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Leeds boss helps homeless find jobs
When it comes to helping people off the streets award-winning Leeds entrepreneur Sarah Dunwell knows only too well that she has a tough job ahead of her.
But the former catering boss is trying to do just that by getting homeless people ready for the world of work through social enterprise Create.
Create provides jobs and work experience for up to 80 people at any one time at charity clothing shop Found, the two Create cafes or in the Fareshare warehouse - a franchise that helps to divert supermarket food waste from landfill.
Now the scheme, which is based in Holbeck, will benefit from the annual YEP-backed fundraiser StreetSmart.
Each table of diners eating out at one of the 12 participating restaurants until December 31 will be asked to donate 1 between them at the end of their meal.
Every penny raised in Leeds will be invested in Create and five other local projects.
Sarah, Create's chief executive, said: "We were very surprised when we found out that we would benefit from StreetSmart this year, but we are also very grateful."
She added: "I had that epiphany moment when I was working at a Leeds homeless shelter. I generally believed that the group of people I was working with were worth more than the unfurnished flat and benefits they received.
"They needed a chance to become independent and break away from the support system.
"We have to spend weeks or months breaking down barriers, teaching routine and reliability to people who are used to being spontaneous."
Create is to be rolled out to 20 cities across the country in the next three years, with Bradford-based supermarket Morrisons having already pledged to make 1,000 jobs available to graduates of the scheme's academy programme.
Participating StreetSmart Leeds 2010 restaurants are: The Olive Tree at Rodley, Far Headingley and Chapel Allerton; Salvo's and Salvo's Salumeria in Headingley; Casa Mia Grande and CasaMia Cafe at Chapel Allerton; Fourth Floor Cafe at Harvey Nichols; The Living Room on Greek Street; Casa Mia Millennium and Kendells Bistro, which are all in Leeds city centre, and La Rosa Restaurant & Bar at Pudsey.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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