shear determination, they are now General Managers or Head Chefs of our pubs.
We have had five OAPA employees so far, and I am proud to say our managers have embraced the initiative and are keen to get involved, offering an opportunity to those in need. It is brilliant to have the ongoing support from Crisis who are there to help both their members and our managers in any situation where they may need support or advice. I would encourage any company to get involved and join us in making a difference!”
LATEST NEWS
I want to return the faith everyone has shown in me
Mike Pattenden wrote a wonderful piece about vital work of UK charities and the impact they have in the lives of the homeless. Read the story of Iulian and how Only A Pavement Away and our partners changed his life by assisting him to find employment.
Hospitality volunteers donate £37k to homeless
Alice Leader wrote an article in the Morning Advertiser about the Winter Warmth Campaign. Volunteers across the hospitality sector have offered a helping hand to support Only A Pavement Away (OAPA) charity distribute ‘Winter Warmth’ kits to rough sleepers across the...
Evening Standard Coverage of Only A Pavement Away
The Evening Standard recently published an excellent piece, mentioning Only A Pavement Away, using Iulian’s case study to explain how the charity helped him get a job at The Ivy. It also highlights the opportunity for the hospitality industry to hire entry level...
GET TO KNOW US
No matter who or where you are, you are