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Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Support worker with first-hand experience

May 10 2012
?Ǭ© Midland Heart 2012 ?Ǭ© Midland Heart 2012
Former service user Duane Derry now works on Midland Heart’s flagship project

 

Duane Derry (pictured) once relied on Midland Heart for support and guidance, but his determination to change his misfortune has paid off and as a result he will now be sitting on the other side of table. As a support worker for the new Snow Hill project, Duane will be working for what has been described as a flagship for the organisation’s homeless schemes.

Duane learned about the multitude of problems faced by those who find themselves homeless through first-hand experience after he lost his job as a sheet metal worker when the factory he worked at shut down. With nowhere to turn, Duane looked to Midland Heart for advice and found refuge at their South Road hostel. Whilst living there, he signed up to the ‘Venture Project’, an initiative that enables individuals to volunteer as support workers to gain experience to ultimately progress into employment.

After six months on the project, Duane successfully gained employment with Midland Heart as a full-time support worker: “I was approached by my support worker, who said it would be a good opportunity for me. I was intrigued as I’d always wanted to see what it’s like on the ‘other side’ of the system, so to speak. It’s really rewarding to help other people get their lives back on track.”

Duane will be working at Midland Heart’s new homeless scheme in Snow Hill in Birmingham city centre, which will provide 92 apartments and facilities including training areas, an IT suite and a social enterprise business designed to help individuals develop skills and work experience. “The Snow Hill” aims to create a mixed community of people who have experienced homelessness, with private renters seeking affordable city-centre housing. Midland Heart hopes this community will be a departure from the more traditional approach of housing that can too often create segregation and barriers to integration.

Duane will help residents overcome problems including re-housing, employment and any personal issues that could lead to them becoming homeless. He concluded: “I’m so happy to have the chance to be a support worker full-time at Midland Heart. I love it that two days are never the same and obviously I’m so pleased to have job security; it’s been an amazing experience.”

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