Genesis Community, the charitable arm of Genesis Housing Group, has helped a blind music teacher from Brent keep his job by finding an escort to help him travel to and from Bushey Mead Technical Secondary School in Hertsmere.

Michael Toussaint, a PCHA resident (PCHA is also part of Genesis Housing Group), had received a weekly escort to and from the school, but faced his employment discontinuing if support for another escort could not be found.

Genesis Community works to help people out of work find employment or voluntary work, or to become 'job ready'.

After Mr Toussaint's support was withdrawn in October 2009, Mike Stuart, Development Officer at Genesis Community, referred him to Genesis Community's Voluntary Support Programme where he signed up to a programme providing him with pastoral support.

After some investigation, Mike Stuart discovered Access to Work, a government programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) aimed at supporting people with emotional or physical barriers who wish to enter the labour market.

Genesis Community helped Mr Toussaint with form-filling so that the DWP's Access to Work programme could assess his case. DWP then announced it would be offering Mr Toussaint an escort for his journey to and from work each Wednesday and he was therefore able to return to his job in December 2009. Mike contacts customers on the programme monthly to asses their progress and receive feedback from the company he refers them to.

As he returns to his job after the Christmas break, Michael Toussaint says "I am extremely grateful for the help Genesis Community has given me in helping me keep my job".

Mike Stuart, Community Development Officer at Genesis Community, part of Genesis Housing Group, said "It was a pleasure to help Mr Toussaint get back to work as he was performing a valuable service to young people, despite his visual impairment."

Iain Mackechnie-Jarvis, Head of Genesis Community, said "Genesis Community is committed to helping as many of its residents who are out of work to find employment or volunteering opportunities, and to otherwise support them to become work-ready. Mr Toussaint's story is an inspiring example of what a difference that support can make."

Photo caption (l to r): Mike Stuart of Genesis Community, and Michael Toussaint, music teacher

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For more case studies, photographs, or further information on Genesis Community, PCHA or Genesis Housing Group, please contact Diana Evans on 020 7563 0028 / email diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations. It also has a charitable foundation, Genesis Community, and is one of the largest and most diverse housing groups in the UK. Genesis Housing Group owns and/or manages more than 40,000 homes across London and the south east. Its overiding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.

Genesis Community was set up in 2005 by Genesis Housing Group. It is a charitable foundation created to fulfil Genesis Housing Group's commitments to address the challenges of deprivation and social exclusion in disadvantaged areas. Projects delivered by Genesis Community focus on the key themes of young people, vulnerable and elderly people, safer communities, financial inclusion and training and employment.