0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Tell me about your last job. - My last job was customer based. Nipple cripple.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08I have a first-class honours degree.
0:00:08 > 0:00:09Why have you not got a job?
0:00:09 > 0:00:11You tell me.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15I want a job because it's about feeling like part
0:00:15 > 0:00:18of the solution rather than part of the problem.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Employers say they welcome disabled applicants.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26But a million want to work, and many have found the job hunt impossible.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28What does it mean to have a job?
0:00:28 > 0:00:31You achieve self-actualisation, which is
0:00:31 > 0:00:33demonstrated in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35In this series,
0:00:35 > 0:00:39disabled job-seekers are coming together from all across the UK.
0:00:39 > 0:00:44I have applied for 3,000 jobs. Not even a thank you.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Can somebody give me a hand with the door on this side?
0:00:47 > 0:00:48How are you doing?
0:00:48 > 0:00:53Psychologist Nancy Doyle will help the group realise their potential
0:00:53 > 0:00:55in a unique training centre.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Full scale IQ, 141.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Wow, borderline genius, essentially.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02That's correct.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Above average?- Way above average. - Me?- Yes, you.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07I've never been described as above average in anything.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Having a disability is not a barrier to employment.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Having discovered their skills,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15they'll try to break into the job market.
0:01:15 > 0:01:16..Nine, ten.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Fantastic.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22I didn't want anybody to think that I wasn't capable of doing the job.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27It's times like this that I do doubt my employability.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29It's called...
0:01:29 > 0:01:30HE WHISTLES
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Ooh! Fishy fanny. It's not called that.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34I don't mind working hard, bring it on.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39Could their differences finally be seen as a strength?
0:01:39 > 0:01:43All I need is one person to see past the fact that I can't.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45There are sparks of brilliance in what you've done.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48The train is approaching, get on board.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00You having the guts to do this is the best Mother's Day present
0:02:00 > 0:02:05- you could have given me.- Thank you. - You can do it. I'm proud of you.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09- Love you.- Love you, too.
0:02:15 > 0:02:1826-year-old Nicola is leaving Yorkshire for London.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- VOICEOVER:- She is just desperate for work.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Her confidence has been knocked back by people... The rejections.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25The rejections.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30I want to see that proud bubbly girl back.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37She'll be joining five other job-seekers who'll be
0:02:37 > 0:02:39supporting each other in their search for employment.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- VOICEOVER:- I never see my disability as limiting.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45I always try to challenge myself.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- VOICEOVER:- Having autism is feeling like an old-fashioned Victorian
0:02:48 > 0:02:51gentleman in a 21st-century world.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54- VOICEOVER:- I see the world different because I am different
0:02:54 > 0:02:58and I do feel there is more to me than meets the eye.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04Each has their own personal obstacles to overcome.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07No, I can't do it. I'm just going to have to go for it.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12But some obstacles are bigger than others.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31I would really like a full-time job, just to feel like I am good
0:03:31 > 0:03:36for something and worth something and valuable to somebody, somewhere.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- Yeah.- So tell me about your qualifications.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44I have a first-class honours degree in multimedia journalism.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- Why have you not got a job? - You tell me.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Nicola lives at home with her younger sister Sophie,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Mum Eileen and Stepdad Steve.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02We don't have any boundaries.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05No sense of personal space. No sense of...
0:04:05 > 0:04:10You have no sense of personal space. That little gap and then she'll come and plonk herself in the middle.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13She thuds and elbows you in the nose while you're at it.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15THEY LAUGH
0:04:15 > 0:04:20At two years old, Nicola was diagnosed with cerebral palsy,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23a neurological condition which affects her muscle tone,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26movement and coordination.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31I've just taken out a wheat bag, which you heat up in the microwave,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33and I can put it on the bits that are in pain.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Today I will be putting it on my hip.
0:04:38 > 0:04:39There we go.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42There's one on the floor
0:04:42 > 0:04:45but, if it was a bad CP day, it would go down my bra
0:04:45 > 0:04:48because I'm classy! Because I get rib pain.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50So I would sit with it down my top.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54I've got more wheat bags than a wheat bag factory, I think.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Nicola applies for dozens of jobs every week but hasn't
0:04:59 > 0:05:03managed to find work since leaving university five years ago.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08Most of the time they pass your CV along and it doesn't go any further.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11They say, "We'll keep your CV in case we've got other jobs around here,"
0:05:11 > 0:05:14and then they never call you back.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17I think, at this point, I would just take any job, I think.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22I need the work. I am literally willing to work for peanuts.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27Part of life is to work and I want to work and have a life.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31And I'd just get on with it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37Nicola's type of cerebral palsy means she's in frequent pain.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Her muscles are constantly tightening
0:05:39 > 0:05:41and the condition is worsening.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46The reason we do the physio is to break down the spasms in the muscles.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50If I didn't, she would just get tighter and tighter.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55Without her daily exercises, she'd quickly lose all mobility.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58There's no point in doing it gently. You're not going to benefit a thing.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Get it up, get it stretched. Is that enough?
0:06:01 > 0:06:03SHE LAUGHS
0:06:03 > 0:06:06I've never brought her up as being disabled.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Why can't she do what anybody else does?
0:06:09 > 0:06:13She has every right to feel like everybody else. Every right to work.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19It's hard to see her getting down, rejected, her hopes built up.
0:06:19 > 0:06:25And it's so frustrating because I know what she can do.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Her family have witnessed how the past five years of job-hunting
0:06:30 > 0:06:33have taken their toll.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36It does upset me because I know how hard she tries.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38All these job interviews she's gone for,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41no-one realises how good she actually is.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43I've seen how distraught she is
0:06:43 > 0:06:45when she doesn't get the job or how excited she is when she says,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48"I have applied for a job today and I am going for an interview."
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- I proof-read your CV for you when you did a CV and stuff.- Yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55I've been trying to help you
0:06:55 > 0:06:57but then I feel really stupid helping you because I'm like,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01"I haven't got a job, so I'm not going to be any good to help my sister."
0:07:01 > 0:07:05She's actually such an inspiration to me because...
0:07:05 > 0:07:06Because...
0:07:10 > 0:07:14It's just so sad, the fact that she just tries so hard.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16No-one actually sees how hard she tries
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and how distraught she can actually get.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23It's just quite...
0:07:24 > 0:07:25SHE SOBS
0:07:25 > 0:07:28It's quite heartbreaking seeing it, to be honest.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32I've practically resigned myself to the fact that
0:07:32 > 0:07:36I don't think anybody will ever employ me.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38I do all of these things to make myself employable
0:07:38 > 0:07:44and I still don't have a job and I don't know why, to be honest.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49OK. Find the door. Find the chair. Good girl.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Find the chair.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59Find the chair. That's it. Good girl. Good girl.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10I want to push myself, but I've been held back by the lack
0:08:10 > 0:08:15of confidence in me by employers. Just because I'm visually impaired
0:08:15 > 0:08:20doesn't mean that I don't have the capability of thinking for myself.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30Good job. This is how not to organise a bedroom.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Marve has recently set up house with his fiancee Becky.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42- VOICEOVER:- When I met her, I did automatically know that there was something
0:08:42 > 0:08:45special about Becky.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49I felt like a puzzle piece had been found and put into place.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Becky was born completely blind.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Oh, my God, it's heavy.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59And Marve's eyesight has been deteriorating since birth.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04I used to read print and write and now I can't.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07He now has only 2% of his sight remaining.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11The medical term for it is congenital glaucoma,
0:09:11 > 0:09:12which means from birth.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Alongside that I have cataracts.
