The Spirit of our Goddess was with us today.
The Historic Leader of Tendance Coatesy, and activist of Ipswich Unemployed Action, (Internationally famous pioneers of fighting for the unemployed) was in a bit of a foreboding.
The Dole had summoned me for a special meeting.
Turns out I am excused from any version of the New Deal.
I wonder why…
And I get my dole!
Now if we all stood up like this we would smash the New Deal (and variants) into the ground.
Well done, I just got my letter for my second New Deal interview. Was there 18 months ago and was exited.
Reading this information is great and hopefully I’ll have some ammunition to fend off attendance. Any tips via mail would be much appreciated.
Comment by bit — July 10, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
Can we ask what you were exited for?
i.e. for your misconduct or an false allegation made towards you?
Comment by Ipswich Unemployed Action — July 10, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
I refused to do the work placement and was asked to leave.
The work placement was to find new employers for YMCA’s new deal clients. I was not given a choice so I refused, consequently my benefits were stopped for one week but I got that back on appeal after raising many health & safety issues and also writing a four page complaint to DWP.
Would be nice to have some ammo this time tho.
Comment by bit — July 11, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
Are you local then or were you with YMCA at another region?
I can tell you from New Deal contract that they are NOT allowed to employ (whether paid or in a work placement role) jobseekers.
I think that takes the piss: they should be finding YOU a placement not YOU finding other participants work placements.
Comment by Ipswich Unemployed Action — July 11, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
I’m in ESSEX and the YMCA I attended was in Southend.
I have the ofsted report and follow up report that I’m taking with me to the interview, also my original complaints letters. I’ll be asking for a taster to see if the situation has changed up there.
I’m very unsure what to do.
Comment by bit — July 11, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
Oh dear, I also read the ofsted report and what I have read wasn’t good at all.
When requesting a taster make sure it involves you going there (tasters can also be talking to an employee or past participant) and don’t sign any referal forms for obvious reasons.
Ironically, I have a copy of their contract in front of me #AAA149601.
Comment by Ipswich Unemployed Action — July 11, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
Yes the ofsted report is quite damming and makes for scary reading.
That contract, is it available online? I cant find it anywhere.
Comment by bit — July 11, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
Nope. The Government publishes a lot of information online to be transparent etc. but things like contracts regarding multi-billions of taxpayers money – which are not about national security etc. – are not published online: why not? I wonder…
Comment by Ipswich Unemployed Action — July 12, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
[...] We have Won a Small but Significant Battle. [...]
Pingback by New Deal Scandal & Welfare Reform: network snippet « New Deal Scandal & Welfare Reform — July 21, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
What were the reasons given?
I was told that I did not have to go back to CDG (Careers Development Group), another dodgy New Deal bunch of fraudsters, after false allegations were made against me. Great I thought, it was worth sticking ones head above the parapet and exposing what was going on.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/386689.html?c=on
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22Careers+Development+Group%22+CDG+site%3Awww.indymedia.org.uk&btnG=Search&meta=
That was two years ago, now two years on, they are threatening me with loss of benefits if I refuse to return to CDG.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/10/439070.html?c=on
I had a meeting with the new manager last week, and she said I have to return. When I said I was exempted. She said she had sought clarification and that the previous manager had no authority to exempt me.
Not saying that will happen to you, but be warned.
I am now in discussion with my lawyers as to what is the next step.
Comment by keithpp — October 5, 2009 @ 11:46 am
Contracts are on-line. Not in the sense of what they have signed, but details of their contracted obligations.
It is on the DWP website. I only found it because I was told where to go and what links to then follow.
I wrote this up and posted the information on one of my articles on CDG on Indymedia UK. Sorry I do not know which one, so you will have to trawl through them all.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22Careers+Development+Group%22+CDG+site%3Awww.indymedia.org.uk&btnG=Search&meta=
I am still curious why the backed down and you no longer have to do New Deal. In my case they are saying it is mandatory and it has to be done. I have given very good reasons why I should not be forced to return,and was previously told I did not have to return. I have said if it is mandatory, then I will go elsewhere, but nothing available other than an hours train journey away, plus long walk each end.
My only option is to sign on in another town.
I could be bloody-minded, go back and use it as an information gathering exercise, but my experience was so bad, I do not fancy going back. And to be fair to my New Deal adviser, she has tried.
Comment by keith — October 6, 2009 @ 2:02 pm
I have just had a meeting with the former Job Centre manager. Now at regional HQ. I think he was quite surprised to see me. But he is a decent guy.
He said, but you were exempt, there is a letter on file. You can be exempted.
Visited Guildford Job Centre. What a depressing place. Like the old DSS offices.
Do I change office or do I go to CDG and expose more of their fraudulent behaviour?
I think first step is to appeal. I was exempt and there is more than suffucient grounds to be exempt.
Comment by keith — October 6, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
What reason was you given for your exemption, were you given this in writing? If not, you are at grave risk of the Job Centre reneging on your exemption.
Another Job Centre has queried why you were exempt, or excluded as they call it: To be told by Ipswich Job Centre that we do not exclude people from New Deal training and that no one has been excluded from YMCA Training due to problems they experienced with the training provider!
Comment by keith — October 10, 2009 @ 2:01 pm