Benefit Busters

I wrote a while back about the Government's plans for welfare reform - and my concerns about the category captain approach that they were adopting.   So I was keen to watch last night's programme on Channel 4 about A4E and their back to work schemes.

I found it very uncomfortable to watch.  The programme followed a group of unemployed single parents (all women) who were on a 6 week course, which was being trialled in Doncaster (seemingly South Yorkshire is Channel 4's it's grim up north place of choice these days).

The star of the show was a tough-love toting group leader who will now doubt be standing in for Jeremy Kyle next time he goes on holiday.  To my eye (and of course this is TV) it was mainly pop psychology and group bonding, strengthened by regular public bursts into tears.  I'm not saying that there isn't some merit in that, but I still was left feeling like the people, who were all in challenging circumstances, were being belittled and patronised as much as they were being given a confidence boost.  

I'm keen to see the other programmes.  I think there's another one on A4E, whilst others look at other initiatives to get people back to work - including one in Leeds.  

I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.  I was brought up by my mum in a middle-of-the-road inner city area of Liverpool.  We weren't really poor - but it was a struggle for my mum to make ends meet - two jobs, being a catalogue agent and family allowance kept the wolves from the door.  We also had good support from an extended family.   I'm telling you this because I don't want it to appear that I'm peering down into the gutter from my elevated position of lifelong wealth and privilege.  

But having said that, whenever I see programmes like this - or visit inner-city estates - like I did in Bradford yesterday - I am genuinely shocked by what I see.  The poverty that still exists in Britain is unbelievable.  This is why, it is said,  we need tough love like that shown by A4E to help to change things.  

I didn't like the approach that was portrayed on the television yesterday, yet I bet it's better than the bureaucratic indifference that was previously offered by the State.  What bothers me more is that the situation that so many people are in, ingrained, generations-long unemployment and underemployment, where your best offer is a two-week unpaid placement at Poundland - means that initiatives like that are deemed necessary and acceptable.  

Comments

[Mike Chitty]

One of the underlying assumptions of these sorts of programmes is that if we can just get someone back into a job, any job, then all will come good. The truth of the matter, as I see it, is that things only get better when individuals find something to care about enough so that they choose to work consistently and with long term perserverance in developing skills, knowledge, experience and networks that will help them to achieve their potential. This is a journey that may take years rather weeks and requires from the outset facilitation and support rather than manipulation to navigate a short term and frequently very temporary employment solution.

[JET]

I have a great deal of affection,not only for the people of Liverpool but the city. I was schooled during my teenage years a West Kirby at a place called the C.C.H. The Childrens Convalescent Home in Seventies, they were the happiest days of my life.
I live in the North East of England and was employed until March of 2007 at a Remploy Factory,but was made redundant as were Remploy workers in Birkenhead and other parts of the country.
At the age of Fifty andwith Cerebral Palsy, there seems virtually no prospect of a job.I am acutely aware of how most of the chattering classes view a person such as myself. The vilafaction of people on incapacity benefit is a postion, these people can afford to take until it happens to them!
I now face a Medical examination by a private Frence company called Atos Origin and the loss of my incapacity benefit, I would then be deemed work capable and sent to an A4E course,having watched all three episodes the help available is laughable?
Certain groups of people in our society are now being treated as comodities on the open markets,on a revolving door principle. The only people to profit are privately run companies like A4E and founder Emma Harrison.As a disabled person I feel very exposed and vunerable.I believe the David Blunkett is a major shareholder in A4E? No wonder he was the architect of this money making scam!!

[Rob Greenland]

Thanks for your comments Mike and JET, and sorry for not replying sooner. Mike you're right, to see employment in isolation, and success as getting someone into an often temporary job, is missing a bigger issue - and is unlikely to make a big difference to individuals or society as a whole.

JET - I think I can understand how the current situation makes you feel vulnerable - and I hope to goodness I never find myself sat in front of an employment adviser like the one portrayed in the programme above. Obviously I don't know the detail of your situation - and I think things are even more difficult for people over 50 - but I am pretty sure that there are a good number of people on incapacity benefit who could - and want to - be supported back into work. There are a million people aged 25-49 on incapacity benefit. More needs to be done to support those who can work back into work - whilst also protecting those for whom work isn't a realistic option.

I'm not sure that David Blunkett is an A4E shareholder - but I think he is a director - and has been paid by them. If you know different please let me know.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/01/david-blunkett-private-companies

Thanks
Rob