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Eager to return to work, Alex was hampered by a lack of tools. He applied for an award under the Changing Lives scheme and received £1,000 to buy the equipment he needed. Within two weeks, he had landed a full-time job with a local builder, and has now saved enough money to purchase a second-hand car.
"The only thing that was stopping me from going back to work was not having the tools. The award money has enabled me to equip myself with what I need," says Alex. Most importantly, he has regained his self-confidence and independence.
The invaluable work of Crisis has been recognised by employees of South West Trains. So keen were they to help the charity that, in January, 10 of its managers, pictured right, raised money for the charity by swapping their suits and ties for overalls and brushes to give Fareham station a complete revamp. Employees raised funds through individual sponsorship. A similar event took place in March, when 10 managers helped brighten up Haslemere station (click here). South West Trains matched the money raised at both events, which brought the total collected for Crisis to more than £2,000.
While South West Trains discourages begging on trains and stations, it recognises that homelessness is a big problem. That’s why it supports homelessness charities, including the Society of St James and more recently London City Mission. Thanks to a £1,000 contribution from South West Trains, the London City Mission’s Waterloo Christian Centre has been able to buy a catering-sized toaster that can prepare up to 500 slices of bread an hour, which means breakfast for more than 100 people every day can now be provided without delay!
South West Trains advises its passengers not to give money or tickets to people who approach them at stations or on trains, and to report offenders to the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or online at www.btp.police.uk, or to alert a South West Trains employee.
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