Unemployed mums helped back to work by Marks and Spencer (From Croydon Guardian)

Unemployed mums helped back to work by Marks and Spencer

7:10am Saturday 9th January 2010

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Two single mothers have beaten the unemployment blues thanks to a new work placement scheme from Marks and Spencer.

Teresa Back from Thornton Heath had been unemployed for eight years, and with five children to feed had felt the strain of not having a job.

But a two week placement as an assistant in the Croydon M&S food hall enabled the 49-year-old to gain valuable communication and customer service skills.

She said: “The quality of life for my children and I has greatly improved thanks to my new job, and I now have a very positive outlook and a ‘can do’ attitude about everything.”

The proud parent has been offered a permanent placement in the wake of the scheme, helping her set her family up for a happy Christmas.

Gemma McLean, a 28-year-old single mum from New Addington, said her work placement with the company had given her new motivation for finding a job after five years of unemployment.

She said: “Before I started my placement at the Croydon store I was very low and I had lost all motivation and enthusiasm for finding a job. “Now my life has finally taken a good turn.”

The programme, which was set up in collaboration with single parent charity Gingerbread, is the largest in the British Isles helping people facing barriers to find jobs.

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