0:09:14 > 0:09:21We've got a pack of peppers here. I have no idea what ones they are.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- VOICEOVER:- The advancement of my disability, or my visual impairment,
0:09:25 > 0:09:30has stopped me from seeing detail and I can't focus as well as I used to.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31VOICE ON PHONE
0:09:31 > 0:09:36And this is a red pepper, I think. I hope it's a red pepper.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37If I'm trusting it.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42The fact that I can see a little now, and knowing that, potentially,
0:09:42 > 0:09:47one day in the future I will lose the little vision I've got, still does scare me.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Search the web for Indeed Jobs.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Finding jobs is quite difficult on the ground because I can't,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59when I'm out, see if there's advertisements in shops
0:09:59 > 0:10:01and on bus shelters or wherever.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03VOICE ON PHONE
0:10:03 > 0:10:07After so many knockbacks you kind of get a bit stuck in that rut,
0:10:07 > 0:10:11in that way of life. So, again, that's kind of hard.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Marve was made redundant from his last job as a support worker
0:10:15 > 0:10:17six years ago.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21But recently, finding a new job has become even more pressing.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23We have some exciting news.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29Me and Becky are expecting our first child together.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31We're both excited to be parents.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33These pictures are slightly more difficult than the other
0:10:33 > 0:10:38- ones to see.- They're very difficult for me to see!
0:10:38 > 0:10:40THEY LAUGH
0:10:40 > 0:10:44This is a few shots of our little boy.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Marve can maybe make little bits of a picture out and bits of detail,
0:10:49 > 0:10:56- but I can't at all. Even when he's born I won't be able to...- See him.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- ..see him.- That's sad.- But that's OK, cos he's still my baby.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04I guess it's... I guess it's something you just get...
0:11:04 > 0:11:05You have to just deal with.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10I'll never see him and there's no point dwelling on that.
0:11:11 > 0:11:17This is something I really loved. She's getting the heartbeat up now.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21That was the highlight of the scan because I got to hear his heartbeat.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Marve and Becky's baby is expected to be born with no visual impairment.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Considering I'm going to be a dad soon, my priorities
0:11:30 > 0:11:35now in my life are to find a job, to provide for my family,
0:11:35 > 0:11:41to give my child the best home that I can possibly give.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51It's the first day of Marve and Nicola's group training.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- Hi.- Hi.- Nice to meet you. Would you like to just take a seat over here?- Sure.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59- Just behind you.- Oops, missed! - Sorry.- No, no, it's all right.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05- How are you?- Nice to meet you. I'm Grace.- Hello, Grace.
0:12:05 > 0:12:06It's good to see you.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10I always hope that my first impression on people is a friendly person.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15I'm always afraid of people judging me.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- I'm Marve.- Hello, Marve. - Nice to meet you.- It's a pleasure to see you.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21So I've always found that a little bit difficult.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27- Hi.- I'm Nic.- Hi. Nice to meet you. - Hi, nice to meet you, too.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30It will be nice for once to not be the only
0:12:30 > 0:12:33person in a group in my situation.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34- Hi, Marve.- Nice to meet you.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38- Nice to meet you, too. I'm Nic.- Nic.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41- They're lovely, Labradors. - She's very friendly.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43I can see that tail wagging. Even though she's a working dog.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48It says, "Don't distract me I'm a working service dog."
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Psychologist Nancy Doyle will be running the group sessions.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55- VOICEOVER:- The people coming on this workshop will have
0:12:55 > 0:12:58thought about their disability as a barrier to employment.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02And one of the things that we could hopefully turn around is this
0:13:02 > 0:13:04idea that their barrier is a unique selling point.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07It's something that shows how resilient they are.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10By 10am the whole group has assembled
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and the job-seekers are ready to start their training.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19Nancy has invited a disability consultant to teach them
0:13:19 > 0:13:22how to handle themselves on job placements.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- Hello.- Hi.- How are you doing?
0:13:26 > 0:13:28We're good, thank you, Simon. How about yourself?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30I'm very good, thank you very much.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35What I want you to do is imagine you are having a conversation with your
0:13:35 > 0:13:40manager and you have got to talk to him or her about your disability.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44So you are going to say what adjustments you might need. Marve?
0:13:44 > 0:13:48I would need to have reasonable adjustments to software
0:13:48 > 0:13:52and potentially work space, so that it's not so cluttered.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Telling me things verbally rather than facial expressions
0:13:55 > 0:13:59and to help me learn practical things, as I take longer.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02I'm actually epileptic, so if I have a seizure you just have to
0:14:02 > 0:14:05leave me to get on with it and then send me home.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09The reasonable adjustments I need to work are not to have to wear a tie at work
0:14:09 > 0:14:11because, like many autistic people
0:14:11 > 0:14:15who have got a few problems with coordination, ties I find a real nightmare.
0:14:15 > 0:14:21- Thank you very much. Is it Nicola? - It is.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- I don't need a lot of adjustments. - Interesting.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29My family never treated my disability as anything unique.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33It's just me. It's nothing different.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38I quite often, as silly as this sounds, I forget that I am disabled.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Here's a thing. We've got our staff Christmas party coming up.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45- We're going to go tenpin bowling and then go into a nightclub.- Mm-hm.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- Are you up for that?- I don't understand what the problem is.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Just checking.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Most doormen in nightclubs, even if there is
0:14:53 > 0:14:56no ramped access, will pick you up and carry you.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58There might be a balance between your dignity
0:14:58 > 0:15:01and then your bit of what really matters and what doesn't, and I like that.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- I have no dignity any more. - You have no dignity.
0:15:04 > 0:15:05LAUGHTER
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- None left.- Years ago that just went. - Yes.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15The job-seekers have hundreds of failed applications between them.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Nancy has called in a team of expert recruiters to
0:15:20 > 0:15:22examine their CVs.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- How's it going?- OK.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- Is it all right if we go through your CV?- Yes. Yes, it is.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- Start from the top.- OK, I will.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33How long have you been unemployed for?
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Officially, five years.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39I got into Cambridge, I decided. That was for maths.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40What A level results do you have?
0:15:40 > 0:15:45I have got an A star in maths, I've got an A in further maths, A in biology.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Marve's dream is to find work as a carer.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54He has over three years of previous experience, so the experts
0:15:54 > 0:15:57want to know why he hasn't found a job in six years.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01- I wanted to kind of start with what you're currently doing to get a job. - Yeah.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05At the minute I am...
