Helping hands in Jane’s new start
Feb 27 2008 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette
A SINGLE mum from Middlesbrough has had a career makeover thanks to help from the Evening Gazette and Jobcentre Plus.
After spotting an advert in the paper for a manager of Oxfam in Stockton High Street, Jane Jorgensen, 44, visited her local Jobcentre Plus to see what support was available to help her return to work.
Jane, who had been on Income Support since January 2006, met lone parent adviser Julie Kay who told her about the range of free services available to her through the government’s New Deal programme. As busy mum to Jordan, 19, and Louie, six, the extra support Jane received from Julie proved to be just the boost she needed to get back to work.
She said: “There’s so much support and financial help out there that I wasn’t aware of.
“Julie was absolutely brilliant. She took away the stress of sorting out my Working Tax Credit and even paid for some work clothes for me to help me present myself better in my new managerial position. She also told me I would get a month’s rent and rates and a Job Grant of £250 once I started.
“It’s a fantastic incentive for anyone to start work, I’d really encourage others to keep in touch with their lone parent adviser.”
Jane previously ran her own vintage clothing and fancy dress shop but found her demanding 70-hour week difficult to balance with family commitments.
She was delighted when she saw the Oxfam advert in her local paper as it meant she could return to the work she loved and had the expertise in, but with in a more flexible, family-friendly environment.
