East Durham man supported from ‘sofa surfing’ to carer role

A County Durham man who has worked to overcome addiction has thanked those who have helped him find a job that is supportive.

David, from East Durham, came to Employability Durham after spending time with an independent charity for people affected by drug and alcohol addiction.

Although the 26-year-old has been clean for four years, she surfed the couch between friends and family, was unemployed and had low self-esteem.

He was referred to Durham County Council’s Employability Service, which provides careers advice, information and support for people aged 25 and over who live in the county.

David has been appointed Mentoring Officer and has participated in the L!NKCD program, an Employability Durham program that helps people aged 18 and over overcome barriers that prevent them from finding work.

The service initially spent some time with David to understand his situation and determined that help with housing, confidence building, job searches and job applications would be beneficial.

An action plan was then drawn up with realistic timelines to help David achieve his goals.

With help finding training and job opportunities that matched his skills, David navigated through the process of application forms, references and DBS exams.

Although he had been offered a job, the vetting process took time, especially given his complicated background, so David continued to apply for other jobs and pursue additional training.

Behind the scenes, the Employability Durham team explored all available options to secure David the references he needed. He was also assisted through the process of securing his own property and applications for household appliances, furniture, food and personal care items.

David’s hard work paid off and in July 2022 he started a job as an assistant where he now cares for others.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Partnerships, said: “We are delighted that David has regained his independence, confidence and successful employment.

“Employability Durham provides information, advice and support to help people at every stage of their employment journey so they feel prepared and confident to start their careers.”

David said: “Employability Durham has been a great support to me in my time of need. I was able to find a job where I can now help others and reach a position where I live independently with much more confidence. I would highly recommend the service to others in the same situation.”

For more information on Employability Durham visit www.durham.gov.uk/employability or follow the service’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EmployabilityDurham

Alternatively, staff can email the team at [email protected] or telephone 03000 262 009.