0:16:05 > 0:16:09I wouldn't say embarrassed to say, but I'm not
0:16:09 > 0:16:12doing very much at the minute, in the sense of looking for work.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16- What's causing that lack of motivation?- Confidence, maybe.
0:16:16 > 0:16:23It's partly confidence in myself. The ability to get the job, as well as the jobs being out there.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27- OK. Do you want a job? - I would like to work, yes.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32- Getting a job is not an easy thing to do.- No.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37You've got to say to yourself, right from day one,
0:16:37 > 0:16:43"My job is to get a job." And you make it your job to get a job.
0:16:43 > 0:16:49You cannot expect other people to see the benefits that you bring
0:16:49 > 0:16:53if you do not see those benefits yourself.
0:16:53 > 0:16:54Yes.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02- VOICEOVER:- I guess I feel a bit rusty and that's part of the problem.
0:17:02 > 0:17:09I need to push myself a bit more and decide, you know, where I'm going.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11I'll just give you a hand with your tie.
0:17:11 > 0:17:18It actually needs to be retied, if that's OK? Does that work better for you?
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Yes, it does. Thank you, Marve.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27After her first morning at the training centre, Nicola is
0:17:27 > 0:17:30beginning to rethink her lack of assertiveness.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34I have had such a rough time job-hunting that I'm like, "I should
0:17:34 > 0:17:40mould to fit everybody else," where, really, it shouldn't be like that.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41Why do you think that is?
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Because you're articulate, you're bright,
0:17:44 > 0:17:49- you know your condition, so where...?- I don't know. That's the thing.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53- Maybe I'm just rubbish.- Do you think you're...? This sounds weird.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- Are you a bit too nice?- Maybe.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59Are you trying to worry about other people's worries a bit too
0:17:59 > 0:18:03- much rather than...? - Yes, I'm definitely guilty of that.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05I don't know. I'm a definite people pleaser.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08If you give so much and, actually, it's to your own expense and, in
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- this case, cos you haven't got your job yet...- Yes.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13..that's almost self-defeating.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18Don't make it harder by refusing things that make life easier.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Yeah, I don't know. I definitely am losing my resilience.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26It's been chipped away at sort of every day my job hunt goes on.
0:18:27 > 0:18:33I want you to flourish. And it sounds like you're just on the precipice.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- You're going to leap and it's terrifying.- It is.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- But hopefully...- And it will be a bit bumpy.- Mm-hm.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43But the end could be great, cos you can be you completely
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- and you get the job and everything, so...- Thank you so much. Thank you.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49- It was a pleasure. Good luck.- Thank you.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56That was... Nobody has ever... I really am going to cry in a minute.
0:18:56 > 0:19:03Nobody has...ever sat
0:19:03 > 0:19:08and had that kind of conversation with me before.
0:19:10 > 0:19:16He has been there and even though he didn't know exactly that was
0:19:16 > 0:19:19how I was feeling, his experiences reflected mine
0:19:19 > 0:19:23so much that it was so nice to know that this is perhaps quite
0:19:23 > 0:19:30a common thing that disabled people go through and I'm not a freak.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Over two days, the group undergo mock interviews, CV workshops,
0:19:41 > 0:19:45and career planning.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47I originally wanted to be a dentist, but I couldn't do that,
0:19:47 > 0:19:52so I figured, finance accounting would give me a good grounding.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54- It's been about six years.- Wow.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- Really? Since you last interview?- Yeah.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00So while you were busy getting a first-class degree, you were
0:20:00 > 0:20:05- also running the student newspaper? - I wasn't running it. But, yes, I was working on it...
0:20:05 > 0:20:08I wasn't running it. I just was an editor,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- a sub editor and a news editor. - Mm-hm.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15Before leaving, Nancy takes Nicola to one side to prepare
0:20:15 > 0:20:18her for the next few months of job-hunting.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22There seems to be two Nicolas that I've seen in the last two days.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27There's the Nicola who speaks in the group,
0:20:27 > 0:20:32and sometimes Nicola waits until the very end to be invited in.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34And so I'm wondering what is the difference between those
0:20:34 > 0:20:36two Nicolas?
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I think it probably depends on how confident I am in my own contribution, to be fair.
0:20:39 > 0:20:46Nicola, your confidence has grown hugely in the last couple of days.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50But do you know what? I haven't once noticed you cut anybody off.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53You're very, very respectful of other people in the group
0:20:53 > 0:20:57- and I think that maybe you're worrying about that too much.- OK.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59- Let's hear more of Nicola's voice. - OK.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02More of your voice is not a bad thing.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- Do you think you can do that?- Yeah. I think I can try.- I think you definitely can.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12I'm hoping that, once I've truly had a chance to let my talk sink in,
0:21:12 > 0:21:18hopefully I will have a bit more confidence within myself,
0:21:18 > 0:21:23that confidence will carry through and I'll feel more enthused
0:21:23 > 0:21:28to seriously apply myself to job search again.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35With the first stage of the training over, all the candidates must
0:21:35 > 0:21:38now take on the challenge of finding employment.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- NANCY DOYLE:- There's some really good, strong options and opportunities
0:21:43 > 0:21:45for all of them, but they are going to have to persist.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49If people's self-esteem needs to grow, the best thing that can happen
0:21:49 > 0:21:53is that they can start achieving things, and then it just automatically happens.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56They take those leads and they follow them through.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59And I really think they could get somewhere like that.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11Two weeks later, Nicola is about to put Nancy's lessons into action.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14I suppose I haven't really cold-called anywhere
0:22:14 > 0:22:19since I was at university and looking for work experience.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23But I guess, when somebody's been so long out of university, you
0:22:23 > 0:22:27maybe don't expect people to start ringing for work experience.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30So I'm a bit dubious how that's going to go.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Her dream is to write for a living.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Today she is approaching a digital marketing company.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41- ON PHONE:- ..If you would be happy for us to take a look at your CV? - Yes.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Just one thing that I wouldn't mind mentioning to you now.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47It is on my CV. I am physically disabled.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50I have cerebral palsy so I walk with a walking frame.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53- ON PHONE:- If we get further down the interview process or you come
0:22:53 > 0:22:56to the offices, I would just make sure that you had everything that
0:22:56 > 0:22:59you need, and I'll ask you a question about that nearer the time.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01- But, no, that's absolutely five. - Yes, all right. Brilliant.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05- Thank you very much for your time. - Thanks, Nicola. Bye.- Thank you. Bye.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08I'm feeling...
0:23:13 > 0:23:15My guard's up. I'm very guarded.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20If it doesn't come to anything then we're back to square one.
0:23:20 > 0:23:26So there we go. Another e-mail sent into the ether.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29I'm going to try and not get too optimistic that it will lead
0:23:29 > 0:23:36to anything, but if I fire off that e-mail now, then she's got it
0:23:36 > 0:23:38and it will show that I am keen.
