Bideford lady Nicola Wilkes had been unemployed for over 7 years due to a variety of health problems. Nicola overcame these problems and was keen to return to work but found she lacked the necessary job search skills and confidence.

Nicola contacted her local Jobcentre Plus who put her in touch with Westcountry Training and Consultancy Services (WTCS), a local provider who specialise in the New Deal for Disabled People programme. WTCS were extremely helpful and gave Nicola the job search skills and confidence she needed. This included help with application forms, a CV and interview techniques. The result was a huge increase in the number of job interviews that Nicola was invited for, this rose from nothing to 9 out of 10 of all the jobs she applied for.

Nicola received further help from Sahara her New Deal for Disabled People Adviser at Bideford Jobcentre Plus in the form of new clothes and glasses enabling her to start work.

Nicola has now found her ideal job as a Teaching Assistant at Pynes School, Bideford. Nicola says: "I am thrilled to be working here and love every day at work. I would like to thank Sahara at Bideford Jobcentre Plus who was so kind and immense gratitude to all at WTCS for all their help and support. I could not have got this far without you."

Nicola was the 100th person who WTCS had helped back into work under the New Deal for Disabled People scheme in North Devon. They held a celebratory event at the Royal and Fortescue Hotel, Barnstaple on 13 February 2004 where Nick Harvey the MP for North Devon presented Nicola with an award. WTCS have placed over 2000 people into jobs in the South West since the start of the New Deal for Disabled People programme in 2001.