MSE News: Government launches back to work programme

LadyMissA

Did a bit of research and the place who does the work programme for my area is 7 miles away.

Does anyone know if I was to be sent there who pays for the travel to and from my home?

I have no £ spare to do so and surely they can't make you go with no £ to get there and then lunch?

DCFC79

LadyMissA wrote: »

Also how much is this Work Programme costing for each person?

The job centre wont even lend you the £ to go to an agency if the agency wants to put you forward for a job but won't till you have registered with them.

Surely support with registering with agencies would help a long way for a lot of people getting a job instead of some course?

registering with agencies isnt hard, its easy to do, have you tried volunteering to a charity or volunteering to do accounts for groups, church groups, put an ad in local paper for anyone needing accounts done

LadyMissA

DCFC79 wrote: »

registering with agencies isnt hard, its easy to do, have you tried volunteering to a charity or volunteering to do accounts for groups, church groups, put an ad in local paper for anyone needing accounts done

so yo don't need to pay to get on the tube to get the agency?

EndlessStruggle

I am on The Work Programme as of today. All providers are different but mine pay my travel. I will wait until I have been for my first meeting before I pass judgement on it.

LadyMissA

I don't understand what a work programme is still and what are 'providers' - is it like a training course?

How long will it last?

And if they wont pay travel how do you get there?

EndlessStruggle

(Info gained from a very vague document I've been given and from adviser) Basically once you get to a certain stage of claiming Jobseekers Allowance to keep being eligible you have to agree to join the Work Programme. You still have to go sign on fortnightly but that's just to get the benefit part. Basically the Job Centre stop helping you find work, no job searches etc, that will be down to the provider. They are basically outsourcing you, you get an adviser and they try find you training, work experience, workshops etc. Providers just a fancy term for the people doing the Work Programme in your area.

You are on it for 2 years.

I think it depends on providers, mine pay travel and another local one does as well.

LadyMissA

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

(Info gained from a very vague document I've been given and from adviser) Basically once you get to a certain stage of claiming Jobseekers Allowance to keep being eligible you have to agree to join the Work Programme. You still have to go sign on fortnightly but that's just to get the benefit part. Basically the Job Centre stop helping you find work, no job searches etc, that will be down to the provider. They are basically outsourcing you, you get an adviser and they try find you training, work experience, workshops etc. Providers just a fancy term for the people doing the Work Programme in your area.

You are on it for 2 years.

I think it depends on providers, mine pay travel and another local one does as well.

So you have to go there every day for 2 years?

I only ask as I have my interview about the work programme next week and have no info about what it is.

Not sure I need training as I had a career in accounts and had so for 20 years & I apply for over 40 jobs a week with my own searches.

The 'provider' in my area is 7 miles away lol

EndlessStruggle

No not every day, I think it is once a fortnight.

The Job Centre guy didn't seem to want to say too much, said it will all be covered in Induction/Welcome meeting. The document basically says they will give you more support with your individual circumstances. You'll discuss what help you need to get a job. What they expect is for us to attend meetings or take phone calls at time agreed, complete any activities the provider tells you to and they may arrange work-related activities like work experience, training and further support. If you don't do anything they tell you to you could get sanctioned. that's all it really says.

DanLeto

I finished the OLD New Deal course a couple of weeks ago and that did nothing for me, I updated my CV with the 'work placement' but it's the same old story, not getting any replies. Now as I'm classed as long term unemployed I will no doubt be thrown into MWRA before getting thrown into the Work Programme, why should we be paying the price for this economic cluster-****?

LadyMissA

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

No not every day, I think it is once a fortnight.

The Job Centre guy didn't seem to want to say too much, said it will all be covered in Induction/Welcome meeting. The document basically says they will give you more support with your individual circumstances. You'll discuss what help you need to get a job. What they expect is for us to attend meetings or take phone calls at time agreed, complete any activities the provider tells you to and they may arrange work-related activities like work experience, training and further support. If you don't do anything they tell you to you could get sanctioned. that's all it really says.

That's going to be a waste of time. I wonder how much that's going to cost them per person? It will take me over 1 hour to get this 7 miles to the 'provider' in my area.

The help I need to get a job is to support my travelling to agencies as many have called me but all my £67 goes on paying my bills and they wont put you forward for jobs unless you register so I am stuck in a catch 22 situation.

I can't wait to see what they tell me next week

thanks for the info - hope yours goes ok