Episode two of Benefit Busters centres on a group of long term unemployed people in Hull. Click on the links on the left to read more.

Benefit Busters

A new documentary series ‘Benefit Busters’ starts on Channel 4 on 20th August, following people on both sides of the new welfare state.

Two of the programmes show A4e helping single mothers in Doncaster and long-term unemployed people in Hull.

Personalised service

Benefit Busters vividly outlines how our methods of tailoring welfare services to the individual’s needs, increases their chances of finding and keeping employment, especially in a challenging job market.

A4e is set to deliver a new jobseeker service - Flexible New Deal - from October this year and have invested £8 million on research, development and refurbishment in readiness to roll out the new programme at 40 locations across the country.

Unlock the barriers to work

Emma Harrison, chairman of A4e believes Flexible New Deal will be one of the most significant changes to the UK’s welfare system in the last century and one with the potential to unlock the barriers to work that have been established through a ‘one size fits all’  benefits system.

She said:  “At the moment anyone unemployed for more than six months is mandated to attend 30 hour programmes for 13 weeks to update their job skills.

 

Emma and Hayley

Click here to watch Emma's appearance from the first series of Secret Millionaire on 4oD

“For some this is not nearly enough - they need help with literacy, improving their confidence and often tackling serious problems such as alcohol abuse.  For others, they have hit a patch of bad luck and may only need a few hours of direction and encouragement to find a good job.

“Flexible New Deal fits well with A4e’s own ethos of working with the individual and will ultimately mean we can help more people to come off benefits, get into work and improve their lives.”









Click here to watch Episode 1
of Benefit Busters featuring
Hayley Taylor on 4oD