Council Project Supports Pontypool Man Into Work

A 30 year old Pontypool man, who has been unemployed since he was 16, has landed his first job with support from a Torfaen council project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Matthew Hayes has battled mental health issues including depression, anxiety and ADHD all his life, and has found it difficult to find work as a result. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since making contact with Torfaen’s Bridge into Work project earlier this year he has undertaken training courses and achieved a number of qualifications, while improving his softer skills and interview techniques. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Through the project’s Dress to Impress scheme he was also given an outfit to wear for job interviews, and has now been offered a position as a barman at the Parkway Hotel in Cwmbran. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Hayes said: “My anxiety and ADHD have always been a barrier to me finding work and when I did start to apply for jobs I didn’t have any experience of job interviews. I couldn’t really afford anything decent to wear either – I went to one interview with a £10 suit from a supermarket and it was clear that the employers weren’t impressed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The team at Bridges into Work have gone above and beyond to help me get a job. Not only have they sorted me out with clothes, and helped me with qualifications and skills, but they have helped me to work through personal issues too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Now I am really looking forward to starting my new job and getting on with my life.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jo Thomas, employment support worker at Torfaen council, said: “Matthew has faced a number of challenges in his life that have prevented him from finding work. He is very enthusiastic but needed support and advice on how to dress appropriately and conduct himself at an interview, as well as the more practical qualifications and training. I am delighted that he has now been offered a job and we will be keeping in touch with him regularly to continue the support.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Bridges into Work project supports long-term unemployed adults aged over 25 to gain the skills, training and education they need to get back into work. Through Dress to Impress, which is based in Pontypool Indoor Market, the project can also provide smart interview clothes, free of charge, to those who need them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​