Homeless people to work as tour guides

Homeless people are to be employed as tour
guides, as part of a pioneering training programme.

Ten people will be selected to take part in
the scheme, developed by Liverpool Council and the Big Issue in
the North.

They will receive on-the-job training and
full-time jobs, some as city centre Gold Zone navigators and others
as sheltered housing and social care officers with the council.

The Big Issue and the council have leafleted
hostels to promote the scheme and approached homeless people on the
street to find out what they think of the initiative.

The posts will be advertised next week and the
recruits will begin work next May.

Councillor Mary Fielding said: “We want to
give homeless people the chance to become actively involved in the
life of the city. Some of them will have been rough sleepers at one
time – what better person to be a city centre guide.”

Laurence Lennon, head of regional employment
at the Big Issue, which is offering two homeless people
work as part of the scheme, said: “This is an excellent chance for
vendors of the Big Issue in the North, and other homeless
people, to finally leave the street behind.”