Since December two thousand seven several articles have appeared on Indymedia. They exposed several damaging things about 'Careers Development Group' After the first article an investigation was launched by the job centre and what we call 'The Big Wigs' at head office. The investigation resulted in several changes and unrest.

I am no longer a client of CDG as I have just finished my sentence there. What did I take away from there? Nothing and like many others they would say the same. These courses are a scam so that this so called charity makes more and more money so they can live of it like the pigs they are. The genuine and down to earth staff I must commend for doing such a hard job which can be rewarding but most of the time stressful.

However we are not all perfect and it does look like people are out to lynch CDG. In all fairness we are trying to show the potential clients and those who believe we the unemployed have it easy that courses like this should be better ran and that the job centre have more of a input in to it.

While at CDG I have not once see my job centre come in to check on us and see how it’s going. If they had then they would see the unrest of their clients. Surely the Job centre should be checking up on us getting feedback, instead they carry on as normal while we do what we do.

So what happens while at this scam of a course? For thirteen weeks you will do some classes (If there is one that day). The rest of the time is Job search, if you are not in lessons you are expected to Job Search. This could range from 9:30am till 4:00pm searching for a job, five days a week. However if you have a lesson it would be 1:30pm until 4:00pm.

Some people have found this almost impossible and to be quite frank you can see why. Yes we all heard the 'GET A JOB' or 'YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING' but there is only a limit you can do and if you like it or not its the truth. Now do note there is something like eight computers in the building itself between twenty to forty clients which if you do the math is totally impossible. So you are told to cold call and send letters out.

To me I think CDG have no general idea on what they are doing about job searching, even the job centre must see that this is a joke. In the same building is another company like CDG, they are called Kennedy Scott, See link:

 http://www.kennedyscott.co.uk/jobseekers.html

This is a extract from their site

'We help people overcome their barriers and get into the work of their choice. We help people regardless of background, qualifications, experience, disability, gender, ethnicity, age. We do not accept that any barriers are insurmountable, and every day people achieve their dreams with our assistance.'

Now let’s take a look at CDG UK

 http://www.cdguk.org/

As a professional charity we are passionate and proud in continually striving to develop a quality service that empowers individuals through development, recognition of achievement and success.

Viewing both sites you see that Kennedy Scott take pride in their work, they have all the relevant information you would need. They even provide a copy of their Equal Opportunities Policy, Client Health and Safety Policy and their Disability Policy. Take a look at CDG and you won’t find any of it on their site or even in a centre, unless you look high and low for it.

But to the point this companies are alike in what they do but they are so much more different. I learnt that a client of Kennedy Scott would only do four hours a day at their centre then the rest of the day is theirs to go out and find a job. Instead CDG in their wisdom keep you in all day and then as a lame excuse you do External Job Search Friday which everyone knows is an excuse for them to catch up on paper work and bunk of early.

My time at CDG hasn't been wasted at all, I have learnt many new things about life and its brought out a whole new perspective in me. I have met many new friends and met old ones. I learnt that you can’t always trust what you see or here. Every time a new article comes out it’s always played down by everyone at CDG as it's all lies.

Well im going to blow the lid on this course once and for all so people can take note and finally see the corruption that has gone on while I attended the thirteen week course. I have seen the following.

Bullying

Yes, you heard me right I have seen it and I have heard it. There are days where clients have been subjected to be ganged on, verbal abuse from people who think the world owes them everything. I have seen clients that are grown men act like they belong in Pre School.

Lies

Let's face it people not everyone is doing what they should be doing. People will sit on their ass filling in the sheets of paper saying I did this and I did that and the best thing is CDG cant check up on it. I have seen people look through the yellow pages pick a company out make up a name and then write it all down. There are so many more instances of lies in this place that they cover their own ass just so they can ride the storm.

Stealing

Yes that's we all thought this could be one of the many things that wouldn't happen but it does. A mobile phone was stolen, the client kicked a fuss up and CDG looked at him with a dumb faced look and basically said they won’t do a thing as it’s his responsibility. This is theft which could have been done by anyone, including staff.

