Success Stories

David Hill - Marketing and PR

To look at him now, it's difficult to imagine that a few years ago David Hill was homeless, sleeping on an office floor, with both his life and health in tatters.

Recently, however, David, of Todmorden, outshone everyone in the Business Category of the national Barclays/Crisis Changing Lives Champions Awards.

The Bank and Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, have worked together on a project to give people the chance to achieve vocational goals and realise their career or life ambitions.

A group of judges, including Body Shop founder, Dame Anita Roddick, and Martin Mosley, Director of Consumer and Community Affairs at Barclays, chose David from a long list of emotive and inspirational stories of people from across the country.

Dame Anita said "David is testament to the impact that programmes like Crisis Changing Lives can have on the lives of homeless people. He has shown real self-belief and determination and he demonstrates that with the right support homeless people can turn their lives around and move on."
David, who became homeless on the breakdown of his marriage, was helped in finding somewhere to live by Calderdale SmartMove. Then with the help of the Into Business Scheme set up his own successful marketing and copywriting business, called Sahana. He also devotes time to voluntary work, being on the board of Voluntary Action Calderdale, as well as being a member of the Board of Calderdale Forward, the Local Strategic Partner. He's also the Press Officer for the Calderdale FSB branch.

On receiving his award David said, "It's a great feeling to be recognised in this way. My self-esteem has improved greatly as my business has begun to grow. The support and help of Crisis Changing Lives and the generosity of Barclays has been invaluable."
David, far from resting on his laurels, will be taking up a place at Bradford University this Autumn, where he will be studying for a degree in Community Regeneration and Development, whilst continuing his business and voluntary work.