The Work Programme

By Mr. A

The dole told me that as I had been on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) for over 12 months I had to go onto the new Work Programme that was getting everyone a job (sic) who went on it.

Now this sounded great to me, because I was looking as hard as I could to find work as a welder pipe fitter. I thought this is good - they have contacts, that's great- I should be working by Christmas (2012).

Anyway on my first visit to Work Programme provider Ingenus my case/key worker was great with me. She told me what it was all about and sent me away with my bus fare refunded. "See you next Monday, be lucky with your jobsearch," she said. But it was all bullshit. She told me I could use their computers, get paper for sending out CV's, and get more help than I had been getting from the Jobcentre.

But hey, I still had to to do my jobsearch diary for the jobcentre, or as I found out, to the cost of me receiving no JSA for two weeks (which was eventually paid to me when I won my appeal against this decision). Pity it did not help with my offending behaviour that week, when I was nicked for shoplifting in a supermarket.

Well after six months with the WP I had still not completed a new CV, and nobody at Ingenus seemed to care because I was a 'problem client'. The problem they had with me was that I had put the truth about myself on the CV and that I had been in and out of prison most of my life. So nobody would even offer me an interview ( I can't really blame employers - who wants a reformed drug smuggler, burglar, thief, liar and cheat working for them.

"Don't you think it would be best if you left the prison part of your life out of your CV," said the caseworker. Ok, so how do I account for what I did between 1979-83, 1993-98, 1999-2004, 2005 -2009, etc. The case worker said we will make something up for it to make it look good on your CV. So I was advised to LIE on my CV, to at least get my foot in an employer's door for an interview. "If you get the job, by the time they find out the truth they may like what they see and keep you on."

So what would you do? Tell the truth and not ever get an interview OR lie and hope they don't dig too deep into your made up references and sack you for being a liar (even though you are the best welder on the line?!!).

No. I was torn, now as I had the chance of a full-time job, but it was cash in hand, as the builder who could have given me three months work, was himself struggling to keep his head above the waterline in the flood of unemployment.

As I had been late for three appointments with my new case manager, she said, "I can report you to the dole (and get a six week sanction - no giro for six weeks) or you can come in everyday all next week for an hour a day, 9am - 10am, to prove that you really want to find work."

I have this discussion with her most weeks. I will clean loos with my bare hands and scrub floors on my hands and knees with broken bones and crushed glass in my eyes. I want to buy my granddaughters a present for Christmas (not a nice prezzie, just a prezzie). Anything is better than nothing, is it not?

Anyway, she made me come in every morning for two solid weeks. I made my way into the office next to the Crown Court in QE Square, broke, hungry and down and out. I stole my breakfast from shop bins and begged a smoke from my fellow job seeking slaves of the JSA system. I was in a bad place, really depressed and was drinking again and using drugs to attempt to escape my lowly place in society's role as a bum.

I asked anyone who would listen, "Any jobs mate?". "No, leave your phone number on reception."

Well, one day the devil put temptation in my path. I was weak and lonely and 15x2 mill valium pills, washed down with a can of strong cider, did not really help me make the right choice. I made the wrong one, and here I am back in prison where I belong.

At least this year (2012) I had company on Christmas Day and a shoulder to lean on, hot food, a dry bed and a warm room plus board (anyone who knows H-wing in Walton will know how sarcastic I am being - or using the new artistic licence they gave me in education) 1:0:1, Oh, and the great news (18 months in the making) is " I GOT A JOB". Okay, so it's only in 4 shop on £7-50 a week, but I wake up each morning knowing I have a job to go to, where I am pretty important - a cog in the wheel in making leather pouches for prison officers to keep the keys that keep me safely locked up away from my failures as a father, grandfather, son and brother.

I get a weekly wage, although I can only afford one pack of burn (tobacco), cheap coffee, one Mars or Crunchie, but you know how proud I feel when you have earned your money and not made your family feel shame and guilt about the sick crime stealing someone else's dreams and hopes. Just don't feel the same as earning your own.

God, I wish you could show me some way to show the victims of my crimes that I am deeply sorry and ashamed of what I've done and become. But honestly I really did want a job but I am one of society's broken people.

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Sorry Comments Closed

Comment left by dazza on 10th January, 2013 at 23:39
Great to read something real. You should set up a blog. I would read it.

Comment left by Len Gibb on 15th January, 2013 at 10:08
I myself have been to jsa "work programmes" three times and each time i was shoved onto a job which only lasted a couple of weeks at best which then landed me right back to the start of claiming jsa. When will the goverment wake up and realise there are no jobs to be had at the moment instead of making unemployed people jump through these hoops just to be treated like shite by jsa staff and work programme employees. I genuinely feel for you mate and i hope you get the help and support you need.

Comment left by Sandra Gibson on 16th January, 2013 at 20:15
This is gritty and has an edge of humour. I hope you continue writing for Nerve - it's good stuff and documents these bad times. If you don't have access to a computer you should write a diary. It makes a damn sight better sense than keeping a jobsearch diary. How tragic that this government is wasting people's energy in this humiliating and downright stupid way. My grandson says, "If he doesn't have access to a computer how will he see this message?" Well I don't know. Perhaps you will feel the message.

Comment left by T C on 7th July, 2013 at 16:27
Funny, poignant and sad all at the same time. The poor are persecuted for the mistakes and the greed and corruption of the rich. Of course, it's not all black and white is it, but it seems to me that in general there are no real jobs out there, the minimum wage is just too low and because the government have to be seen to be doing something, they persecute the poor; what's new?