Hustle truck workers could soon be "Back to Work" and found on construction sites as negotiations to expand the programme for unemployed Bermudians begins.

This according to Bryant Richards, the Hustle Truck coordinater who spoke to the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday afternoon.

The programme already has a painting team, cleaning team, bus shelter team, office team, and three roving teams that are led by a supervisor and work throughout the Island.

They complete approximately 30 to 35 jobs per month and have completed an estimated 280 jobs since January. The Hustle Truck offers a three-week structured work programme at $15 an hour to help with various projects around the Island.

After three weeks Mr. Richards works with them to begin the process of finding a job, returning to education or other options for their future.

Yesterday Mr. Richards said negotiations had begun with the Construction Association and a more formal announcement would be coming in a couple of weeks.

"We are also working with various outside organisations. We are being assisted by the Construction Association of Bermuda to develop a programme called 'Back to Work Programme'," he said.

"As this programme has not been approved by the Association I cannot give all the details, but it is suffice to say it will be a big step toward giving the Hustle Truck programme creditability and show the collaboration between the programme and the community.

"We bring them in and we sensitise them and then get them into the industry. Then we can try other areas."

Another programme Mr. Richards hopes to bring alongside the Hustle Truck in particular for the female workers is "Dress for Success."

He said he had a meeting yesterday and would soon take those ideas to the community in small groups to explain how it would work.

But part of the problem with expanding the programme, which began last year and is located in the Pembroke Parish Council on Parsons Road, is developing the trust in the community.

He gave the example of a senior who called for help from the Hustle Truck crew but when she saw a group of young men unloading from the vehicle she called the Police.

While acknowledging that the programme, which was begun under the Bermuda Housing Corporation, had some growing pains, Mr. Richards also said something has changed recently.

"We presently have twenty-one people working on improving their lot in life by attending school. That is one third of our work force," he said.

"Eight are taking college courses and 13 are taking adult education courses through the Adult Education Centre, CARE Computer Programme the Seventh-day Adventist programme and others.

"The objective is to give them a break and offer employment opportunities through to regular jobs. This opportunity allows them to be employed without all the bureaucracy and pressure they get from other organisations.

"We are stopped by the perception in the community of the programme. When people hear Hustle Truck they picture misfits who never do well and those who don't want to work.

"We are trying to change this. I have to be honest some of the people who are working with us, they try to con us but that's changing. We are finding that the people on the programme are dedicated and are interested in moving ahead.

"The teams are working together as a unit. It's not a competition here but we see who can get jobs done faster. Most of those folks have always been alone and it has been me, me, me not about what's best.

"We are hoping that we can change a little of this, that we can make people a bit more comfortable and feel more proud in themselves.

"That's why we need the support of the community and for people not to look at them as losers."