Craig Hilton
When Craig found a place at the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter in Sunderland, after being homeless for a couple of weeks it became the opportunity he needed to turn his life around.
As a recovering alcoholic in need of some direction, Craig took the courses on offer to keep himself busy and soon found he’d completed Numeracy and Literacy Level 2, as well as ITQ2 and the European Computer Driving Licence. Craig enjoyed encouraging other hostel residents to learn and wanted to get a job at the hostel, so he completed an NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care and is currently studying at the next level.
In addition, he passed a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector qualification and is now studying the follow-on CTLLS qualification. Craig now works full time as a project worker at the hostel, tutors two cookery classes for residents and has moved out of the hostel and into a flat. “To say my life has turned around is a huge understatement,” said Craig.