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https://reasonstobecheerful.world/alternative-walking-tours-by-formerly-homeless/>
"After struggling with alcohol addiction for over 10 years — during which his
20-year banking career and 30-year marriage both collapsed — it was a
presentation in a rehab center in 2019 that became the catalyst for Miles to
turn his life around.
The presentation was by Invisible Cities, an organization which, since its
inception in 2016, has trained 118 formerly homeless people to become tour
guides. It’s a creative way of giving them not only a new income stream, but
also a new sense of purpose — and skillset, too.
“This helped fill a void after I finished rehab,” says Miles, who has withheld
his name for privacy reasons. “This was the opportunity that first helped me
back on to a path of a ‘normal’ life again, and having a purpose.”
“I probably wouldn’t be where I am today without the opportunity Invisible
Cities gave me. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Invisible Cities’ guides specialize in unique topics that reflect their own
personal story — such as a city’s LGBTQI history, notable women, protest
culture, ties to witchcraft or how crime and punishment has evolved — in the UK
cities of Edinburgh, York, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester.
Invisible Cities provides training for guides to create these “alternative
walking tours,” as well as in public speaking and customer service skills. The
organization is then responsible for marketing the tours and taking bookings.
Participants pay up to £15 (around $19 US), which is split between the guide
and Invisible Cities to support their efforts in recruiting more guides who
have experienced homelessness.
Invisible Cities has also set up a grant program for guides to access funding
to do other external courses or start their own business, and offers training
in IT and presentation skills to help them gain further employment.
With the help of sponsors, Invisible Cities also offers free community tours
for specific groups. In 2023, 569 people from the Ukrainian community and from
underprivileged areas attended free tours."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
