When Michael was referred to our听Employment and Money Advice service, he had found himself out of a job and unable to read or write.听
After working as a butcher for almost 40 years, he was worried about his finances,听couldn鈥檛听complete job听applications听and听didn鈥檛听know where to turn for help and advice.听
鈥淚 was being pushed from pillar to听post听and I didn鈥檛 know where to go,鈥� said Michael, aged 58. 鈥淟ots of people would tell me that they understood but they didn鈥檛 because they were still telling me to fill out online job applications.鈥�听
Michael was desperate to get back into work but felt like he was getting nowhere – until he was told about the听Castlefields听Community Hub, in Shrewsbury, where he met Employment and Money Advice Officer Sharlene听Johnson-Jones.听
鈥淲hen I met Michael, it felt clear that he had undiagnosed dyslexia and he鈥檇 managed to hide it all his life,鈥� said Sharlene.听
鈥淗e鈥檇听unfortunately been dismissed from his听role听and everything had fallen apart for him. He was divorced from his wife who had always听been responsible for听setting up their bills and direct debits. He had worked since the age of 14 and had no understanding of the benefits system.鈥�听
The job-hunting process had been extremely stressful for Michael, and he听didn鈥檛听know if听he鈥檇听completed his claim for Universal Credit correctly or what commitments were involved.听
鈥淚t was hard work,鈥� said Michael. 鈥淚n the 80s it was a lot better but now everything is online 鈥撎齣t’s听a crazy world.听
鈥淚 went to the hub, and I sat there and spoke, and Sharlene just listened to me and then explained what we could do together.鈥澨�听
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.听
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.听听
鈥淚鈥檝e lived with this all my life, but the courses have helped me to get the help and support in place that I need,鈥� said Michael.听
鈥淪harlene went out of her way to help me and without her support to get me the cleaning role, I听don鈥檛听think I would have been able to get the job at the butchers.听It鈥檚听so much easier to get a job when听you鈥檝e听got a job.听
鈥淪he went above and beyond, and I know if I ever need any help I can go to the hub.听It鈥檚听a life saver for people like me.鈥�听
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.听
Customers can contact the team by calling 0800 007 4567, completing the听referral form听or by dropping into one of听our听community hubs.听听
For more information on Read Easy, please call 01388 435 021 or visit听听