Ex-drug customers turn out to be mentors to assist jobless addicts into work

Mentors who’ve crushed drug or alcohol habit will likely be positioned in Jobcentres throughout the nation to assist others with dependencies get again into work.

The Department for Work and Pensions will spend £3.7million on a scheme being trialled in 40 Jobcentres in England this month as a part of efforts to develop the economic system.

Hull, Portsmouth, Lambeth and Halton are a number of the areas benefiting from the initiative.

Mims Davies, Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, mentioned: “Our mentors are proof that work can be a crucial part of someone’s journey out of substance dependency, transforming their life.

“Their experience will help them provide expert one-to-one advice and support from the DWP in our Jobcentres, helping people recovering from addiction move into work.

“It will also help grow our economy by getting more people back into the workforce.”

The hope is that the mentors will assist folks really feel snug disclosing their dependency points “without fear of reprisal”.

The jobseekers will then be supported to handle their habit and ultimately equip them with the mandatory expertise to entry schooling, coaching, volunteering, and employment.

Mentor Declan’s journey again into work helped him overcome 20 years of substance dependency.

He mentioned: “Having a close friend pass away because of an overdose was the beginning of my journey out of substance dependency.

“In my new role as peer mentor, I’m looking forward to helping people who are going through the same sort of issues I had and starting them on their journey to recovery.”