Gary Steer, 28, on unemployment, getting off benefits and Maximus - maximising employment and training opportunities:

I HAVE been in and out of work since I left school. There are medical reasons for this but I am now starting to realise that people don't always choose to be out of work.

It's not fair to pigeonhole every single unemployed person.

For those of you who have worked continuously and have never experienced loss, this article will not resonate with you.

However, for the ever increasing number of UK residents on benefits you will know exactly where I'm coming from.

I can understand that the Job Centre has certain targets and a philosophy where people must take the first job they can get – and if they refuse they will lose their benefits.

Their objective is to get more and more people off benefits but, in my opinion, clients will not stay in a job they are forced into taking.

If not, then why are the same familiar faces drifting in and out of the ever-revolving door at the job centre?

I have attended numerous "back to work" programmes, including Gloucester First, Gloucester Works, Working Links and now Maximus.

All of them provide a good service but, for me, Maximus is that little bit more client-focused.

It's more in-depth and I use it as a chance to get back into a daily routine.

I attend most days of the week and treat it as if I am employed.

It is so easy to get out of the habit of getting up early and motivation can vanish rapidly.

I rise at 7am and apply for jobs all day.

Maximus is dedicated to providing specific support to individuals regardless of their background.

They are laying the foundations of abolishing the stigma attached to unemployment. With a fresh philosophy and an ever-growing client base they are committed to getting less fortunate people back into work.

Not just any job, but relevant roles that are going to result in job satisfaction and longevity. I have been educated on the reasons for the lack of opportunities, having attended very well delivered workshops ranging from job advert success rates to reasons why companies don't reply to every single applicant.

It basically all comes down to time, and time is money. The more effort I put in the more I get back in return.

I am restricted in the jobs I apply for and when I was younger I just couldn't be bothered to work.

I now put the effort in but the level of response is not great. I have certain restrictions in terms of hours and types of jobs I can perform but I feel if I'd have been referred to Maximus a year ago I would definitely be back in work by now. The biggest compliment that I can pay to Maximus is that when I first became a client my self-belief and morale was in negative equity. After just six weeks I am feeling so positive.

I am a writer and have a couple of freelance opportunities available to me. I have had poems published, too.

But I am not a conventional job seeker so I never seem to get far with "ordinary" applications.

In this dog-eat-dog world there are not many people offering support.

Competition is rife and unemployment is rising.

As the economic recession continues people are pursuing jobs but are being left out in the cold feeling dejected and despondent.

The job-searching industry is ruthless and unscrupulous.

However, in a field full of hard-nosed businesses with stone-age perspectives there lives a solitary beacon of hope – in the form of Maximus!