0:23:45 > 0:23:5150 miles away in Doncaster, Marve and Becky have had some unwelcome news.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Out of the blue we suddenly get Social Services
0:23:54 > 0:23:56knocking at the door.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00I answered the door and she's like, "I'm so-and-so from Safeguarding."
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I didn't even know what to say to her, like...
0:24:03 > 0:24:06It was almost like a slap in the face. I was just a bit like...
0:24:06 > 0:24:08"Oh, my God." Like...
0:24:09 > 0:24:11"Where the heck have you come from?"
0:24:11 > 0:24:14The local children's services have been in touch.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Immediately, we're fearing, like, "Oh, my God,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- "what are they going to do?" - At first, I was like...
0:24:18 > 0:24:23Are they fearing for the fact that we can't look after our child?
0:24:23 > 0:24:26The first thing that went through my mind is, "They're not having my baby."
0:24:26 > 0:24:27No.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- He's healthy.- He's our child, at the end of the day.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- He's healthy and he's our little boy and he's...- And he's coming.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37He's coming to a loved family who wanted him.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40I think the fact that makes it hard is that they were involved
0:24:40 > 0:24:42because we are visually impaired.
0:24:42 > 0:24:49People see "visual impairment" and automatically think "need help".
0:24:49 > 0:24:56We have to field prejudices every day that we go out into the public.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01Our worry is trying to protect our son from it affecting him.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07It's more important than ever that Marve proves
0:25:07 > 0:25:09he can get back into employment.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Nancy has come to help him
0:25:11 > 0:25:15gain the confidence he needs to return to the job hunt.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17I'm going to read you a list of numbers
0:25:17 > 0:25:21and I want you to just read the numbers back to me as they come.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- Is that all right?- Mm-hm.- OK.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Five, one, seven,
0:25:27 > 0:25:32nine, three, seven, three.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Five, one, seven, nine, three...
0:25:38 > 0:25:41- ..seven, three?- Yeah.
0:25:41 > 0:25:42Really good.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45OK, this time, I'm going to do it again.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48What I want you to do is to say them backwards for me.
0:25:48 > 0:25:55Two, four, one, seven, eight.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- Eight, seven, one, four, two.- Yeah.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01That was great.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- Holy Moley! - MARVE LAUGHS
0:26:04 > 0:26:06That's all I have to say to that.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10I'm delighted to tell you that every assessment we did was above average
0:26:10 > 0:26:14and your memory scores were even higher than that.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Your age-adjusted score was 19 out of 19.
0:26:17 > 0:26:18Wow!
0:26:20 > 0:26:24- Wow.- Yeah.- That's really good. That's amazing, to know
0:26:24 > 0:26:29that, on the average scale, that I'm actually quite high on that.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Yeah, so it's not just a good memory, it's an exceptional memory.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36It's typical for people who are visually impaired
0:26:36 > 0:26:39to develop good memories, but Marve's is off the scale.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43He retains so much really detailed information.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Just amazed that I'm actually that good.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I guess that helps when it comes to looking for work.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55It's been three days
0:26:55 > 0:27:00since Nicola sent her application to the digital marketing agency.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Have you applied for any of our jobs yet?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06I'm talking to a company that I phoned the other day
0:27:06 > 0:27:08and I sent them my CV.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11PHONE RINGS
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Hello?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- Hello, is that Nicola?- It is.- Hello.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- It's Renee calling from Search Laboratory.- Hi, Renee.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25Nicola, on the basis of your CV, I'd really like to progress you
0:27:25 > 0:27:28to the next stage in the selection process.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29- Mm-hm?- If that's OK?
0:27:29 > 0:27:31- Yeah, that sounds fine with me. - OK, Nicola.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33- I'll speak to you shortly. - All right, brilliant.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Thank you very much, bye.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38That's so good, Nicky!
0:27:38 > 0:27:39Hooray!
0:27:41 > 0:27:46- Oh, my God, I got a hug. - Oh, are you happy?- Yeah.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50It's really hard for me not to feel massively encouraged,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52but I'm trying not to feel too encouraged
0:27:52 > 0:27:55because of all the knockbacks that I've had in the past.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Is this, like, the most confident you've felt
0:27:57 > 0:27:58about one of them before?
0:27:58 > 0:28:01It's the most confident I've felt in a long, long time.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Marve has been given an opportunity
0:28:14 > 0:28:16to put his memory skills into action.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21I want people to see that I am employable
0:28:21 > 0:28:24and the skills I have are valuable.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27After receiving his CV,
0:28:27 > 0:28:32Age UK has invited him in for a job trial as a support worker.
0:28:34 > 0:28:35Go work hard and I love you.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38And I'm really proud, OK?
0:28:42 > 0:28:44- Love you.- Love you, too.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51When looking for work or trying to show others what you can do,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55I feel that we have to do 50% more
0:28:55 > 0:28:59because we have to work that bit harder to prove that we can learn.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03- Morning, Marve.- Good morning. - How are you doing today?
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Not bad, thank you.
0:29:05 > 0:29:06Are you all right just to follow me?
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Yeah, yeah, I'll follow you.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Marve's first task
0:29:11 > 0:29:14is to get straight on the phones to contact carers.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18Hi, good morning. I'm just calling on behalf of Age UK.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22Just wanted to find out if you received the fact sheet?
0:29:22 > 0:29:23Lovely.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26And things are going well as well?
0:29:27 > 0:29:29That's lovely.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32OK, well, I hope you have a good afternoon.
0:29:32 > 0:29:33No problem.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- You did really well, it was really good.- Thank you.- Well done.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39As well as being tested on the phone,
0:29:39 > 0:29:40Marve will need to prove himself
0:29:40 > 0:29:43by helping out at a local day-care centre.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46So, we're going to be serving dinners.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49- Yeah.- I've got you an apron to put on.- OK.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51It ties round the back.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55- OK? Are you all right carrying, yeah?- Yeah, yeah.- That's lovely.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57It's a wide-open space.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Be interesting to see how he actually copes
0:29:59 > 0:30:02with handing cups of tea out.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Lunchtime, will he be able to contribute anything there?
0:30:05 > 0:30:08You know, I don't know how he's going to sort of work out
0:30:08 > 0:30:11where the kitchen is. Exactly how does he find his way back there?
0:30:11 > 0:30:13So, from my point of view, it's going to be quite interesting
0:30:13 > 0:30:15to see how he copes with that.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Marve will have to rely on his memory to navigate the busy room
0:30:20 > 0:30:22carrying hot food and drink.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25- Ooh.- Oh, sorry.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28- That was...- Right, Marve.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32- It's a bit warm. Are you all right? - That's fine, yeah. OK.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34OK, thank you.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38Come on, straight on.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Right turn, right turn.
0:30:43 > 0:30:44Bit warm there. Are you OK there?
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- Yeah?- Thank you.- OK. No problem, my pleasure.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49Oh, I'm getting caught up here!