Do it our way

CDG preach a “Ignore what the job centre tells you to do as they are complete idiots” This is classic as the job centre put you on the course yet this course slags them off behind their back but boy when they come in the building they kiss ass. “THE JOB CENTER IS HERE EVERYONE ACT NORMAL!”

Placements

Now this is a favourite subject of mine as CDG have no general idea on how to set up one. Now before ANYONE in CDG says that it’s not easy to set-up a placement I will tell you now that it is. There are MANY companies, charity and various organisations that would take the help on. Let's get real on this if someone has Engineering on their sheet and that's the only thing they will do then they are not looking for a job.

You should be accepting any job that is out there and then find your ideal job later on with experience of work. This same thing should be adopted to a placement where you should be given one and lump it. For far to long this attitude has been adopted and should be taken no more. You cannot let people do nothing for thirteen weeks when a placement can easily be set-up within a week, not even that.

Let's move on to the staff of this company as it seems various things have been said time to time. A particular person has been referred to as “The Scottish Thug” doing what he likes when he likes and all that general stuff. I will clear the air on this and say that this person is far from it, he is the most down to earth, reliable, friendly, trustworthy person I have met on one of the courses.

You can have a laugh with him and you can tell him a problem and he will try to help out if he can. He has his bad days but haven't we all? Haven't we all had a day where we just can’t take nothing else and want to rip some ones head off? This guy isn't a thug he's just a normal human being trying to do job that most wouldn't ever want to do.

The other members of this team work their ass of day in day out just trying to make a difference. Along the way they have their disagreements with the one who wants to follow the book and do things their way because their the boss but we will leave that one out of it. Such a great team trying to do a job that is sometimes not worth it. This article is not to get at you, but to point out the failures of a course that sometimes just doesn't work.

You can not expect people to sit by and take what they are given all the time. They will eventually say this is enough I can’t take it any more. You all do you dam best but at the end of the day the work is too big and people are just not getting anything out of it like they should be. The simple option would be to shut this course down but the overall option would be to say 'Right head office where here to say we need some help now get of your ass and help us'

For far to long this course has sat by and taken it day by day and week by week. Struggling to get by, struggling to survive with what they are given. Change is coming and sometimes it’s for the best and for the worst. They may say it makes more work for them and it may make them unpopular but in the end it takes one person to stand up for thousand ears to here.

Stand up clients and staff and say that enough is enough and that a change is gonna come. Say we can make a difference and show the world it can be done. Sit down with the clients and say we are here to listen right now and no grudges etc will become of this. Sit down and talk it out and find a way forward not backwards.

We all have to work together to strive towards a greater society where everything is not perfect but its a state where we all can make a difference. Today is the day where you, me and everyone else can say I haven't done my part but I will. Nothing is ever easy in life, it never will be but we all have to try and bring a change.

Clients and Staff must work together to strive forward and not backwards. So much is possible but sitting by and getting through is not the answer. So much is possible to change the lives of many.

I'll end with this

Anything Is Possible

If there was ever a time to dare, to make a difference,
to embark on something worth doing,

IT IS NOW

Not for any grand cause, necessarily...
but for something that tugs at your heart,
something that's your inspiration,

Something that's your dream.
You owe it to yourself
to make your days here count.

HAVE FUN.

DIG DEEP.

STRETCH.

DREAM BIG.

Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy.
There will be good days.
And there will be bad days.
There will be times when you want to turn around,
pack it up,
and call it quits.
Those times tell you
that you are pushing yourself,
that you are not afraid to learn by trying.

PERSIST.


Because with an idea,
determination,
and the right tools,
you can do great things.
Let your instincts,
your intellect,
and your heart,
guide you.

TRUST.

Believe in the incredible power of the human mind.
Of doing something that makes a difference.
Of working hard.
Of laughing and hoping.
Of lazy afternoons.
Of lasting friends.
Of all the things that will cross your path this year.
The start of something new
brings the hope of something great,

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

-
Author Unknown

Just remember those of CDG, the clients will not be quiet for much longer. You can attempt to find a way forward of face an uprising where the clients will force the change. The articles that have been posted have start to pave the way forward for you.

They have attempted to solve your problems and shead light on the problems that you face. Do not ignore them because sooner or later they will become your problems.

A change is gonna come be it today, tomorrow, a week, month or even a year.