WELCOME TO THE TWISTED SYSTEM

So I’ve just spoken to a very well known youth development organisation who work to assist young people to get back in to education, training or employment. I was enquiring about travel funding for a young lady as the travel costs for her to get to her mentoring sessions with me are too expensive (£11 return).I have been working with her for the last 6 months and she was moved from her place of residence in to a different area. They told me they can not support this as they need clear evidence that it is assisting her to get back in to education, training, employment.

When I asked what ‘clear evidence’ constitutes I was told that it would have to be something like training or volunteering that will lead in to paid employment. Fair enough.

However, during the same conversation they told me that she can apply for the grant when she has got her job and one of the things she could spend the money on would be new clothes for the job. I am totally BAFFLED!

I said to them, the sessions she does with me have been providing her with the support she needs to develop her personal skills & confidence and she has been getting one-to-one mentoring from me to guide her in to this. And she has a group of other girls who she interacts with who share experiences, conversation & advice between them. It is her SUPPORT NETWORK. Without this, she will struggle even more to get herself in to position of education, training or employment!!! So you cant fund her to pay for travel to be able to continue with her self-development but ONCE she has got herself a job – you will fund her for a clothing allowance?

Just does not make sense to me. It seems backwards. Am I missing the point somewhere? Someone feel free to enlighten me.

Just to be clear, I am not disputing the fact that people need to be able to clothe themselves. I’m not challenging that. I am challenging the order of priority as seen by this organisation. I also understand that funding is short and funders need to choose their priorities. I get it!  But, it’s chicken & egg.  If you are giving someone money which they are free to spend on clothes ONCE they have got a job YOU ARE NOT SUPPORTING THEM TO GET THE JOB ARE YOU? You’re helping them once they’ve sorted their shit out!?!?

PUBLIC TRANSPORT costs are a JOKE for those of us who do have regular income, let alone those of us who do not have regular income! This is a REAL issue.

I am not writing this to be an a**hole. I’m writing it because I feel compelled to speak on it. There are too many decisions made at strategic level that are FAR away from the issues real people face in their every day lives.

Feeling political. Yes I’m fed up of the system.