Life In The Uk Test

Saturday, 17 December 2011

Migration to Britain

Huguenots came to Britain in the 16th and 18th centuries to escape from religious persecution.
In 1840s, Irish people migrated to Britain because of a terrible famine in Ireland. Many Irish men became labourers and helped to build canals and railways across Britain.
From 1880 to 1910, a large number of Jewish people came to Britain to escape racist attacks (called ‘pogroms’) in what was then called the Russian Empire and from the countries now called Poland, Ukraine and Belarus.
In 1950s, centres were set up in the West Indies to recruit bus drivers.
In 1950s, textile and engineering firms from the north of England and the Midlands sent agents to India and Pakistan to find workers.
In 1960s, the number of people migrating from the West Indies, India and Pakistan fell because the government passed new laws to restrict immigration to Britain.
In the 1980s, the largest immigrant groups were from the United States, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
In the early 1990s, groups of people from the former Soviet Union came to Britain looking for a new and safer way of life.
Since 1979, more than 22,000 refugees from South East Asia have been allowed to settle in the UK.

The changing role of women

In the late 19th and early 20th century, many women campaigned for the right to vote. They became known as suffragettes.
Until 1857, a married woman didn’t have right to divorce her husband.
Until 1882, a woman’s earnings, property and money belonged to her husband.
In 1918 women over the age of 30 were finally given the right to vote and to stand for election to Parliament.
In 1928, women won the right to vote at the age of 21.
51% of the population and 45% of the workforce in Britain are women.
Almost three-quarters of women with school-age children are in paid work.
The average hourly pay rate for women is 20 % less than for men for same type of job.
Girls leave school with better qualifications and there are more women at university.
It is illegal to discriminate against women at work because of their sex.

Children, family and young people

15 million children and young people up to the age of 19 in the UK. This is almost one-quarter of the UK population.
65% of children today live with both birth parents.
Almost 25% of children live in lone-parent families.
10% of children live within a stepfamily.
Most children in Britain receive weekly pocket money from their parents and many get extra money for doing jobs around the house.
Education is free in England for children between the ages of 5 and 16.
Education is free in Northern Ireland for children between the ages of 4 and 16.
In the UK compulsory education is divided into two stages, primary and secondary (age 5 to 16).
In England and Wales the primary school stage lasts from age 5 to 11.
In Scotland the primary school stage is from age 5 to 12.
In Northern Ireland the primary school stage is from age 4 to 11.
Children start secondary school at age 11 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In Scotland children start secondary school at age 12.
The secondary stage ends at age 16 in the UK.
There are approximately 2 million children at work at any one time.
The earliest legal age for children to do paid work is 13.
Children under age 16 seeking to do paid work must apply for a licence from the local authority.
Every child aged 13 to 16 must have two consecutive weeks a year during the school holidays when they do not work.
Children cannot work:

For more than 4 hours without a one hour rest break (ages 13- 16).
For more than 2 hours on any school day or Sunday (ages 13-16).
For more than five hours on Saturdays or weekdays during school holidays (ages 13-14).
For more than 8 hours on Saturdays or weekdays during school holidays (ages 15- 16).
Before 7 am or after 19 pm (ages 13-16).
For more than 12 hours in any school week (ages 13-16)
For more than 25 hours a week during school holidays (13-14).
For more than 35 hours a week during school holidays (ages 15-16).

The minimum wage for workers aged 22 and above is £ 5.35 per hour.
The minimum wage for 18-21 year olds is £ 4.45 per hour.
The minimum wage for 16-17 year olds is £ 3.30 per hour.
Young people under the age of 18 are not allowed to buy alcohol in Britain.
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.
In the 2001 general election, only 1 in 5 young people eligible to vote for the first time used their vote.
A 2003 survey found that 86% of young people had taken part in some form of community event over the past year and 50% had taken part in fund-raising or collecting money for charity.

