dolehole23:43 Jun 18 2013
Times Read: 599
When I’ve written to my MP, it is often in the somewhat forlorn hope that something can be done about that which is out of my control, which was why I’d started to write this. But, it now seems that my words will be useless, as the day I’d learned of what genuinely concerns and frightens me, I was also reminded, ‘you can’t complain to us [the dole], about them [Ingeus, the work provider]’.
Then other than my MP, who can I complain to? And, if I were to title this epistle it would be, Out of the frying pan, into the fire.” Or, “Having escaped the Pit, Beware The Pendulum.” Yet, I’m getting ahead of myself…
Almost two years ago I was told by my advisor at the Bromborough Jobcentre Plus, “give it a go”, when I’d spoken of my doubts over the governments new work programme. Well, I had given it a given it ‘a go’. But, the only beneficiary from my time there was Ingeus, who made money off me, whilst doing nothing for me that had been written down in my Action Plan.
Considering my experience an expensive exercise in futility, I was grateful to learn that there was an end-date to my time with Ingeus. Unfortunately for me, this is definitely a case of ‘frying pan and fire’…
At the same time I learned the end-date, I found out that like many who finish the work programme, I’d be signing-on at Birkenhead, after that ‘end-date’. I had been aghast to learn this having been lied to there [it’s on record] and had been treated so poorly I ended up suicidal: the first time in twenty-seven years.
I’d gone there, as my left arm wouldn’t work, due to impingement of the joint. Yet, the fact that my problem was legitimate had meant little, I was dealt with so poorly that as I had walked from Birkenhead toward home in a manic fugue, I’d planned my death. And, without the kindness shown to me that day by Lyn Costello a member of staff at Bromborough at the time, I would be dead. She had listened, treating me with understanding and made me feel like someone cared.
It was only Lynn Costello’s intervention that stopped me from doing as I’d intended that day.
I was diagnosed as a manic-depressive in nineteen seventy-nine. Starting from the base of my spine going upward, I have compression of the spine; displacement of the spine; further compression, then impingement at the base of my skull that can lead to loss of the use of my left arm, unless a violent headache happens, which helps return its use returns. [All of this is recorded in my medical notes as well as the Xray, which I’ve seen]. Yet having mentioned all that, I have not sought ‘the sick’, in part due to my experience in Birkenhead and, I’d rather have a job. I also do voluntary work at a soup kitchen every Thursday between 6-8 p.m. and, am thankful that certain staff have enabled me, to sign when mutually convenient, thus alleviating m anxieties over crowds and allow me to ‘feed the homeless’.
Bromborough Jobcentre Plus has treated me as an individual and, with understanding.
But, because of my Past experiences with Birkenhead. I do not foresee the same sort of consideration and understanding. That leaves me fearful
COMMENTS
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Seidr
01:22 Jun 26 2013
Thank you for the recommendation. I'll look it up.
dabbler
19:49 Jul 25 2013
I am still on the fence myself. It was different though, but Warm Bodies was far better for the genre.