Once again visited Working Links – a group which takes referrals from the Job Centre of those who have had their time on Job Seekers Allowance with no success in getting a job. Working Links works with them through to employment and thereafter for some weeks to help them stay in the job.

Mostly the jobs are with local employers and they have a pretty good success rate. Currently success is counted as staying in the job for thirteen weeks – but that is soon changing to six months which will be even more challenging. If you remember that some of those that Working Links works with are long time unemployed and sometimes can believe that they are actually unemployable – you can see how challenging this mission is.

I have to say (just as when I visited three years ago and blogged about it) the team, Loretta and all, are just as enthusiastic, warm and committed as they were then. I really take my hat off to them for their enthusiasm and dedication.

The other main group they channel into employment is lone parents. Lana was one of the people I met. Today she has applied for three jobs. She seems very, very employable to me – delightful to talk to, skilled and very keen to work. Her issue is the nature of the work as she is a lone parent and therefore wants particular employment conditions. I’m sure she will find something good to do.

So – all in all – a very heart-warming experience. We who don’t have to struggle against having lost our confidence through years of unemployment sometimes don’t know how lucky we are to have a job – somewhere to be every day and something to do. That sense of place in the world is pretty central to many people’s well-being – and operations like Working Links make it happen.