Our Impact
At Old Spike, we do two things: roast exceptional specialty coffee and create pathways to employment for those experiencing homlessness.
how we help
Paths into lasting work for people experiencing homelessness
Our Barista Training and Employment Programme provides training, work placements and paths into good, lasting employment. Every cup or bag funds it.
Introduction to coffee
The starting point. It covers where coffee comes from, how it's grown and processed, and what affects how it tastes. This module has a single level.
Barista Skills
Everything behind the espresso bar: dialling in, milk texture, latte art, workflow and customer service. It's the module most cafés hire on.
Brewing
Filter coffee done properly. You'll learn brew ratios, grind, water and extraction across manual methods and batch brewers, and how to get consistent, repeatable results.
Work placement
Three weeks paid at London Living Wage in our own and partners’ cafés, with mentoring from experienced baristas.
Lasting employment
We support trainees to access long-term career opportunities, in our sites and across the city.
Jan - June 2026
Real, measurable outcomes
52
individuals trained
92%
completed paid work placement
901
hours of paid employment
£13,355
paid LLW employment
JAN - JUNE 2026 SNAPSHOT
52
Individuals trained
92%
Completed placement
£13,335
Paid at London Living Wage
901
Hours of employment funded
Why it matters
382,618
People affected by homelessness in the UK
8% increase from 2024
123,100
People in temporary housing or accomodation
8% increase from 2024
4667
People sleeping rough each night in the UK
20% increase from 2024
175,025
Children homeless in London
Equivalent to one per classroom
Source: Shelter, 2025
SELECTIVE PARTNERS
A network of support
We work with over 20 organisations supporting people with housing, mental health and personal stability. We focus on what comes next: employability, barista training and job-specific skills. Working together means trainees can access the right support while building the skills they need to move into work.
St Giles
Centrepoint
Baytree
Springboard
The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields
Graduate story · Hanaan
“At the end of the work placement I had the opportunity to apply for a full time job at Old Spike. And I got the job.”
Referred by Springboard with some café experience, but she didn’t yet see herself as a barista. After training she took her placement at Sherwood Street, and following graduation secured a full-time role at the same site.
Hanaan · Barista, Sherwood Street
Our impact
Choose coffee that works harder
Every bag helps fund our Barista Training and Employment Programme, including training and paid work placements at the London Living Wage for people experiencing homelessness.