[Arthurgray50@blu]

Housing benefit was paid, thats why the money was less, this was five years ago that l was unemployed.

I was on a training scheme when l got the job l am with now. And l nearly lost it as l was told to sign on at the same time as the interview.

The JC's do not give you any help whatsoever. They would not give me a grant to cover the first months money, l was told talk walk from my house in Isleworth to North London. And if they were to give me a grant, l had to take FIVE buses, to get there.

When you are unemployed, you don't get any help financially, as far as they are concerned you have got a job, and thats it.

The training scheme that they ordered me to take, was sitting in a room from 9.30 to 3.00 and listening to a salesman going on about go to a building site, find out who the company is that will be there, then cold the company.

There has to be a better incentive to find employment, at this time of year when people are looking for work, they have no chance.

Most companies close down for approx two weeks. Except for supermarkets that have already taken on the staff they need.

The government dont seem to have the idea of what to do to help them. I have told loads of my mates what to do - but at the end of the day, some don't have computers or mobiles to chase these jobs up.

When you go for the adverts - most of them are agencies. And they make money out of you.

Yes, it was nerarly five years since i was out of work, but that heartache that l went through, l can see what is happening today with the unemployed.

And the government is not doing enough.