0:30:49 > 0:30:50Macy, straight on.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57Obviously, today, it's all new so, you know, I'm not...
0:30:57 > 0:30:59..100% with the space,
0:30:59 > 0:31:06but my ability to mind map and get a feel of the layout is quite good.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08No problem, you're welcome.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14Being out of work does start to put a doubt in your mind
0:31:14 > 0:31:18what you're able to do rather than what you're not able to do.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21And I think there are a lot of things that he is able to do.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27This experience has reaffirmed the fact that I have good skills
0:31:27 > 0:31:31and it shows that I'm still employable.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42It's 6:30am and Nicola has got a big day ahead of her.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47Today is the first day of my two-day work experience
0:31:47 > 0:31:48at Search Laboratory.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Public transport, when you're physically disabled, is, like, an
0:31:52 > 0:31:55absolute nightmare, so that was the thing that kept me up last night.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Not, like, not worrying about the work experience,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01it was worrying about if all the buses and trains
0:32:01 > 0:32:03are going to work out and stuff.
0:32:07 > 0:32:13The marketing agency is in Leeds, 17 miles from her home in Keighley.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21My day has just got a million times better.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23Do you want to know why?
0:32:23 > 0:32:24- Why?- I've popped a rib.
0:32:26 > 0:32:32Apparently I've not got enough muscle to hold it
0:32:32 > 0:32:33into the right place.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Which is why it keeps popping out.
0:32:37 > 0:32:43It is uncomfortable but, thankfully, it's just the one for now, I think.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45This is just the price I pay for being alive!
0:32:48 > 0:32:50Erm... I don't know how I'm going to get past all these people.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Can we just make a bit of room just for this lady?
0:32:56 > 0:32:59Welcome to life with a disabled person.
0:33:03 > 0:33:08It takes Nicola three hours to reach the agency for her work placement.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12And her body is already aching.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15I am not going to tell them that I am in pain
0:33:15 > 0:33:18because I don't want them to treat me like I'm going to break.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Nicola has two days to prove to her bosses that she can do the job.
0:33:27 > 0:33:33So, if you could put together two or three Facebook posts
0:33:33 > 0:33:35and just think about the different audiences
0:33:35 > 0:33:39and any sort of key messages that you want to put in there.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41- OK.- OK, good.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48As the morning wears on, Nicola's muscles begin to contract further.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Already now my shoulders are hurting and my ribs are hurting
0:33:54 > 0:33:56and that's from all the walking.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59I'm going to be sat on a computer all day,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03so if you see me fidgeting, that's why.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Right now, I can string sentences together and stuff,
0:34:07 > 0:34:12but if I don't manage to nip this pain in the bud tonight, erm,
0:34:12 > 0:34:14it could be pretty...
0:34:14 > 0:34:15..pretty horrible by tomorrow.
0:34:17 > 0:34:22The work I can do, but it's the physical side of it
0:34:22 > 0:34:24and I don't want the physical side of it
0:34:24 > 0:34:26to impact on the work side of it.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29At the end of the day,
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Nicola's manager comes to check her finished articles.
0:34:34 > 0:34:35Yeah, they're punchy, so they're very good.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38I think what we'll do now is we'll take one of them
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and we'll put it live and we'll see the traction that it gets.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Oh, thank you.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Nicola hasn't said a word about the pain she's been feeling.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50I've had a really good day.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53If this building had been in the city centre,
0:34:53 > 0:34:58today would have been the first day where my life hasn't been about
0:34:58 > 0:35:01Nic the disabled person for such a long time.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05And that is so nice because that's what my life always was.
0:35:06 > 0:35:07Nope.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Nope.
0:35:11 > 0:35:12Erm...
0:35:12 > 0:35:14- Can I give you a hand? - Oh, yes, please!
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- What's the trouble, are you trying to get up?- Yeah!
0:35:17 > 0:35:19- Just guide it with me, please. - Ah, I've got you.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21- Yeah?- Yeah.- And the back?
0:35:21 > 0:35:22Yeah. Thank you!
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Now we do the long commute home!
0:35:35 > 0:35:37The next morning,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Nicola wakes up to discover her pain has worsened.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42- Is that your rib?- Yeah.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Yeah. I might be able to crack it by fluke.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Ah... Shit.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59I could do with somebody to just run a steamroller
0:35:59 > 0:36:01over my back or something.
0:36:01 > 0:36:02And my shoulders.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05I feel shit.
0:36:07 > 0:36:08As she reaches the office,
0:36:08 > 0:36:12she's determined to get on with the job with no special treatment.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15My ribs are killing.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17And when my ribs aren't right, it makes me feel sick.
0:36:17 > 0:36:18And...
0:36:20 > 0:36:22..if I were at home right now,
0:36:22 > 0:36:25there are things I could do that I can't do while I'm here
0:36:25 > 0:36:27to get rid of it, so it's really frustrating.
0:36:39 > 0:36:40Just...hurts.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47- WHISPERS:- My back is fucking killing.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52One of my major pain things at the moment,
0:36:52 > 0:36:54it's like if somebody were to get the bolts
0:36:54 > 0:36:57that are on the side of, like, a Frankenstein monster,
0:36:57 > 0:37:04and is trying to hammer it directly into the ball of my hip joint.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Never a day that goes by where something doesn't hurt.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11By lunchtime, the pain has intensified.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17I haven't actually told anyone here today that I'm in pain.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22I don't want people to think that I'm slacking off,
0:37:22 > 0:37:23or not capable of doing a job.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26- Do you want to go home?- No.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33Pushing on, Nicola now has to submit the work to her manager.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37- How are you feeling about it? - Er...
0:37:37 > 0:37:38Mixed feelings.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41Well, because I was really doubting it, myself, and...
0:37:41 > 0:37:43Now you're here to give me some feedback
0:37:43 > 0:37:46and now I don't know if I should be feeling better about it!
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Reading it, it felt very natural.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52You know, I really like the headings,
0:37:52 > 0:37:54and the amount of information that went into it.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57A few spelling, grammar mistakes.
0:37:57 > 0:37:58I thought there would be.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01- Not that many.- Proofreading's not my strong point.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03- Is it not?- Nope!
0:38:03 > 0:38:05But overall, you know, in the time that you've done it, yeah,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08I'm happy with, you know, how your writing style is.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11Before Nicola leaves,
0:38:11 > 0:38:14the management team want to feed back on her placement.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19Your desire to learn, and you're so keen as well,
0:38:19 > 0:38:22it's been an absolute pleasure working with you.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26Sort of where we've ended up is you've got a good start,
0:38:26 > 0:38:29you do need to build on that, and get a bit more experience.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31I just wanted to give you some advice, though.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34And that is please stop putting yourself down.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36In particular, your ability.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38You ARE a good writer,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41and whenever you need to ask a question,
0:38:41 > 0:38:43stop apologising that you need to ask that question.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Thank you!
0:38:45 > 0:38:48So how do you feel about the feedback today?
