Case Study

Adding to Manchester’s greatness!

14 Jun 2024

When Jenny arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker in 2006, his situation was bleak. With no family or friends here, and struggling with language difficulties, Jenny lived homeless in large cities across the country for years, before arriving in Greater Manchester in 2016. Now declaring it the ‘best place in the world’ Jenny’s outlook has been vastly improved by the help he’s received from the Restart Scheme in Bury.   

Providing all round support to tackle people’s barriers to finding work, the Restart Scheme is delivered by Ingeus across Greater Manchester. Jenny has become a firm favourite with the Bury team with his beaming smile and sense of humour, no matter what life throws at him. 

“Even if I had a million pounds, I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” says Jenny, who fled from the Democratic Republic of Congo and now lives in a Prestwich house share. “Great Manchester! It has welcomed me. First the church and refugee groups, connecting with the African community, and now Oliver and everyone at Ingeus. They have helped me more than a lot.” 

Following a referral from Jobcentre Plus in August 2023, Jenny met with Restart Advisor Oliver and attended 12 appointments in his first four weeks on the programme. Having lost his biometric residence permit while homeless, the first task was to confirm his identity and right to work in the UK. Ingeus funded and successfully applied for a new permit, which Jenny had been unable to navigate himself. Support was given with housing and everyday essentials, phone credit and IT issues. Oliver helped Jenny craft a CV, and the team trained him on job searching and interview techniques. 

Jenny has now completed a security industry course with an Ingeus training partner and will be given help to gain his security licence. Ingeus has provided travel expenses for interviews and appointments, printed documentation and applications, and highlighted relevant vacancies. He is now applying for additional courses, security, and care-based roles and has tackled his first interview with excellent feedback. 

“I have appreciated all the wonderful help from everyone at the Bury office. Oliver is more than my best friend, I trust him, and we can talk about everything,” continues Jenny. “From day one, I have felt so welcome in the office and have received support with many problems. Without this, I would be stuck. 

“I am now back to applying for jobs on a daily basis and attending my appointments every week. I am more determined than ever to find work. With the help of the Restart Scheme, I now have that chance.” 

Oliver adds: “There are no words to describe Jenny! He has immense dedication and determination to succeed after some very tough years. He warms the heart of everyone he meets and is so generous in his thanks to the Bury Restart team. I can’t wait to see his hard work pay off.”