62-year-old Jimmy Stirling is feeling down about his circumstances, and the situation is made worse by another screw up at the jobcentre
I AM Jimmy Stirling, a 62-year-old unemployed graphic designer, photographer and musician, single grandfather and social housing tenant living in Glasgow.
I receive Jobseeker’s Allowance of PS50 per week and have a very small pension payment of just under PS25 per week. I do voluntary work for my neighbouring community and look after one of my granddaughters for two days per week.
I was recently conscripted to take part in the UK Government’s Community Work Programme, where I would be forced to work for my Jobseeker’s Allowance, which I see as slave labour.
This not volunteering, this is not being paid a wage, this is conscription.
I am against this terrible programme and this is my experience in trying to avoid a six-month, 30-hours-per-week sentence just to juggle the government’s statistics to make them look good.
Below is my latest diary update. You can read the others here.
27 April 2016
It was my usual signing on today. No mention of Remploy. I was informed that I would have yet another new work coach when I next visit to sign on.
My work coach asked me if I had filled out a volunteer’s form, I had to tell him I had filled out two, one in February and one in March. I signed on and that was me for the day.
I am still reaching my target of applying for 10 or more jobs per week, however, very rarely do I get a reply and if I do get one, it is an ‘automatic’ reply informing me that, “After careful consideration we regret to advise you that you have not been shortlisted for interview as other candidates were more closely matched the job specification,” or words to that effect.
The DWP is still sending me vacancies for jobs well outwith my fields of experience, many of them part time and requiring the ability to drive.
When you are on your own you are out of many loops, not just for work purposes but also in your daily life and in social circles. I feel very much alone, even though there are millions of us in the same boat.
There are other influences that help to further depress. My downstairs neighbour doesn’t want me to grow any flowers in the small garden I created at the front and sides of my home. As it is a communal garden I have decided to accept his demand.
However, I took away all the garden tools which I bought over the years so that he will not be able to use them. I allowed him to use these including a mower to cut the grass. I thought that if he wanted to make rules then he should take responsibility of looking after the garden himself.
I really don’t need this nonsense but I still have a small patch of ground where I can grow vegetables. Gardening is very therapeutic for me and I will miss nurturing flowers from seed. There is much more to this, however, I will leave it as an indication.
I go to my half hour computer session on Wednesday and at 4pm it really mucks up your day, but it has to be done.
I am on a bit of a low at the moment but hopefully the better weather will lift my spirits.
11 May 2016
I went to sign on today, however my new work coach was on holiday and I got someone else.
The first thing he asked me was if I was working. I told him no. He asked me if I was working part time, I told him no. I said that I do voluntary work and he asked me who it was for, so I told him. He asked if I get paid for it and I explained that I do voluntary work because I want to and I do it without payment because it is totally voluntary, I like to help.
He asked if I had filled out a volunteer’s information form and I told him that I did in February and in March. He said that the one in my paper file was empty. I reassured him that I had filled in two forms in the past months.
I asked him where it was showing up on his system that I am supposed to be working, and he replied that it was on the internal system somewhere. I have absolutely no idea why this would be showing, I stick by the rules.
He said that he didn’t have time to sort it out at my signing time. He said I would have to come back in the following day to see if it can be sorted out. As I had a doctor’s appointment around lunchtime, he managed to fit me in at 9.20am. I said that’s fine.
I wonder why this thing about me working has cropped up. Is it a genuine error? Is someone trying to put the boot in? I have absolutely no idea. I imagine that after I go and visit the jobcentre to try to sort this out, my blood pressure at my doctor’s appointment will be rather high.
The CommonSpace opinion section is an open platform for anyone who wants to voice their views and does not represent the editorial position of CommonSpace itself. If you’d like to have a piece published, email CommonSpace editor Angela Haggerty at angela@common.scot
Picture courtesy of Jimmy Stirling