"It just goes to show no matter how old you are, you can learn new skills, to help you change direction, I did."

Having worked in heavy industry with a lot of different companies for almost 30 years I found myself redundant in November 1999.

My back and hearing problems were now going to be a major concern for me to get back into employment. I was put on permanent sick because of my health. I have done a few college courses to help relieve the boredom of being out of work, one of the courses I liked was British Sign Language, this gave me a new outlook on life, including having to sit exams which I hadn’t done since the 1970’s, making new friends, learning about the Deaf culture, I got my self confidence back.

I saw a Gateshead Council advertised scheme called Gateway to Gateshead in which people on Unemployment Benefit and Incapacity Benefit were invited to apply for vacancies within the council, over 200 people applied I was accepted onto the first part of the course, which included learning about interview techniques, filling in the application form, and the Council. All this was followed by an interview day, I then had to wait 2 day’s to see if I was successful, I got the phone call to say congratulations you have been accepted to attend a 6 week training course at Gateshead college which would include a week’s work placement within the Civic Centre.

Having completed the 6 week’s training I was placed within Development & Enterprise where my duties were putting archive material onto the computer for the freedom of information act, having been there for 6 months I was given a permanent job with Human Resources, in their Recruitment Team, my job involves answering the telephone, making up application forms, scanning onto the computer, closing jobs, keeping the stationery cupboard stocked, having to learn the new E-recruitment system which has been installed, and lots of other duties.

It just goes to show no matter how old you are, you can learn new skills, to help you change direction, I did.