Trevor, 54, from Middlesbrough, had worked for a large multi-national supermarket chain for just under three years before joining TNG. Working with a heavy workload and in a busy department, Trevor suffered from stress and as a result he left the company in October 2008.

At this time, Trevor signed onto jobseekers allowance which he described as a ‘shock to the system’ - losing financial independence caused his self esteem to drop and he felt that his world as he knew it was crashing down around him.  He lost all interest in his daily living and how he was presented which caused his relatives to worry about him, especially his elderly mother.

Over the following year, Trevor applied for a number of jobs which, on reflection, he admits even if he had been successful, wouldn’t have suited him.  However, constant rejection at the time left Trevor feeling even more downhearted and despondent about getting a job.  He began to think that due to his age he would never find a job again when he joined TNG in Redcar on the Flexible New Deal programme.

Despite initial reservations, Trevor enjoyed his induction session and began to look forward to his sessions at TNG. During his time at TNG, Trevor met with a personal career coach who encouraged him to think about what options were available to him, and encouraged him to explore work opportunities in areas he had not previously considered, such as care work. Over the weeks, Trevor's confidence began to return and he started to believe in himself and his abilities again. His Tutor, Mandy, sourced a job that she believed would suit Trevor and with her support, he called the employer, a local care company who provide carers for people living in their own home. He secured an interview and, after receiving interview technique training from Mandy, was offered a work trial. After a successful 10-week work trial, Trevor impressed his employers and he has gained full time employment working with a young man with learning difficulties.

Trevor said:

"TNG gave me a new beginning – at 54 I thought I had no chance of getting a job but with the help of staff from TNG, I’ve realised that I’m not on the scrap heap yet! I'll never be able to thank all the staff at TNG in Redcar enough for their help."

Trevor attended our offices in Redcar