UR4Driving
UR4Driving is a new, joint venture with the Hammersmith and Fulham Community Transport Project (HFCTP) to reduce recidivism and improve the employability/life skills of 20 young ex-offenders a year by teaching them to drive in return for voluntary work.
It was inspired by the ex-offenders on a work experience project funded by Mercers in 2006. This revealed a general desire to learn to drive, that jobs in the transport/warehousing industries are often still open to those with a criminal record and that a valid UK driving licence is, therefore, a de facto vocational qualification for an ex-offender.
Suitable candidates will be referred from Hammersmith & Fulham Parole Board, HMP Wormwood Scrubs, HMYOI & RC Feltham and St Giles Trust, in addition to internal candidates.
The selected candidates are given a strict code of conduct, a personal mentor and a daily routine that begins in Phase 1, with 20 x 4 hour volunteer shifts at the Upper Room Foodbank. This involves collecting surplus food from Whole Foods in Kensington, sorting it and running a regular redistribution service to four other homeless day centres.
This is a probationary period and those candidates who exhibit reliability, honesty and the ability to work in a team are rewarded by moving on to Phase 2 at HFCTP, who provide an intensive driving course, including an off-road assessment, and as much driving practice as they want in a dual-control car.
Successful candidates can stay on at HFCTP for extra training as a voluntary driver, or sign up with UR4Jobs in order to find work.
The project is funded in part for three years by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, with contributions from The Mercers' Company, The Hilden Charitable Fund, The Worshipful Company of Weavers, The Stanley Smith Foundation, The Woodward Trust and the Abel Charitable Trust.
If you work with or are associated with any aspect of the criminal justice system, prisons or parole boards and would be interested in referring young ex-offenders please email infoupperroom@yahoo.co.uk
UR4FoodBank
The FoodBank provides a food collection and distribution service to other charities who give meals and services to homeless people in West London. The Food Bank also provides individual and family food parcels for those in need.
UR4FoodBank is a complementary service under the umbrella of the UR4Driving project because so much of the work is done by ex-offenders in the UR4Driving programme.
We have campaigns like the Harvest Festival each year to collect food from schools and churches. UR4FoodBank enlarged significantly during 2008. Over 8,000 children heard the message about ‘Helping Hands for Hungry People’ and participated with artwork, tins of food, songs and musicals, and money. 120 schools and churches contributed to the Harvest Campaign.
Innocent Fruit Drinks chose the Upper Room for a corporate service charity day and decorated the yellow Upper Room van with a rainbow of colourful children’s handprints. 
Whole Foods Market in Kensington announced the Upper Room as its Food Bank charity partner and one activity has included a ‘5% Day’.
The food given by them supports four other charities that provide meals to vulnerable people especially families in West London.
