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| Charity demands aid for homeless | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A charity supporting homeless people has called on the government to provide £300m for education to help prepare them for employment. | |
| The call came from the charity Crisis as it opened seven hostels across London for Christmas. | |
| Crisis is providing food, bedding, medical checks, benefits advice and even a dog "creche". | |
| The Michelin-star chef Jean Christophe Novelli is among the volunteers and is cooking at one of the centres. | |
| It is the 35th year Crisis has organised its Open Christmas scheme which runs until 30 December. | It is the 35th year Crisis has organised its Open Christmas scheme which runs until 30 December. |
| 30,000 meals | 30,000 meals |
| The project offers internet access, medical care, television, eye-testing, hair-cuts, skills training and advice on housing and benefits. | The project offers internet access, medical care, television, eye-testing, hair-cuts, skills training and advice on housing and benefits. |
| Crisis estimates that the centres will serve up 30,000 meals over the holiday period. | Crisis estimates that the centres will serve up 30,000 meals over the holiday period. |
| French-born Mr Novelli is doing his bit on Saturday, helping out with the cooking for up to 300 people at the opening of a centre close to Liverpool Street station. | |
| Celebrations around Christmas often revolve around good dining with friends so why should a homeless person's Christmas be any different? Jean Christophe Novelli | Celebrations around Christmas often revolve around good dining with friends so why should a homeless person's Christmas be any different? Jean Christophe Novelli |
| He said: "Celebrations around Christmas often revolve around good dining with friends so why should a homeless person's Christmas be any different?" | He said: "Celebrations around Christmas often revolve around good dining with friends so why should a homeless person's Christmas be any different?" |
| The charity says 97% of homeless people in the UK want a job, but 37% have no qualifications, and more than half have been out of work for over three years. | The charity says 97% of homeless people in the UK want a job, but 37% have no qualifications, and more than half have been out of work for over three years. |
| Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: "Learning can literally change lives. | Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: "Learning can literally change lives. |
| "If the government recognised the importance of learning in tackling homelessness and committed substantial funds, we could help so many more homeless people." | "If the government recognised the importance of learning in tackling homelessness and committed substantial funds, we could help so many more homeless people." |
| A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Getting homeless people into training and employment is a key part of the government's strategy for preventing and reducing homelessness. | A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Getting homeless people into training and employment is a key part of the government's strategy for preventing and reducing homelessness. |
| "We are providing £90m through the Hostel Capital Improvement Programme to make hostels places of change." | "We are providing £90m through the Hostel Capital Improvement Programme to make hostels places of change." |