When Michael was referred to our Employment and Money Advice service, he had found himself out of a job and unable to read or write.
After working as a butcher for almost 40 years, he was worried about his finances, couldn’t complete job applications and didn’t know where to turn for help and advice.
“I was being pushed from pillar to post and I didn’t know where to go,” said Michael, aged 58. “Lots of people would tell me that they understood but they didn’t because they were still telling me to fill out online job applications.”
Michael was desperate to get back into work but felt like he was getting nowhere – until he was told about the Castlefields Community Hub, in Shrewsbury, where he met Employment and Money Advice Officer Sharlene Johnson-Jones.
“When I met Michael, it felt clear that he had undiagnosed dyslexia and he’d managed to hide it all his life,” said Sharlene.
“He’d unfortunately been dismissed from his role and everything had fallen apart for him. He was divorced from his wife who had always been responsible for setting up their bills and direct debits. He had worked since the age of 14 and had no understanding of the benefits system.”
The job-hunting process had been extremely stressful for Michael, and he didn’t know if he’d completed his claim for Universal Credit correctly or what commitments were involved.
“It was hard work,” said Michael. “In the 80s it was a lot better but now everything is online – it’s a crazy world.
“I went to the hub, and I sat there and spoke, and Sharlene just listened to me and then explained what we could do together.”
With support from Sharlene, Michael gained a dyslexia diagnosis and completed talking therapy as well as Read Easy training. She also guided him through his Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment and showed how he could maximise his income through budgeting.
After reviewing his CV and job searching together, Michael successfully interviewed for a cleaning position and was working there for a short while before securing a new part-time role at a family-run butchers.
“I’ve lived with this all my life, but the courses have helped me to get the help and support in place that I need,” said Michael.
“Sharlene went out of her way to help me and without her support to get me the cleaning role, I don’t think I would have been able to get the job at the butchers. It’s so much easier to get a job when you’ve got a job.
“She went above and beyond, and I know if I ever need any help I can go to the hub. It’s a life saver for people like me.”
If you are struggling to gain employment, unsure what benefits you could be entitled to or finding it hard to manage your money, our Employment and Money Advice Service is here to help.
Customers can contact the team by calling 0800 048 8955, completing the referral form or by dropping into one of our community hubs.
For more information on Read Easy, please call 01388 435 021 or visit readeasy.org.uk