0:38:48 > 0:38:49I think it's... It's lovely.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52And...
0:38:54 > 0:38:55..this whole...
0:38:58 > 0:39:00I am going to get emotional, sorry.
0:39:00 > 0:39:01Take your time.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06This whole... I don't have any tissue.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10This whole journey that I'm on at the moment,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13with everyone around me, like,
0:39:13 > 0:39:14not just here...
0:39:14 > 0:39:16..it's forcing me to...
0:39:18 > 0:39:20..look at my disability in a different way
0:39:20 > 0:39:21to how I have been looking at it.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25My mum has always brought me up to...
0:39:25 > 0:39:27My disability is like a side note,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30and nobody in my little bubble of family or friends
0:39:30 > 0:39:32has ever really made a big deal out of it.
0:39:34 > 0:39:35And...
0:39:35 > 0:39:37..I haven't actually told you all,
0:39:37 > 0:39:39but I've been in quite a lot of pain today.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42Erm...
0:39:42 > 0:39:44..but I didn't want to tell you because...
0:39:45 > 0:39:47..I didn't want anybody to think
0:39:47 > 0:39:50that I wasn't capable of doing a job or...
0:39:50 > 0:39:51..I was complaining.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53We would never have wanted you to carry on working
0:39:53 > 0:39:55if you weren't feeling very well.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57But I wouldn't have wanted you to want me to stop working.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- But we would have told anybody to stop.- Yeah.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Cos if you're not well, you're not well.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05I think, unfortunately, my lack of confidence
0:40:05 > 0:40:09is so far ingrained now, that I do need help,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12and they've said that today and that's a great help, but, like...
0:40:12 > 0:40:14..I'm not going to see them after today,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17so I'm not going to have that positive reinforcement.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20And I really need that.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33It's eight weeks since the first training session,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36and all the job-seekers are reuniting in London.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41After two months, most are still looking for work.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47And Nicola has been questioning her job search.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50I definitely had a blip after the work placement.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52I didn't get out of bed for about...
0:40:53 > 0:40:56..a week because I was, like, "Job-hunting is horrible,
0:40:56 > 0:40:58"companies have been nice, this is horrible, I am horrible.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01"Why am I...?" You know, "Why am I even still doing it?"
0:41:01 > 0:41:03And I had, like, a major...dip.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07- Oh...- Right, this doorway just about does you, doesn't it?
0:41:07 > 0:41:08Yes, it does.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12So I had the job trial at the research laboratory,
0:41:12 > 0:41:14and I learned a lot.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16But it was a pig of a commute,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18it took me, like, three hours.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21What kind of impact did that commute have on you,
0:41:21 > 0:41:23in terms of your tiredness?
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Were you in any pain when you were at work?
0:41:25 > 0:41:27I deliberately didn't...
0:41:27 > 0:41:32..tell, like, the people I was working with that I was in pain.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35I think I would have had to be there for a couple of weeks and...
0:41:36 > 0:41:39..to my own mind proven myself to be a hard worker
0:41:39 > 0:41:42before I would let myself ask.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45I think... I mean, for me, when I hear that,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48what I'm thinking about is just how draining that is for you.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52And, you know, if you're trying to prove what a hard worker you are,
0:41:52 > 0:41:54- you need to be able to work at your best.- Yeah.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58A main learning for you is to not be kind of embarrassed
0:41:58 > 0:42:01or ashamed of mentioning your disability,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04and to just ask very clearly for things that you need.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06They're not unreasonable things to ask for,
0:42:06 > 0:42:08they're very reasonable,
0:42:08 > 0:42:12and if you just say, quite clearly, "I need to use a wheat pack,
0:42:12 > 0:42:15"I need to go and have a stretch, I'll be five minutes,"
0:42:15 > 0:42:17no-one's going to mind that.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21- Yeah. I need to stop being so hard on myself.- Yeah.
0:42:22 > 0:42:27Upstairs, Marve is catching up with the other job-seekers.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30The visit from Children's Services has been playing on his mind.
0:42:30 > 0:42:36- Our local community midwife actually referred us to Safeguarding.- What?!
0:42:36 > 0:42:41- On paper, you see two VI, or a VI couple, couple having kids.- Yes.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44You think, "That's a recipe for disaster."
0:42:44 > 0:42:46- Well...- I have always said I am just as capable, if not more, than
0:42:46 > 0:42:48- anyone else.- Yeah.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50- I do my own home DIY. I put my own furniture together.- Yeah.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53I think I'm more than capable of looking after a child.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56SHE LAUGHS
0:42:56 > 0:42:57Probably, yes.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03With Marve focusing on the arrival of the baby, his job search has
0:43:03 > 0:43:04taken a back seat.
0:43:05 > 0:43:11How many jobs have you sourced and applied for in the last period?
0:43:12 > 0:43:14Probably only about one or two.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20Maybe it's time to up the ante a little bit in terms of the volume.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23- Yeah, I think so.- But what I'm wondering is why you're not doing that already.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26What about some part-time work?
0:43:28 > 0:43:31The only problem with that is that I'm being paid in one source,
0:43:31 > 0:43:33- they take it out of the other hand. - They do.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37And I'm not claiming just for myself, it's Becky's money as well...
0:43:37 > 0:43:40- Yeah.- ..cos we're on a joint claim, so it's not just me losing out.
0:43:40 > 0:43:45I just think, if you put this off, I worry that it will never happen.
0:43:45 > 0:43:46Yeah.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49And I'm concerned that you're putting this off,
0:43:49 > 0:43:51if I'm honest, Marve.
0:43:51 > 0:43:52I'm actually a bit concerned.
0:43:56 > 0:44:00- VOICEOVER:- It was good to have that pep talk, talking to Nancy.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02I believe she is right because, before you know it,
0:44:02 > 0:44:07so much time has gone past and you've either lost that motivation
0:44:07 > 0:44:11or things have just gone beyond in the situation where you feel you can.
0:44:11 > 0:44:16And she's right because, if I want to show that example
0:44:16 > 0:44:18to my son as he is growing up, I need to start now.
0:44:24 > 0:44:28Six weeks later and Nicola has been given the chance to secure a job.
0:44:28 > 0:44:32She's got a work trial at a lifestyle magazine
0:44:32 > 0:44:33based in Bradford.
0:44:35 > 0:44:41I am in a bit of pain today. Nothing I can't handle, hopefully.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44I'll deal with it because I have to deal with it.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46Even if I have to crawl up the stairs.
0:44:46 > 0:44:49Thank you. Otherwise, I'll be on the floor...
0:44:49 > 0:44:51There's nothing worse than a chair moving all the time.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55Nicola has been given the responsibility of writing
0:44:55 > 0:44:57a major business profile for the magazine.
0:44:59 > 0:45:04Her first task is to interview the boss of a local fashion company.
0:45:04 > 0:45:05- I want you to be yourself.- Yep.
0:45:05 > 0:45:10You are confident, so don't feel shy, timid. Be your bubbly self.
