A MAN whose life has been turned around by a charity-run scheme visited Westminster Abbey to promote it this week.

Kino Hines, who lives at the Forest YMCA in Forest Road, Walthamstow, said he had no job, money or confidence when he came to the charity two years ago.

But then he started taking part in PACE (Practical Achievements in Creating Employment) nine months ago, a project run by the YMCA to give people work experience to get the jobs they want.

The scheme allows them to gain employment in sectors such as childcare and catering with the YMCA organisation, giving them the skills to secure a job in that line of work.

Mr Hines told the meeting of the Homeless Carers group on Tuesday: “PACE gave me that structure and routine which I really needed. And when I moved on to the employment stage, my confidence just grew and kept on growing.”

Ndidi Ansah, the PACE Manager, added: “We are keen for other organisations to replicate the PACE programme and we have developed a toolkit for those who are interested in setting it up.”

For more information on setting up your own PACE programme, or if you are an employer and would like to give someone who is homeless a real chance in life, then please contact Ndidi Ansah at nansah@forestymca.org.uk