[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by keithafc

Yeah. Sounds like the core gateway programme you go on after a year or more on JSA. Whats he doing now? A job placement?

Nope, still on the dole :/

Originally Posted by angus58

That's because this ridiculous course is not intended to actually find anyone a job - people on it are removed from the official unemployment figures for the duration, as they will be shown as "in training" - this artificially massages the true figure of unemployed. Pathetic but true. I know this because I have a friend who works at our local Jobcentre.

Furthermore, the courses are aimed at the least intelligent, least motivated, and least likely to ever get work, thereby not actually being of any use whatsoever to genuine jobseekers like your friend, who find themselves twiddling their thumbs for hours every day. Surely his time would be better spent pounding the pavements and knocking on doors, not making him do the infantile activities they insist people participate in to get their Jobseekers. A total waste of resources.

In my opinion, those claiming JSA who have worked for years and paid their dues should not have to fulfil any other conditions in order to receive their money. It is actually quite insulting and demeaning to have to attend such basic courses as "how to write a CV"; how to apply for a job; how to behave at an interview; etc. I would refuse point blank to attend any course that is not going to actually teach me anything I already know.

Only the workshy, long term unemployed (and usually unemployable), should have to attend these pathetic courses to "earn" their JSA which they have probably never contributed a penny to in the first place.

Thats really interesting actually, thought it might be something like that.

On the other hand, sometimes they send people on worthwhile courses...but at a price. My sister has just had a baby, her partner was out of work while she was pregnant but trying to get back into working. The jobcentre arranged for him to go on some 2 week course to learn the basics of plastering and that after he asked them to. They messed around, giving him the wrong start dates for about a month, then finally gave him the correct one, and my sister went into labour the next day...however, they would not give him a day off to see his child. He continued going on this course, and was due a payment half way through. His payment never came. After ringing about and getting passed from office to office, he was eventually told that his payments would start up again when the course ended, as since he had voluntarily gone on the course (instred of being forced to...) he would have to make a new claim. Perfect for when you have just had a baby eh? Luckily my dad could lend them what they needed to support the newborn, but it really does make you think...surely they should be WANTING people to help themselves back into work, not have to be forced into it. But they make it as hard as possible to do that it seems :S