Work club volunteer stunned over benefits axe

FED-UP . . . Gary Leese feels he has been treated unfairly by job centre staff

A community champion who helps others back into work was stunned to hear his benefit was to be stopped.

Gary Leese, who voluntarily runs the Oldham Work Club at Oldham Library five days a week, was told his benefits would be cancelled until the end of the month because he missed four sessions with Seetec, a training and employment company working with the Job Centre.

“I went to Seetec with my forms, signed by the Job Centre, which said I had been actively looking for work. But because I missed those sessions they have cancelled my benefits.

“I’m constantly getting calls from the Job Centre, referring people over to the work club. The club does very well which is why it is running five days a week. I’m going out of my way to help people who need to find work, and Seetec have basically done the dirty on me.”

He added: “I feel I’m being victimised. I’ve got £20 in my pocket and I’m being told that’s all I’ll have to live on until June 25. What am I supposed to live on, fresh air?

“I live with my parents who are both pensioners, they can’t afford to support me.’

BBC’s “Panorama” investigated Seetec and other employment agencies and discovered the company receives £600 for every person who attends a session with them.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We always make it clear that people must do everything they can to find work and abide by the rules if they want to claim Jobseekers’ Allowance.

“If as a last resort a sanction is applied they can ask for that decision to be reviewed.”