Assessment

In England the curriculum is divided into four stages, called Key Stages. After each stage children are tested. They take Key Stage tests (also called SATs) at ages 7, 11 and 14. At 16 they take GCSEs and at 18 they can take Advanced GCE Levels (more commonly called A levels).
In Wales, schools follow the Welsh National Curriculum but have abolished national tests for children at age 7 and 11. There are also plans in Wales to stop testing children at 14. Teachers in Wales still have to assess and report on their pupils’ progress and achievements at 7 and 11.
In Scotland the curriculum is divided into two phases. The first phase is from 5 to 14. There are six levels in this phase, levels A to F. There are no tests for whole groups during this time. From 14 to 16, young people do Standard Grade. After 16 they can study at Intermediate, Higher or Advanced level.

Population

England: 84% of the UK population	50.1 million, 9% ethnic minority
Scotland: 8% of the UK population	5.1 million, 2% ethnic minority
Wales: 5% of the UK population	2.9 million, 2% ethnic minority
N Ireland: 3% of the UK population	1.7 million, 1% ethnic minority
Total UK population: 59.8 million

The population has grown by 7.7% since 1971.
People of Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Black Caribbean, Black African, Bangladeshi and mixed ethnic descent make up 8.3% of the UK population.
Half the members of Pakistani, Chinese, Black Caribbean, Black African and Bangladeshi communities are born in the United Kingdom.
45% of all ethnic minority people live in the London area where they form one-third (29%) of the population.
Ethnic minorities make up 9% of the total English population.There has been a decline in population in the North-East and North-West of England.
The next census (official population count) will take place in 2011.
Information about each member of the household can only be released after 100 years, until then it remains confidential and anonymous.
People of Indian descent are the largest ethnic minority in Britain.
The longest distance on mainland, from John O’Groats on the north coast of Scotland to Land’s End in the south-west corner of England, is about 870 miles (1,400 kilometres).
The NHS began in 1948.
You must register your baby with the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths (Register Office) within six weeks of the birth of your baby.
Adults who have been unemployed for 18 months are usually required to join New Deal if they wish to continue receiving benefits.
Young people who have been unemployed for 6 months are usually required to join New Deal if they wish to continue receiving benefits.
U (Universal): suitable for anyone aged 4 years and over.
PG (parental guidance): suitable for everyone but some parts of the film might be unsuitable for younger or more sensitive children.
Pubs are usually open until 11 p.m.
At age 16, people can drink wine or beer with a meal in a hotel or restaurant.
The minimum driving age for a car or motorcycle is 17.
The minimum driving age for a medium-sized lorry is 18.
The minimum driving age for a large lorry or bus is 21.

Dialects

The Geordie dialect spoken in Tyneside (England).
The Scouse dialect is spoken in Liverpool (England).
The Cockney dialect is spoken in London.
In Scotland Gaelic is spoken in some parts of the Highlands and Islands and in Northern Ireland a few people speak Irish Gaelic.
Ulster Scots is one of the dialects spoken in Northern Ireland.

National saints

St David	Patron saints of Wales	1 March
St Patrick	Patron saints of Northern Ireland	17 March
St George	Patron saints of England	23 April
St Andrew	Patron saints of Scotland	30 November

The Church of England is called the Anglican Church in other countries and the Episcopal Church in Scotland.
The official church of the state is the Church of England.
Church of England is a Protestant church and has existed since the 1530s.
The king or queen (the monarch) is the head, or Supreme Governor, of the Church of England.
The monarch is not allowed to marry anyone who is not Protestant.
Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Church of England.
Presbyterian Church is the established church in Scotland.
10% of Christians in the UK are Roman Catholic.
40% of Christians in Northern Ireland are Roman Catholic.
Mother’s Day is on the Sunday three weeks before Easter.
A group of Catholics led by Guy Fawkes failed in their plan to kill the Protestant king with a bomb in the Houses of Parliament.
Guy Fawkes Night is on 5 November.
11 November is Remembrance Day. It commemorates those who died fighting in World War 1, World War 2 and other wars. Many people wear poppies in memory of those who died.

