LAST week I encountered a lovely man I had met before. I didn’t recognise him at first and I had to look twice. The last time that I saw him he was very thin, hungry and very depressed. Why? The jobcentre kept sanctioning him even though he had fully complied with his job search requirements. It had got so bad that he was very close to losing his home and he was thinking of taking his own life. The DWP had taken every bit of hope away from him. He had nothing left inside him. Both myself and his girlfriend had given him some advice and he survived.

He sat opposite me, and I told him that I didn’t recognise him, his whole persona had changed. There was a spark in his eyes and he had put a lot of weight on. I asked him what had happened, and he told me that he himself had found a job.

Timpsons the shoe repairers had given him a chance. He says that he didn’t think that he would have got the job, but they are a family company and don’t just employ someone because they tick all the right boxes on their CV. They take personality into account as well and strongly believe that giving someone a chance is the best thing that they can do.

He started paid work. Not workfare — he had done that before and it had made him ill. Working for nothing on an empty stomach is slavery. He says that he is treated like a part of the family now, and given so many opportunities to learn and grow more that he’s spoilt for choice. As a result he says he feels human again. 

He explained: “When I was signing on they made my life impossible. They put me on universal credit and my life wasn’t my own. I was on workfare full-time and still had to look for work, I had to comply even though they kept sanctioning me. I nearly lost my sanity. Indeed I was taken into hospital once.

“I didn’t deserve to be treated like that — I did everything that they said. But the DWP treated me like I was a disease they wanted to get rid of. I was hassled all the time and I didn’t have the strength to keep up. If this opportunity hadn’t arisen I wouldn’t be here now — that is a certainty.

“If I hadn’t received this opportunity I would be dead. Timpsons has literally saved me. They made sure that from day one they paid me properly. They didn’t take uniform allowances from my wages and they haven’t exploited me.”

He explained that while working he has helped others who were in need. Customers sometimes come into the shop and talk about their problems. The company doesn’t shoo them away, but encourages staff to listen and to help.

I cannot thank Timpsons enough for giving this man a good, honest chance.

As for workfare, it’s wrong and if you are in the mindset of thinking that it’s right then I encourage you to read this story again. It nearly caused him to end his life. This gentleman is a true hero.

Also there is a scheme in my area which is ran by the local volunteering organisation. It’s called Keep Volunteering Voluntary. It’s encouraging local traders and charities to stop using workfare. Many already have. We need to spread the word that workfare is wrong. If you are looking to employ someone then put them on a paid work trial. Don’t use their hard work for free and then complain that they have an “attitude” as a result. That attitude could be because they are hungry, and remember the next workfare employee could take your job.

• Charlotte Hughes blogs at thepoorsideoflife.wordpress.com, where a version of this article first appeared.