Some time ago I saw a program on the BBC in which Tesco (the large
grocery retailer) allowed street /homeless people the opportunity to
work at their stores(usually stacking shelves with produce)

My questions are:

Does Tescos still have this program in place and if yes a brief
description of how it works.

3 or 4 other examples of programs by OTHER large comapanies which give
street/homeless people the opportunity to work for them as a means to
integrating back into society.

DPRK007

This site may be of interest to you:

http://www.bitc.org.uk/programmes/programme_directory/business_action_on_homelessness/baoh_sponsors.html

Pink

many thanks for your link.

To quote M&S's link
"Marks & Spencer is the lead placement provider for Ready for Work - a
national programme that provides a 2-week unpaid work placement for
the homeless - as part of their Work Placement programme Marks &
Start."

2 week unpaid work placement program!!  I would consider that pure exploitation
not a real attempt to help homeless people integrate into society. 

All the other companies simply contributed to Money to Homeless charities.
(For a company as wealthy as Barclays probably a drop in the ocean)

At least the program which Tescos offered seemed to be a genuine effort to
help street and homeless people.

Nevertheless a very interesting link all the same!  :-)

DPRK007

I've worked with some borderline homeless in the USA, so I can assure
you that the two weeks free is not unreasonable. Most have serious
attitude problems, are addicted to substances, plus they need
considerable help to make it though the probationary period, so
someone is paying, if not the employer. Even for menial tasks, lots of
costly supervision is needed to train these people, and some are not
trainable in two months. Never mind two weeks.   Neil

Neil

"I've worked with some borderline homeless in the USA, so I can assure
you that the two weeks free is not unreasonable"

During my working life, when a company was training me whether
formally (company course for example) or informally (someone teling
how to do the job) I always remembered been paid (and at a full salary
too). Why should I expect any less of a homeless person (who REALLY do
need the money) ?

Also I am curious  Would you be prepared to do a menial job for free?    

"Most have serious attitude problems, are addicted to substances, plus
they need considerable help to make it though the probationary period,
so
someone is paying, if not the employer."

Well of course the employer is going to pay. I am not talking about a small 
10 person company trying to establish itself. I am talking about the likes 
of Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Sears , Macdonalds (and Tescos) whose
revenues are of the same order of magnitude as the GDP of Small to
Medium size European countries.
With this type of resource as well as simply donating charity they can
employ some of our more unfortunate members of our society.

"Even for menial tasks, lots of costly supervision is needed to train
these people, and some are not trainable in two months. Never mind two
weeks"

You know I was recently talking to a member of London Transport and
the training period to teach someone to drive a train (overground or
underground)  is ONE YEAR. Training period for aa Doctor is SIX years
and a Nurse 3 to 4 years. Even IT people need 3 months to one years
training to become productive.

SO two months would seem to me a very reasonable period. And in the
case of someone who was on the street a total win-win situation. If
the person makes it through they become a functioning member of
society who are able to support themselves.

Now I am not saying there is anything EASY about a program like this.
Indeed the example I saw for Tescos , the individual who was been
trained to stack shelves was having a difficult adjusting to working
life (after years of lfe on the streets caused by alcholism). Even if
only one in every five people succeed I would consider this program a
success.

I believe just as Large Companies have the duty NOT to ruin our
environment , they also have the duty to employ some of the less
fortunate member of society.
Retail companies have the type of opportunities where homeless people
can make a start (or restart) I also refuse to refer to them as menial
jobs.
 

DPRK007