Press Release

MP CELEBRATES 500 JOBLESS INTO WORK

12 March 2007

Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander MP: Friday 16 March, Working Links Paisley

The MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South will meet jobseekers and people who have found work after long periods of unemployment during a visit to a local employment office on Friday.

Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander MP, who is also Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Transport, will be attending an event organised by Working Links, a public-private-voluntary partnership that specialises in helping unemployed people back into work. The event is being held to celebrate Working Links Paisley helping over 500 jobseekers back into work.

When:  Friday 16 March, 14.30 – 15.30

Where:  Working Links, 25 – 27 Causeyside Street, Paisley, PA1 1UL

Mr Alexander will be presenting the 500th jobseeker with an award and meeting other people helped by Working Links. The Working Links Deputy Director for Scotland Helena Craw will be speaking at the event, which will also be attended by Working Links consultants, local employers, and representatives from Jobcentre Plus and other partner organisations.

Case study – 500th jobseeker

Lisaanne Wilkie, from Johnstone, is the 500th person Working Links Paisley helped back into work. Lisaanne had been unemployed for four years before she was referred to Working Links in September 2006. As a lone parent with a two year old daughter, Lisaanne was finding it very difficult to get a job that gave her the flexibility she needed.

Working Links consultant Bill Hewitson worked with Lisaanne to assess her employment options and Bill arranged a nursery place for Lisaannes’ daughter to allow her to look for a job. Bill helped Lisaanne with her CV and interview techniques and with the support of Working Links she was soon successful in securing a job as a catering assistant.

Unfortunately the catering company went into liquidation soon after Lisaanne joined, but Working Links continued to work with Lisaanne and she now has a job she loves working for Greggs bakery. She commented: “Trying to find a job when you have been out of work for a while and you have childcare worries is very scary. Without the support, practical help and encouragement of Bill and the team at Working Links I would still be unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. I’m very proud to be the 500th Working Links Paisley success story and I’m looking forward to the event.”

John Lunn, Performance Manager for Working Links Paisley, commented: “We help people back into work by removing the practical barriers that stop them from finding a job, whether this is a lack of skills or low-self confidence. We really change people’s lives for the better and Friday’s event is a celebration of all the hard work and dedication shown by our consultants and jobseekers.”

Working Links has helped nearly 80,000 long-term unemployed people back into work since it started in 2000. The Paisley team have been helping people who claim Incapacity Benefit or any other health related benefit back into work since 2004 as part of the Government’s New Deal for Disabled People. Each jobseeker is treated as an individual and solutions are developed for each person to overcome barriers to employment.

Working Links help jobseekers prepare CVs, search for jobs on the internet and work on their interview techniques. Working Links also has access to funding for things like interview clothing, benefit roll on and training courses.
Once a jobseeker has found work Working Links continues to support them and their employer for six months. This involves regular contact and help to iron out any problems that may arise.

To confirm your attendance please contact the Working Links press office on 020 8870 6777.

For further information on Working Links’ back to work services call freephone 0800 917 9262.

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