One Space user talks to the House of Lords!

September the 12th was a very important date on the SPAN calendar (Single Parent Action Network). SPAN’s Parliamentary Officer, Laura Dewar, had been invited to the House of Lords to speak with some other charities and voice concerns over benefit sanctions and conditionality.

Laura asked me to go along to help represent the case for unemployed single parents, and, hopefully, let it be known that our problems whilst job seeking are genuine and very real.

This year saw an enormous shake up to the benefits system, causing considerable distress. Income Support ceased for thousands of lone parents who felt thrown onto Job Seekers Allowance without any information about the rights and flexibilities available to them. Add to this the threat of sanctions, and the Work Programme, and it’s become a frightening time for those of us trying to raise our kids alone on a low income.

Lone parents are often already emotionally, physically and financially stretched to the limit. Veiled threats and confusion at the Job Centre only compound the existing problems.

I stumbled across SPAN via the One Space website and thank goodness I did! I desperately needed advice after an extremely unpleasant job centre interview, where I was referred onto the Work Programme. After the interview, I was left thinking there would be no allowances for childcare whilst on this programme, and that I would probably face sanctions as a result. So finding One Space was a godsend. I got solid, practical advice plus the bonus of having a good old online rant.

So, on the blustery morning of the 12th, I trooped along to Church House by Westminster Abbey to meet Laura and the others attending. It was great to speak with the different groups and hear about the problems they too had encountered at various Job Centres.

It was agreed that there is little or no communication or consideration about the needs of the individual, along with a real lack of information from Job Centres. There was a sense that people are being punished by a system that does not recognise what actually goes on at ‘grass roots’ level. The country is in the middle of a financial crisis – there are more job seekers than jobs – however we are often made to feel as though being unemployed is our own fault.

 After lunch, it was time to go to the House of Lords. For me, this was the really nerve-wracking part. I was a pretty apprehensive about addressing members of The House of Lords (some days I can barely manage a “hello” to the postman!) but also eager for the opportunity to make our point.

Several Members attended and we each presented our cases. I’m sure mine would resonate with thousands out there: I have never been made aware of my right to restrict my working hours. I’ve been made to apply for a job completely out of my area – regardless of my right to limit travel distances. When referred to the Work Programme, the Job Centre failed to include (among other things) that I even had a child. As I was speaking it suddenly hit me – we do deserve a better, fairer way in which to find work AND raise our lovely children.

I find that we tend to tuck it all under and think, “well, that’s the way it is”, but what reasonable society would expect a parent to leave young children alone? The vital thing is the welfare of our children, not Government ‘targets’ and statistics.

The Lords and Ladies present were very receptive to our comments and asked lots of questions after I had addressed them. It was clearly understood that Job Centres often do not do enough to make lone parents aware of their rights as job seekers, or properly address the problems that face us when/if we do find a job. Most importantly, they did recognise that we do have a very strong case, which was so encouraging.

I’d like to say a very big “thank you” to Laura and SPAN for the chance to make our voices heard on such an important date. And for all your hard work and support – it really does make all the difference.

If you want to talk to Laura, SPAN'S Parliamentary Officer about your experiences of the Work Programme visit Benefit Changes and You.

Find out All you need to know about Job Seekers Allowance.