Section 2: Economic inequality in Gateshead

Employability and job coach case study

Employment support that has enabled an individual disadvantaged in the labour market to find and sustain work.  

Understanding

A lack of recent experience, low confidence, and a belief he was too old to be employed led to David thinking he could never find work again. He had been made redundant two years ago from a job he had been in for 15 years. The redundancy resulted in long-term unemployment and left David feeling rejected. He became a recluse in his own home, had no self-worth or self-esteem and began to suffer from ill health, gaining a substantial amount of weight and a diabetes diagnosis.

A Job Coach with David and she met with him at home where he felt safe. After the first three appointments, he agreed to leave the house to walk to a local coffee shop accompanied by his Job Coach. After six weeks David felt able to travel there alone. He started looking forward to the meetings and began shopping in the store where the coffee shop was. His diet improved as he purchased fresh food to cook for himself and no longer lived on takeaways. The Job Coach helped him access counselling to improve his mental health and travelled with him to his first session. Working with his Job Coach he began to realise he was the only one stopping himself from moving forward.

Work as a reality

David's Job Coach found a vacancy with a local charity for a driver, but David was reluctant to apply for the role as he believed his age would let him down. After encouragement, he applied and was invited for interview within a week. The Job Coach secured funding for interview clothes and set up simulated interviews to provide him with experience of answering questions from people he didn't know.

David was offered the job but felt two barriers prevented him from accepting it- what to wear at work and who to call on for help if he needed it. Work clothes were organised by his Job Coach and fortnightly phone calls booked in the diary. David really enjoys his job. His relationship with his family has improved and he does not worry about leaving the house, he is losing weight, and has finished his counselling sessions. He now feels he is now in control of his life." 

Most business and employment support programmes designed to meet the needs of Gateshead residents rely heavily on external funding streams, which are soon coming to an end. Interventions tailored to local conditions are vitally important to improve the health of the population and the economy. They enable us to pioneer and scale up successful activities that deliver positive outcomes for the borough's residents and businesses. Very often these initiatives fill gaps in provision, particularly those who are disadvantaged because of their background, experience or circumstances.

We know how important it is to give people the power to make the most of their money and their lives, to give people a fair chance and reduce the stress faced by people moving between benefit entitlements and work. An essential part of this is to tackle inequality so people of all ages have a fair chance and receive an income sufficient for healthy living. Like most other countries around us, the UK has voluntarily subscribed to international legal standards that declare that everyone is entitled to an adequate standard of living, including healthy food and decent housing. (Gateshead health and Wellbeing Strategy: Good Jobs, homes, health and friends) 

Section 3: Social inequalities