[Angus]

I agree that there are probably plenty of temporary jobs out there, but the system is geared to make it as difficult as possible for Jobseekers to make the transition back to claiming benefit quickly and efficiently once the job is finished. As Vicky said, it can take weeks to get your jsa once you sign back on, and meanwhile you either live on fresh air, or take out crisis loans (if you can get them). No wonder people are reluctant to do that.

As for mandatory volunteering, it's kind of a contradiction in terms since I don't think it's somehow right to compel someone to "volunteer". Perhaps there could be some way of increasing the JSA a bit for those who are prepared to volunteer, which would give them some sense of worth as well as benefitting the community. After all the majority of people who claim JSA have worked previously and paid their taxes and national insurance contributions, so why should they not receive their benefits without having strings attached?

The only ones who should be compelled to do some sort of community based volunteering are the hard core, long term unemployed, who have demonstrated no will or desire to work at all. If they haven't contributed to their JSA like most of those who claim it have through taxes in previous employment, then they have no right to complain.