Jeff's Post

It was a cold, wet morning and the weather reflected the mood of the Jobcentre very well yesterday. As soon as I arrived the demand for my time, food parcels and general chat started. It’s not easy at all trying to juggle everything.

I had a nice surprise though. A comrade from a different area had had a collection and had put together approximately five food parcels. This was brilliant. They contained hats, gloves, womens products, loo rolls and food. We also collected our food parcels from Pauline who helps us out every week. In total we had approx ten and you’d think that would be enough but it wasn’t.

The demand for them was massive, from people who really needed them. Sanctioned claimants, homeless claimants whom are sofa surfing amongst family members, working people on Universal Credit and disabled people who have failed their ESA medical. I struggled to keep up and it was stressful. Stressful because this demand should not be happening, they should not be hungry, suffering like this should not exist.

People going in and out of the Jobcentre were inadequalty dressed for the weather and were cold, lonely and scared. Many were angry and quite rightly so.