A THIRD of our determined dozen featured in the Oxford Mail’s We Want to Work Campaign have bagged jobs.

Four of our 12 job seekers have now found work.

One of the success stories for the campaign, which we ran over one week in September, was 21-year-old Jacob Ayres from Iffley.

Mr Ayres had been looking for employment since January and was eager to get back into the world of work.

After being featured in the campaign, he gained employment as a part-time cleaner for Garsington-based company Merry Maids.

Mr Ayres said: “It is brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

“It is nice to be back in a working environment, it is nice to be back into the routine really.

“Not staying at home is the best thing.”

Of the campaign he said: “I think it is brilliant because I was applying for so many jobs round Oxford.

“I think it is a great thing the Oxford Mail is doing.”

Mr Ayres’ employer Malcolm Roels, owner of Merry Maids, said: “Jacob came across as very positive and very enthusiastic about getting a role for himself.

“We gave him a two-day trial which he did very well on.

“He listens and takes on board instruction.”

Monica Montanari, 48, from Blackbird Leys, has a job at Sainsbury’s in Heyford Hill; Daniel Lawson-May, 39, from Cowley, now works as a credit controller for British Gas; and Bishnu Rai, 44, from Rose Hill, works as a cleaner at Oxford Science Park.

Our other eight job seekers are still looking for work and are going to interviews.

Allan Potter, business leader for A4e, the organisation which was helping our 12 jobseekers back in to work, said: “The campaign has created a very positive feeling for both staff and customers and there is a buoyant atmosphere that success for many of our customers is just around the corner.”

STILL IN THE MARKET

JOBSEEKERS from our campaign who are still looking for work:

  • Graham Bates, 20, from Botley, looking for work as a gardener
  • Peter Stopps, 23, from Drayton, looking for a catering role or work in a warehouse
  • Claire Harris, 19, from Kennington, looking for work in animal care, catering or retail
  • Phillip Ridgley, 48, from Barton, looking for work in retail or care work
  • Someena Hussain, 33, from Marston, looking for work as a receptionist or administrator or a customer service role
  • Takeetha Forster, 27, from Wood Farm, looking for work in retail, catering or bar work
  • Dawn Bartlett, 37, from Alvescot, looking for work in care, but would also consider roles cleaning, waitressing and bar work
  • Eileen Lavery, 47, from Didcot, looking for a catering role, bar work or factory work
  • Employers who are interested in any of our We Want To Work candidates should contact A4e Oxford on 01865 255810.