The Work Programme-Interviewees Needed-£20 voucher
The Work Programme - Interviewees from across Britain -
"At the end of last year I carried interviews with single parents in Bristol looking at their experience of transferring onto the Work Programme. I am now doing a follow up project in partnership with Oxfam UK interviewing single parents across Britain to find out their experience of the Work Programme.
We had great response to this, so don't need any more interviewees. Thanks everyone!
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Send an email to Laura then, kiera, and she will get the ball rolling 
I have my first Work Programme appointment this thurs, and Im feeling really anxious. Will be sending Laura an email, to try and set up an interview, as it will be good to share the experience.
Great stuff, helpmenow and good luck for Thursday
Dear all,
I am just drawing up a timetable for interviewing single parents about their experience good and bad of the Work Programme. Do get in touch if you want to be interviewed. There is a £20 voucher on offer for around half an hour of your time. The interview is conducted over the telephone at a convenient time for you (day or evening). If you are a single parent currently on the Work Programme and have a child or children under 16 then I would love to hear from you. I will not share your personal details and the results of the research could help improve the services offered to other single parents and their children.
Go on have your say!
If you want more information or want to arrange to be interviewed then please email me L.dewar@spanuk.org.ok
Laura
Hi Laura
I was referred to the work programme on 4/9/12 by the JCP and have received my first letter from my work programme provider A4e today, dated the 5/9/12. Very prompt of them.
I'm Stunned!!! I cannot believe the threat content. Not only that but they are accusing me already of not responding to a previous letter that i havent and couldnt have received as I was only referred two days ago!!!!! They also state that they have tried to contact me on several occasions!!! Again, untrue!
If this is the level of incompetence of this company then what hope is there for me or other single mothers in the same situation. I'm furious and now the last thing I wish to do is contact this company to arrange my appointment. In the frame of mind I'm in at the moment they may take it as I'm being hostile because I'll tell them exactly how I feel. What am I to do? Please help!
Cherry 12,
Sorry to hear about your poor experience of transfer onto the Work Programme. One of the themes shared from other single parents on this forum is the lack of co-ordination between Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme. Something that SPAN, the charity that runs One Space, are campaigning to improve.
I can understand your frustration but the poor administration that you have experienced about your appointment might not be an indication of the service that you could get from the Work Programme provider once you get there. I agree the tone of the letters that Work Providers send out can be rather accusing and very annoying to be told you have not responded when you have not been given a chance.
The dates on the letters you have been sent clearly do not make sense so you are as well to keep these (as well as the envelopes with the postmarks if you have these). I would contact the Work Programme Provider to make a new appointment. When you go for your appointment I would get them to write down the details of your experience so far (I would also get JCP to make note of this when you next sign on). This should help if problems arise in the future. I would also ask to see a copy of the complaints procedure at the Work Programme in case further problems occur and you want to make a formal complaint.
Hope this helps and good luck with your transfer. Do let me know how you get on.
Laura
Kiera,
If you would like to be interviewed about the Work Programme do get in touch. Go on have your say! Send me an email to arrange a suitable time to be interviewed. L.dewar@spanuk.org.uk
Laura
I have had similar experiences with A4E and complained to JC to be told take it up with WP as they dont deal with us like they used to now we are on the WP. I get asked everytime i go to sign on how the WP is going and tell them I am unhappy with the way we are treated and how it is run. I get told oh well you will just have to go along with them now and that the JC doesnt do anything other than sign us on and pay us the JS, the WP get the funding to deal with us now.
Fedup_mumof1
Please get in touch it would be good to interview you for our project. We are keen to share where things are working well and the where providers need to improve. Our findings will be presented to Government where we hope to influence how services are delivered on the Work Programme. Do get in touch and have your say. I will not share your personal details and you will be given a £20 shop voucher for your time (half an hour over the phone). My email is L.dewar@spanuk.org.uk
Laura
Hi Laura,
I will email you as soon as I have calmed down, I have just received a letter of the WP saying that I have been booked into a video CV workshop! this wednesday, plus that had booked me in tomorrow for a motivation workshop. I had informed them last week that i had started college and couldnt do Tuesdays or Wednesdays and they told me they come first so college doesnt matter. I am trying to update my qualifircations to better my job prospects and they treat us like this.
I am so angry right now but I had to reply to you.
Hi Fedup_mumof1
It sounds like you maybe being misinformed, i would call back and get a second opinion, ask to speak with a manager and state what you have told us, this usually works for others.
Fedup_mumof1
How frustrating! Do get in touch when you feel ready. It would be great to interview you about your experience of the Work Programme.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Just wondering what you need off me in the email I send to you so you can get in touch with me for your study?
Regards
Selina.
Fedup_mumof1
I just need a phone number and the best time of day or evening to contact you. This week I could interview you this evening or tomorrow (day or evening), or Wednesday morning. You should also confim that you are currently on the Work Programme and have at least one child under 16.
Many thanks. I look forward to hearing from you.
Laura
Hi Laura.
Thanks for quick response, I have emailed details over to you just now.
Look forward to chatting with you.
Selina
Would just like to say Thank you to Laura and that I hope I have helped in your study of the work programme.
To anyone who is thinking of being part of the study, please do get in touch with Laura and have your say so she can complete her study. The more people she has to speak too, the better for us and her. The questions are easy to answer and Laura is really friendly and its like you have known her for ages and you are just having a conversation with a friend on the phone.
Thanks again Laura was lovely to speak with you.
Selina
Thanks so much for that positive feedback! 
Fedup_mumof1
Thank you for giving your time to be interviewed. It is important to find out about the experiences of single parents who are on the Work Programme so that good practice can be shared and bad practice can be addressed.
All the very best to you in your job search and keep on One Spacing!
Laura
Dear all,
Parliament have announced that they are going to do an enquiry (ending in December) into how different groups of people are doing under the Work Programme. This is a great opportunity for me to let them know about single parents and the Work Programme! It makes it even more important for me to find out your experiences of the Work Programme as this will help to influence Government. The timescale is tight so dont delay. If you want to be interviewed over the telephone I can offer a £20 shop voucher. It takes about 30 minutes and can be arranged day or evening. I will not share your personal details.
Please get in touch L.dewar@spanuk.org.uk
Laura
Ive been sent to the work programme, i have my first meeting on monday . Im so worried. im not even sure what its all about. Im a mum of 2, aged 8 and 9 and have no help from their father. This first metting ive been told by letter is a group meeting. im confused as i thought it would be a one to one to evaluate my needs and abilities to get back to work. Do i have any rights? the letters ive recieved so far all seem to be very patronising and unhelpfull. Im a 40 yr old woman of 2 yey i feel like some naughty criminal. This carnt be how it should be surely.
Hi confused mum, you have received a detailed reply from both myself and Anna on the other thread, click here to see
It would great for parents to be involved in this!