0:45:11 > 0:45:15Thank you for trusting me to go and meet one of your biggest clients.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18Absolutely fine. You've got to give somebody a chance, though, right?
0:45:18 > 0:45:19These are one of my main clients.
0:45:19 > 0:45:22They're very, very important to us and for the brand.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25We want to keep them on on a long-term basis so, for me,
0:45:25 > 0:45:28it's a big day to see how Nicola performs.
0:45:36 > 0:45:40- This is Nicola.- Hi, Nicola. How are you? Are you OK?- Yeah, I'm good.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42- Nice to meet you.- Likewise.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48Anything special coming up to mark your seventh anniversary or...?
0:45:48 > 0:45:50Just watch this space for the seventh anniversary,
0:45:50 > 0:45:52- it's going to be something.- Hmm.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55We don't just see the UK as our market, we see the global, international market.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59Nicola puts the journalistic skills she learnt at
0:45:59 > 0:46:01university into action.
0:46:01 > 0:46:06I hear you've had a few celebrity customers in your time.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09Yeah, there's a number of them to mention. Just to mention...
0:46:09 > 0:46:12Amir Khan, his wife, Faryal.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15I suppose we've got all the information that we need,
0:46:15 > 0:46:16we're good to go from our end.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19- Yep. Thank you.- Thank you very much.
0:46:19 > 0:46:23If her article impresses, it could be her first paid job
0:46:23 > 0:46:24since graduating.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34In Doncaster, there's been a new arrival.
0:46:37 > 0:46:41- Oh, hello.- I don't think he has, you know.- Let's have a smell.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45Five days ago, Marve and Becky had a healthy baby boy.
0:46:48 > 0:46:50They've called him Kobe.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56I just want him to be happy.
0:46:56 > 0:47:00As long as he's happy and he knows his mummy and daddy love him...
0:47:00 > 0:47:03- ..that's all I ever want for him. - Come here, then.
0:47:05 > 0:47:10Fatherhood has made Marve return to his job hunt with renewed commitment.
0:47:10 > 0:47:14Holding our little boy and just knowing he's here,
0:47:14 > 0:47:20just feeling like a dad, I feel like I need to protect him.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24I need to show him the ropes in life
0:47:24 > 0:47:30and finding a job would give me all of that and gives me self-pride.
0:47:30 > 0:47:32And when he grows up, he knows that, actually,
0:47:32 > 0:47:34Dad might be visually impaired, but look at him,
0:47:34 > 0:47:40he's doing what he can to provide for me and Mum.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52Good luck. Enjoy it, have fun.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57Today, he's heading off to Doncaster Council to try to persuade them
0:47:57 > 0:48:00to give him a chance as a wellbeing officer.
0:48:00 > 0:48:04It's very important for me to do my best, to try
0:48:04 > 0:48:06and get something work-wise.
0:48:07 > 0:48:11There's no guarantee, I've just got to keep trying.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14His application was previously rejected
0:48:14 > 0:48:18because they thought he didn't have enough experience.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20Marve's come to try to convince them that he's
0:48:20 > 0:48:23well suited to the caring profession.
0:48:23 > 0:48:28You already, on your work history, refer to some experiences that
0:48:28 > 0:48:31you've had working in a residential placement as well as with Age UK.
0:48:31 > 0:48:36- Yes.- What we really needed, though, is a little bit more detail.- Sure.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39And evidence of what you did in those, to show that you
0:48:39 > 0:48:43actually, you were involved in that type of work of supporting people.
0:48:43 > 0:48:49So, say, for example, in your Age UK placement, what did you do, Marve?
0:48:49 > 0:48:54Basically I was there on a social as well as support basis.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57Basically engaging them in conversation,
0:48:57 > 0:49:00I was there also supporting them with their food
0:49:00 > 0:49:05and that's always been one of my passions, really, is helping people.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07You see, just in asking you that question
0:49:07 > 0:49:11and your answer, you've just verbally given us the detail that
0:49:11 > 0:49:14- would provide a perfect example of how you'd meet that skill.- Sure.
0:49:14 > 0:49:18But it's because they were missing in detail that we weren't able
0:49:18 > 0:49:20to shortlist you on that occasion.
0:49:22 > 0:49:26After meeting Marve, the council offer him a chance to gain
0:49:26 > 0:49:29valuable work experience in one of their outreach programmes.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35Even though I didn't get the job that I applied for,
0:49:35 > 0:49:39it's an amazing opportunity that they've offered me, to do some work
0:49:39 > 0:49:44experience, to hopefully see where there might be opportunity for me.
0:49:45 > 0:49:50In Bradford, it's the second day of Nicola's job trial.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52- We getting on OK? - Yeah, I think so.
0:49:52 > 0:49:56It's gone from one line to, like, a massive paragraph now, hasn't it?
0:49:56 > 0:49:58- Erm...- Yeah.- It's getting there.
0:50:01 > 0:50:06But after two hours of writing, the familiar pains are returning.
0:50:06 > 0:50:08Ow.
0:50:20 > 0:50:21- Saf?- Yeah, hon?
0:50:21 > 0:50:24- Do you mind if I just have a quick walk around?- Yeah, go for it.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Just to stretch my legs and I'll be back in, like, two seconds.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28- That's fine.- Thank you.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32I just get pins and needles if I sit down for too long.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34- It's OK, plenty of space to walk around.- Yeah, I'm all right.
0:50:34 > 0:50:37I'll just go and sit out there and have a stretch and stuff,
0:50:37 > 0:50:38and then I'll...
0:50:39 > 0:50:42Unlike her previous placement,
0:50:42 > 0:50:46Nicola shares her secret with the bosses and asks for a stretch break.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50It's not something I've ever, ever, ever done before
0:50:50 > 0:50:53and I can't quite believe I'm doing it, to be honest.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55SHE SIGHS
0:50:57 > 0:51:02Before, I think, my pain was kind of an albatross around my neck.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05So it felt really great today to be able to go into work,
0:51:05 > 0:51:08to go, "Yeah, do you know what? I am... I am different,
0:51:08 > 0:51:11"I do have different needs to other people and that's OK."
0:51:11 > 0:51:13I've brought the sweet bag that I use sometimes when I've got pain.
0:51:13 > 0:51:18- Would you mind heating it up in the microwave for me, please?- No, that's fine. It's a cute little thing.
0:51:18 > 0:51:19MICROWAVE BEEPS
0:51:21 > 0:51:24- Yeah, it's fine.- Is it warm enough for you? You sure?- Yeah, thank you.
0:51:25 > 0:51:29I was the only one who was putting myself under any extra pressure
0:51:29 > 0:51:31and I don't need to do that.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37After six hours, Nicola completes the feature.
