1. 15 updates

IDS: Shelf-stacking 'important'

A University graduate has won a legal ruling today that a Government back-to-work scheme, requiring her to work for free at a Poundland discount store, was unlawful.

Live updates

Reilly: Poundland work scheme 'a waste of my time'

University graduate Cait Reilly, who won her Court of Appeal claim today that requiring her to work for free at a Poundland discount store was unlawful, said she was "delighted" with the judgement.

I brought this case because I knew it was wrong when I was prevented from doing my voluntary work in a museum and forced to work in Poundland for free for two weeks as part of a scheme known as the sector based work academy.

Those two weeks were a complete waste of my time as the experience did not help me get a job.

I wasn't given any training and I was left with no time to do my voluntary work or search for other jobs.

The only beneficiary was Poundland, a multimillion-pound company. Later I found out that I should never have been told the placement was compulsory.

I don't think I am above working in shops like Poundland. I now work part time in a supermarket. It is just that I expect to get paid for working.

I hope the Government will now take this opportunity to rethink its strategy and do something which actually builds on young unemployed people's skills and tackles the causes of long-term unemployment.

I agree we need to get people back to work but the best way of doing that is by helping them, not punishing them.

The Government ought to understand that if they created schemes which actually helped people get back into work then they wouldn't need to force people to attend.

– Cait Reilly

Poundland appeal ruling 'setback for Department for Work and Pensions'

The Court of Appeal's unanimous decision against discount store Poundland is a "huge setback for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), whose flagship reforms have been beset with problems since their inception", according to Public Interest Lawyers.

The lawyers, who represented Cait Reilly and 40-year-old unemployed HGV driver Jamieson Wilson, said that "until new regulations are enacted with proper parliamentary approval, nobody can be compelled to participate on the schemes".

Today's judgment sends Iain Duncan Smith back to the drawing board to make fresh regulations which are fair and comply with the court's ruling.

Until that time nobody can be lawfully forced to participate in schemes affected such as the Work Programme and the Community Action Programme.

All of those who have been stripped of their benefits have a right to claim the money back that has been unlawfully taken away from them.

– Solicitor Tessa Gregory

Advertisement

Cait Reilly's work placement appeal victory against Poundland

University graduate Cait Reilly's successful appeal was made by Lord Justice Pill, Lady Justice Black and Sir Stanley Burnton.

In November 2011, Miss Reilly had to leave her voluntary work at a local museum and work unpaid at the Poundland store in Kings Heath, Birmingham, under a scheme known as the "sector-based work academy".

Cait Reilly has won her Court of Appeal claim that requiring her to work for free at a Poundland discount store was unlawful. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive/Press Association Images

She was told that if she did not carry out the work placement she would lose her jobseeker's allowance.

For two weeks she stacked shelves and cleaned floors.

Read: More on University graduate Cait Reilly's Court of Appeal victory.

Woman wins appeal over unpaid Poundland work

The Court of Appeal has ruled university graduate Cait Reilly's claim that requiring her to work for free at a Poundland discount store was unlawful.

Three judges in London ruled that the regulations under which most of the Government's back-to-work schemes were created are unlawful and quashed them.

24-year-old Cait Reilly has won her Court of Appeal claim in court. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Miss Reilly, 24, from Birmingham, and 40-year-old unemployed HGV driver Jamieson Wilson, from Nottingham, both succeeded in their claims that the unpaid schemes were legally flawed.

Their solicitors said later the ruling means "all those people who have been sanctioned by having their jobseekers' allowance withdrawn for non-compliance with the back-to-work schemes affected will be entitled to reclaim their benefits".

Load more updates Back to top

Latest ITV News reports