Hayley Taylor

The first programme in the new Channel 4 series ‘Benefit Busters’ shows how A4e tutor Hayley Taylor helps a group of unemployed lone parents in Doncaster rebuild their confidence, take control of their lives and find work.

A4e is a UK leader in welfare support and reform and Hayley is one of number of highly experienced and skilled tutors helping people of all ages improve and in many cases, transform their lives.

Welfare support with a human face in TV spotlight

The programme follows the progress of a group of clients who volunteer to attend Elevate – a six week course, specially designed by Hayley to address their low self esteem and lack of self belief.  She says that these are fundamental issues that have to be addressed before clients can find successful employment.

Hayley said: “If you can’t believe in yourself you reinforce that negative feeling in everything you do. It is that lack of self belief that keeps you where you are and stops you trying. Continuing on benefits becomes a comfort zone and changing that feels an uncomfortable place to go. “

With a natural ability to quickly engage and communicate on the same level as her clients, Hayley helps each of them to confront the difficult and painful areas of their life that are holding them back.

“This is not about what I do. I give people the tools to help them look at themselves. This can be very a cruel wake-up call but for many it is also a turning point. I feel very privileged to have a job that allows me to be able to share in the transformation of other people’s lives,” she said.

Hayley has seen the impact of the downturn and the current recession on Doncaster’s disadvantaged population.

Hayley said: “This is a dire time for many families. Much of the work that might be available at a new shopping centre is unsuitable for lone parents as employers are looking for people who are able to work every day, including Sundays and Bank Holidays. In addition when businesses make redundancies or shut down, people who have little or in some cases, no experience of work, are in the same market as newly unemployed people with twenty years experience.”

The cameras followed a group of seven women as they progressed through the six-week Elevate course, meeting as a group four times a week from 10am-2pm.  Filmed ten months ago, all seven found work and are still in employment.