0:51:37 > 0:51:38Let's do it.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41Yes, excellent. Right, let's see how we get on here.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44- Let's send this across and... - Fingers crossed.- That's the one.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47Tomorrow, she'll find out
0:51:47 > 0:51:50if it's good enough to make it into the magazine.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59Marve has been preparing for his work experience
0:51:59 > 0:52:02as a wellbeing officer for Doncaster Council.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08If this goes well for me, then, maybe there may be work in it
0:52:08 > 0:52:13and it does set a good example to my family and to others.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15Morning, everybody.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17He's been asked to lead one of their awareness
0:52:17 > 0:52:20sessions on dementia at a local school.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28A way to...
0:52:28 > 0:52:32..illustrate how dementia works is to use a ball of string
0:52:32 > 0:52:35and we're going to hand it round, not necessarily in an orderly
0:52:35 > 0:52:37fashion, because our thoughts don't work like that.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40You know, one thought might connect to another that connects to another
0:52:40 > 0:52:43because there might be more than one thing that triggers
0:52:43 > 0:52:45a different memory or thought, but then dementia might come
0:52:45 > 0:52:49along and cut through those connections,
0:52:49 > 0:52:54will break a connection so you think, "Oh, gosh, what do I do now?"
0:52:54 > 0:52:57You know the feelings,
0:52:57 > 0:53:03do they get mixed up as well or do they just stay as they were?
0:53:03 > 0:53:08- They can get mixed up.- Yeah, your feelings...- They can get muddled.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10It's very difficult for him
0:53:10 > 0:53:12because he can't obviously read the expressions of the children,
0:53:12 > 0:53:15but he used his other skills because he automatically turned
0:53:15 > 0:53:21his head so they made contact that way, which was a good thing for him.
0:53:21 > 0:53:22It was lovely to meet you guys.
0:53:22 > 0:53:26I hope that us today coming has helped you understand a bit
0:53:26 > 0:53:27more about dementia.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29- ALL:- Thank you. Bye.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35At the end of the session,
0:53:35 > 0:53:39Marve's bosses meet to discuss his performance.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42I can only hope that I did enough to impress.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45Worst-case scenario is they don't like me and they said what I've done
0:53:45 > 0:53:51has not been sufficient, but best is that they liked what I did and,
0:53:51 > 0:53:55you know, there might be potential work out of it in the future.
0:53:55 > 0:53:57- Hello.- Come on through.- Hi.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05I think it's fair to say that, having done the work experience,
0:54:05 > 0:54:09you've got a great understanding of the job role
0:54:09 > 0:54:13and you're in a much better position applying for a job with
0:54:13 > 0:54:16Doncaster council in the near future.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18Just remember when you do your application form
0:54:18 > 0:54:21and it says "brief details", it don't mean that brief.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26It's a confidence boost to know that the skills
0:54:26 > 0:54:32and the kind of character I have would be great for a role like this.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35I got the feeling that everyone I've come into contact with
0:54:35 > 0:54:37has seen past my visual impairment.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41It felt good to be, you know, treated as an equal.
0:54:42 > 0:54:44- Oh, my God...- Hello!
0:54:44 > 0:54:47And there's more good news.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50To the couple's relief, the children's services have deemed Marve
0:54:50 > 0:54:52and Becky fit parents.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56I'd like to say the future looks bright.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59I went and worked hard.
0:54:59 > 0:55:00Well, I think so.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04Worked hard. Yeah.
0:55:05 > 0:55:10Yeah, I'm employable and I think the last couple of months has
0:55:10 > 0:55:13built my confidence in understanding that.
0:55:13 > 0:55:17Now it's just waiting for the right job to come along.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20They told me to apply for anything that came up, to keep
0:55:20 > 0:55:21my eye out to what's coming up,
0:55:21 > 0:55:24they said that there's opportunities potentially.
0:55:24 > 0:55:27I am really proud of you. What's your opinion, mate?
0:55:27 > 0:55:29- BABY BREAKS WIND - Oh.
0:55:29 > 0:55:34- I'm so glad you've just come home! - SHE LAUGHS
0:55:36 > 0:55:38Thanks.
0:55:38 > 0:55:39Thank you!
0:55:44 > 0:55:48At the lifestyle magazine, Nicola's bosses have heard
0:55:48 > 0:55:51back from the client after sending off her first feature.
0:55:52 > 0:55:53Start off with,
0:55:53 > 0:55:58they did say maybe have a bit more detail in there about their brand.
0:55:58 > 0:55:59Also there was a few typos.
0:55:59 > 0:56:03- Yep.- It just meant that, once you've read over it, they'll stand out
0:56:03 > 0:56:07and it's making sure that we put in details such as their locations.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10- Oh, yeah, sorry. - But that didn't affect the client.
0:56:12 > 0:56:17- They're happy to put the article into publication.- Yeah.
0:56:17 > 0:56:22- So it's a positive and it's a thumbs up on my end and on their end. - Oh, good.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24- So you've done a brilliant job for us.- Thank you.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27So what we would like to do is,
0:56:27 > 0:56:31I would like to take you on a 12-week probation period to start with.
0:56:32 > 0:56:35Thank you for letting me come into a work environment
0:56:35 > 0:56:39and forget that I am a disabled person.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41Like, my family forget. Like, my mum will ask me
0:56:41 > 0:56:44to do something she knows I can't do because she forgets.
0:56:44 > 0:56:46I'm just taking a stretch break.
0:56:46 > 0:56:50Like, I've never, ever done that in a work environment before.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53That's just because you guys made me feel so comfortable and...
0:56:55 > 0:57:00..I hope that you will understand just a little bit of, like,
0:57:00 > 0:57:02what that means to me.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05- Thank you very much.- Thank you. - Welcome onboard.
0:57:05 > 0:57:10A big part of me really wanting a job was me
0:57:10 > 0:57:12wanting to feel part of society.
0:57:13 > 0:57:17This is going to give me my fight back and I've missed my fight.
0:57:23 > 0:57:28- I did it!- Congratulations. - Thank you.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30- Are you happy now...- Yeah.
0:57:30 > 0:57:35- ..that somebody's finally, finally, finally seen you for you...- Yeah. - ..not your disability?
0:57:35 > 0:57:37They made, like, no fuss about my disability whatsoever.
0:57:37 > 0:57:39Like, I didn't even need to ask for anything.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41It was a workplace where I could forget
0:57:41 > 0:57:43I was a disabled person for a little while.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46I'm really, really, really proud of you.
0:57:50 > 0:57:52Employers, when they see me, they just think hassle.
0:57:52 > 0:57:54They just see it as a difference
0:57:54 > 0:57:56that they don't want to accommodate, basically.
0:57:58 > 0:58:02All I need is one person to see past the fact that I can't.
0:58:02 > 0:58:04I just want a chance, that's all.
0:58:05 > 0:58:09Having 21 years of being able to walk
0:58:09 > 0:58:13and then having that taken away from you is horrible.
0:58:13 > 0:58:17- Do you want help? Are you OK?- Yeah, you might need to help a little bit.
0:58:17 > 0:58:19He has to leave his wheelchair at the door,
0:58:19 > 0:58:22because it has no relevance to the position that he's looking to fill.