Transforming dreams into reality

WE HAVE become accustomed to bad news: faltering banks, a double-dip recession, once-firmly established businesses folding up, large scale redundancies in the public sector and the resultant increase in unemployment, house repossessions, homelessness and child poverty. And that doesn’t include the unrecorded psychological damage inflicted by the loss of jobs and the uncertainty, even hopelessness, it brings both to individuals and family life. Political parties wrangle about new benefits introduced and many accuse the government of letting down the poor.

“Work doesn’t seem to exist anymore,” said Salome, 21, one of a million unemployed young people aged 16-24. Salome left college at 18 and has been unemployed for two years; she does 16 hours voluntary administrative work each week to gain experience and add to her workability.

“My profile is,” commented Salome, “I’m young so my face doesn’t fit; I feel I’m made to feel like dirt, lazy and stupid – we all get tarred with the same brush: ‘you didn’t try at school, you can’t be bothered to get a job.’ The media and politicians create this impression and it is often the general public’s view as well. I’m straight up against ageism – when you reach your 30s, people assume you will be sensible.”

The Jesus Army’s third Jesus Centre was opened in the West End of London in 2008. Based in Margaret Street, near Oxford Circus, it offers a broad range of services including skills training and a job-search support group called Making it Work for unemployed people.

Alison Moore, an employment consultant and member of the Jesus Army, has pioneered Making It Work. The project began in March 2009 and since then 56 people have found work through its services and 133 people have received help with various issues relating to employment, ranging from CV writing, interview skills and assistance with benefits appeals and unfair dismissal.  The service runs on a Thursday morning from 10.00 am – 1.00 pm.

The people who access Making it Work are of all ages and all nationalities, ranging from foreign students from South America, Asia and across Europe to economic migrants from Eastern Europe and beyond.

Alison commented, “Jesus was a man sent for the forgotten and the marginalised, and that’s how many of these people feel.  I tend to feel a bit like a ‘dream catcher’ when I listen to people’s stories and support them through the process of transforming their dreams into reality.”

One young man from the Philippines said: “I was looking for a job and so I made an appointment with Alison who runs ‘Making it Work’. She talked to me and helped me choose the right sort of work and showed me how to look for jobs on the internet. We did practice interviews.  I applied for four or five jobs and got two interviews. I’m so glad to have got a job. I’ve been working as a waiter for a month now and it’s going really well.”

“Realising that they need to improve their English is very important,” says Alison, “As it often makes the difference between being in control of the jobs they can do or being sucked into the many illegal cash-in-hand jobs which unscrupulous employers offer.

“Another common issue is that some people are very well qualified in their native countries and find it hard to accept that they are unlikely to be able to do the same work here without expensive and lengthy re-qualification.

“If people are persistent, though, and prepared to adapt their dreams to the reality of the job market they can do very well and find a way through to experiencing some stability and security.”

London Jesus Centre was named “Charity of the month” by their local Waitrose recently and were given a generous donation from the superstore.

CAP (Christians Against Poverty) was launched in the UK in 1996 to help people out of misery and poverty arising from unmanageable debt. Working in partnership with local churches, CAP has developed massively, both in the UK and abroad and this year has launched another initiative to combat unemployment and redundancy: Job Clubs.

Job clubs are run in local churches for job seekers by people supported by trained coaches from CAP.  Clubs meet weekly for networking and encouragement  and training is given through a ‘Journey to Work’ course.

“I am overwhelmed by what God has done,” said John Kirkby, Founder and International Director of CAP on the Christians Against Poverty website. “To see thousands of lives changed every year is truly wonderful. I do believe that God has given us a 21st century answer to one of the most pressing social needs within society today. Jesus met people's needs with love, compassion and practical help. Our desire is to simply do the same and watch the miracles unfold ... Job Clubs are a fresh way for churches to lift people out of poverty in their communities by tackling the huge problem of unemployment.”

Unemployment in the future? No one really knows but surely the dark days we are facing present many of us with an opportunity not to be missed. As Christians, bringing hope to people’s lives is surely our business, and initiatives, (whether large or small) such as ‘Making it Work’ and CAP job clubs, can make a difference.