A pair of long-term job-hunters have been recognised for their efforts to get back into work.
Martine Whitcombe, of Trecenydd, and Gary Taylor, of Gilfach, were praised for their commitment to securing employment at the recent Want To Work awards ceremony,
The Want To Work programme was created to help the most disadvantaged members of Welsh society into employment, and is delivered by Jobcentre Plus with support funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government. Since 2008 it has helped more than 44,000 people.
Forty-nine-year-old Martine received the Achievement through Employment award, after spending the last 30 years caring for a loved one. After years of struggling financially, Martine secured a job as a home carer and has finally been able to take her son on holiday.
Gary, 27, received a gong for his Achievement through Health and Wellbeing.
Having grown up in an environment surrounded by drug abuse, Gary had a negative view of the world, and suffered from low self-esteem and depression.
Staff at Want To Work recognised his passion for cooking and arranged for him to enrol on college catering course that eventually led to Gary finding work as a chef.