[blockquote text=”When I lost my last job, it was a shock to lose everything. And I don’t just mean the money; I literally lost my sense of everything.” text_color=”” width=”” line_height=”undefined” background_color=”” border_color=”” show_quote_icon=”yes” quote_icon_color=””]

Chichester local, Mark, joined CCDT in April 2014 as a SIA gate security guard for the new development at Graylingwell Park. Here Mark explains what his new job means to him.

Clare de Bathe, Trust Director, is determined that local communities benefit from more employment opportunities.  She said, “We are delighted to welcome Mark to our team. Chichester Community Development Trust has a vision to help tackle unemployment by creating job opportunities for local people, as well as providing education, training and employment support.”  

Mark was a firefighter for 15 years, a job he loved, before being injured and finding a job as a Breakdown Recovery Driver.  After 12 years, the firm he worked for went into liquidation just two days before Christmas. He managed to get reemployed straight away with another Breakdown Service company but due to industry changes, this second firm also went under and he lost his job again.

He said, “It was very depressing. When you get a job you think, ‘great, I’m sorted’; I didn’t believe it would happen again. I applied for hundreds of jobs, and it knocked my confidence to be turned down again and again. You end up feeling like you don’t have a reason for getting up each day.   I am so happy with my new employment with CCDT. Gate Security is not the most glamourous job, but at the end of the day I’m earning, I have job security and I enjoy volunteering at CCDT’s events too.  Best of all, I’ve got my pride back.”