Real-life stories

Suki is profoundly deaf and uses sign language to communicate. She had been unemployed for two years and although she had applied for over 70 vacancies with the support of her local Jobcentre Plus, she was unable to secure a job. After meeting a range of barriers along the way, related to her deafness, she became very low, depressed and her confidence sank.

Through her personal adviser Laila, Suki was given an opportunity to undertake a Work Trial in the Reprographics studio at The Harefield Academy. She passed her trial with flying colours and was taken on for a six month contract, which has been extended for an additional year.

Suki says she is extremely happy, her confidence has grown immensely and her speech has also improved. In addition, her colleagues have undertaken signing courses so that they can communicate better with her and support her development.

Tracy Anderson at The Harefield Academy said "We all get on incredibly well with her and she has such a positive attitude. Everyone is considerate to her to make sure she isn't excluded and consequently it has made us all work better as a team."

Linda Edmonds, from Brentwood in Essex, has overcome her health problems to set up a thriving business.

Linda suffered from a debilitating form of Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) for many years. Her condition left her in constant pain and discomfort which made it very difficult for her to work.

After receiving help to overcome her ME, Linda visited personal advisers Lesley and Joanne at her local Jobcentre Plus. Linda was a keen cook and her dream job was to run her own business. To help her achieve this, her advisers brought Business Link on board as a partner, who gave her the help she needed to get her business up and running.

"I wanted to get back into work and do something that used my talent for baking," says Linda. "That's how I came up with the concept of 'The Cookery Angel,' an events company that runs cookery themed parties."

Even though her company is very young, Linda has already been praised highly, winning the 'Jane Asher Home Baker of the Year 2007' award for her 'tipsy blackberry and apple cup cakes'. She has also participated in a professional cookery demonstration for Victoria Foods in the Ideal Home Show's 'Chef's Kitchen Theatre'. Most of all, since starting her company, Linda has found a new lease of life.

"I feel such a sense of purpose, every day I am actually doing something productive. When I was out of work, I felt really down and couldn't imagine a world where I could work again. Now that I have found a career that works for me, I feel like a completely different person.

"You might think that running your own company would be lonely but I've made many friends – clients as well as other local business people. I now feel full of life and I believe that comes across when I meet new people."

Paul was involved in a serious motorcycle injury that caused long-term damage to his leg and left him in considerable pain and a lack of mobility. Having been an actor before the accident, his disability prevented him from working. As a result, he spent most of his days at home. Paul found this isolating and depressing and could not see himself returning to work.

Paul benefited from the Pathways to Work programme in December 2007. "For many years I was laid up with my leg. I was in a rut. I couldn't work because I wasn't well enough, but then I had an operation that allowed me to be relatively pain-free. I realised that I could start to do things again. People wanted to see my CV, but I didn't have one as I hadn't worked for so many years."

After interview preparation with Alison, his personal adviser, and advice on how he would disclose his disability to prospective employers, Paul was offered a role at the Imperial War Museum in London as a Visitor Assistant.

Paul said: "My colleagues wondered why I was so happy, and said I'd lose the smile once I'd been here for a month, but I'm still just as happy. I get up for a reason in the morning – I feel useful and wanted. I love the sense of camaraderie, and the great thing is that I'm getting paid too."

Alison says she saw a big change immediately: "I'll never forget the smile on his face when he came to see me in his first week at work. He looked like a different man."

Mary, from Colchester, has turned her life around from being stuck at home with a debilitating health condition, to being mobile and finding a job in the caring industry.

Mary suffers from Crohn's Disease and osteo-arthritis and in the past, day to day life was very difficult. She could not walk very well and was in constant pain. As a consequence, Mary was not able to work and in addition, spent weeks at a time unable to function normally. Visits to friends were a rarity and even food shopping, almost impossible.

Mary worked with Kalyani, her personal adviser at her local Jobcentre, and as part of the Pathways to Work programme, was referred to an NHS Health Assessor from the Condition Management Programme. As a result of this assessment, Mary was given the opportunity to attend a specialist musculo-skeletal exercise and lifestyle programme.

Mary said: "It's amazing, six months ago, I didn't think I would be able to walk properly again, let alone work. Instead of walking really slowly and aching all over, I can now run for one minute at a time on a treadmill, I can get out of a car without looking like I need help and at last, I get a good night's sleep. The transformation is fantastic and my confidence has soared, so much so that I have now found myself a job, back in the care industry. This is something which I have always loved and never thought I would be able to return to.

"I feel that this programme could benefit many people like me, who need expert guidance and encouragement to get back to a 'normal' life. Not only did the team give me a well thought out plan of action specifically for my health concerns, they continued to be there throughout with sound advice and knowledgeable understanding of my needs.”