Cameron's latest 'get off your arse' plan.

[Undesired Walrus]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7176823.stm

People out of work for more than two years would be forced to do community work to keep their unemployment benefit, according to plans outlined by the Conservatives.
The long-term unemployed would have to take part in a 12-month programme involving "valuable improvement and amenity work in the areas where they live".


Sounds like an interesting idea. Could work I suppose, may need to see some data. The only problem is, injecting some personal experience into the equation, that a lot of the people who currently work in the homeless sector used to use their services when they themselves were homeless, only to volunteer for a few years and then become a valuable member of the caseworker team. Presumably these community jobs could eat into experience gained in the field they will later get a good job in.

And all this said, 'community work' is starting to sound an awful lot like 'community service'.

On the Tory Stinkometer: 4.5/10

[Puppycow]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7176823.stm



Sounds like an interesting idea. Could work I suppose, may need to see some data. The only problem is, injecting some personal experience into the equation, that a lot of the people who currently work in the homeless sector used to use their services when they themselves were homeless, only to volunteer for a few years and then become a valuable member of the caseworker team. Presumably these community jobs could eat into experience gained in the field they will later get a good job in.

And all this said, 'community work' is starting to sound an awful lot like 'community service'.

On the Tory Stinkometer: 4.5/10

I'm not sure that is a "problem." Are you saying that gaining experience for a later career is bad? I do think it's important for people to do something constructive for the community, if only to give them a sense of pride and some accomplishment, as well as probably being good for their mental health.

[Francesca R]

The proposals are mainly aimed at the 68,000 on Jobseekers' Allowance for more than two years and the 16,000 on the benefit for more than five years. Story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7176032.stm)

I had no idea that was so low actually. That's 0.11% of the population on jobseekers' allowance for more than 2 years. So, perhaps this is . . . headline grabbing?

[Undesired Walrus]

I'm not sure that is a "problem." Are you saying that gaining experience for a later career is bad? I do think it's important for people to do something constructive for the community, if only to give them a sense of pride and some accomplishment, as well as probably being good for their mental health.

I don't think you understand me. As it stands now, a lot of the homeless on JA gain experience for a few years by being a volunteer at the charity that they once used the services of. They later, because of the experience, gain a job there.

If we have these community jobs, cleaning, graffiti, etc, then they will eat into the time that they would be using for being an unpaid volunteer.

[Puppycow]

I don't think you understand me. As it stands now, a lot of the homeless on JA gain experience for a few years by being a volunteer at the charity that they once used the services of. They later, because of the experience, gain a job there.

If we have these community jobs, cleaning, graffiti, etc, then they will eat into the time that they would be using for being an unpaid volunteer.

I see. But now you are describing somone on the dole as "unpaid"?

And I suppose I might add, someone compelled to work as a "volunteer."

[JonWhite]

Unless worthwhile, saleable skills are taught then it'll just be no more than exploitation and punishment.

Forced into gaining some laughable, career enhancing experience of painting a community wall just so as to continue receiving their paltry benefits? Work is work. Shouldn't they at the least then get minimum wage?


Sounds like just another political sop to The Daily Mail.

[sinclairmcevoy]

I don't know about the U.K, but from what I see here in Canada, a lot of people on welfare just don't want to work. Welfare Wednesday is known as Mardi Gras. The bars are packed on those days. I've met a few, and they will bitch about how they can barely get by after they pay the rent. The government just doesn't give me enough money. Getting a job is out of the question as it would not work with their schedule. Who wants to work when you get paid not to?

[E.J.Armstrong]

Same old, same old.

The Tories ignoring the wood for the trees.

Cameron might have some credibaility if he employed fewer old Etonians and stopped allowing his shadow cabinet to defraud the country of a full time salaray while moonshining in other jobs.

One full time MP's salary for one full time job.

[fagin]

I don't think you understand me. As it stands now, a lot of the homeless on JA gain experience for a few years by being a volunteer at the charity that they once used the services of. They later, because of the experience, gain a job there.

If we have these community jobs, cleaning, graffiti, etc, then they will eat into the time that they would be using for being an unpaid volunteer.
Seriously, how many layabouts on welfare actually do charity work?

[JonWhite]

Seriously, how many layabouts on welfare actually do charity work?


Prince Charles, Queenie, Prince Andrew, Camilla Horseface and the Duke of Edinburgh for starters... :D

[Undesired Walrus]

Seriously, how many layabouts on welfare actually do charity work?

More than you think tarquin.

I recently worked in an office of eight people. Three of those were volunteers who used to use the services, and two were caseworkers who went from years of homelessness to two years of voluntary work, to where they are now.

[Praktik]

I don't know about the U.K, but from what I see here in Canada, a lot of people on welfare just don't want to work. Welfare Wednesday is known as Mardi Gras. The bars are packed on those days. I've met a few, and they will bitch about how they can barely get by after they pay the rent. The government just doesn't give me enough money. Getting a job is out of the question as it would not work with their schedule. Who wants to work when you get paid not to?

I also live in Canada, and this is nonsense.