The British Constitution

There are 646 parliamentary constituencies in the UK and at least every five years voters in each constituency elect their Member of Parliament (MP) in a general election.
There are 78 seats for representatives from the UK in the European Parliament.
The Cabinet is composed of approximately 20 senior MPs who become ministers in charge of departments.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy.
The Cabinet includes Secretaries of State for education, health and defence.
The Lord Chancellor is the minister responsible for legal affairs.
The Lord Chancellor sits in the House of Lords rather than the House of Commons.
Due to legislation passed in 2005, it is now possible for the Lord Chancellor to sit in the House of Commons.
1997 government began a programme of devolving power from central government to give people in Wales and Scotland more control over matters that affect them.
There are 60 Assembly Members in the National Assembly for Wales.
There are 129 Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in the Parliament of Scotland.
There are 108 Members of Legislative Assembly in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In 1922 a Northern Ireland Parliament was established.
The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in in 2006 by the UK government.
The present voting age of 18 was set in 1969.

The UK in Europe and the world

Commonwealth is an association of countries, most of which were once part of the British Empire. There are 53 member states.
European Union (formerly European Economic Community) was set up on 25 March 1957 by six Western European countries. U.K became part of the European Union in 1973.
Today there are a total of 27 countries in the European Union.
The Council of the European Union is effectively the governing body of the EU.
The Council of Europe draws up conventions and charters which focus on human rights, democracy, education, the environment, health and culture. UK was one of the founder members.
The European Commission is the civil service of the EU and drafts proposals for new EU policies and laws and administers its funding programmes.
In 2002 twelve European Union (EU) states adopted the euro as their common currency.
The UN was set up after the Second World War and aims to prevent war and promote international peace and security. The UK is one of the permanent members.

Chapter 6 – Section 5 Childcare and children at work

Chapter 6 – Section 5

Childcare and children at work

New mothers and fathers

Women who are expecting a baby have a legal right to time off work for antenatal care. They are also entitled to at least 26 weeks’ maternity leave. These rights apply to full-time and part-time workers and it makes no difference how long the woman has worked for her employer. It is, however, important to follow the correct procedures and to give the employer enough notice about taking maternity leave. Some women may also be entitled to maternity pay but this depends on how long they have been working for their employer.
Fathers who have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks are entitled to paternity leave, which provides up to two weeks’ time off from work, with pay, when the child is born. It is important to tell your employer well in advance.
You can get advice and more information on maternity and paternity matters from the personnel officer at work, your trade union representative, your local Citizens Advice Bureau, the Citizens Advice Bureau website www.adviceguide.org.uk or the government websitewww.direct.gov.uk .

Childcare

It is Government policy to help people with childcare responsibilities to take up work. Some employers can help with this. The ChildcareLink website www.childcarelink.gov.uk gives information about different types of childcare and registered childminders in your area, or telephone 08000 96 02 96.

Hours and time for children at work

In the UK there are strict laws to protect children from exploitation and to make sure that work does not get in the way of their education. The earliest legal age for children to do paid work is 13, although not all local authorities allow this. There are a few exceptions for some types of performance work (including modelling) when younger children may be allowed to work. Any child under school leaving age (16) seeking to do paid work must apply for a licence for the local authority. Children taking part in some kinds of performances may have to obtain a medical certificate before working
By law, children under 16 can only do light work. There are particular jobs that children are not allowed to do. These include delivering milk, selling alcohol, cigarettes or medicines, working in a kitchen or behind the counter of a chip shop, working with dangerous machinery or chemicals, or doing any other kind of work that may be harmful to their health or education
The law sets out clear limits for the working hours and times for 13-16 year-old children. Every child must have at least two consecutive weeks a year during the school holidays when they do not work. They cannot work:
• for more than 4 hours without a one hour rest break
• for more than 2 hours on any school day or a Sunday
• more than five hours (13-14 years old) or eight hours (15-16 years old) on Saturdays (or weekdays during school holidays)
• before 7.a.m. or after 7.p.m.
• before the close of school hours (except in areas where local bylaws allow children to work one hour before school).
• for more than 12 hours in any school week.
• for more than 25 hours a week (13-14 years old) or 35 hours a week (15-16 years old) during school holidays.
There is no national minimum wage for those under 16.
The local authority may withdraw a child’s licence to work, for example where a child works longer hours than the law allows. The child would then be unable to continue to work. An employer may be prosecuted for illegally employing a child. A parent or carer who makes a false declaration in a child’s licence application can also be prosecuted. They may also be prosecuted if they do not ensure their child receives a proper education. You can find more information on the TUC website, www.worksmart.org.uk .

Chapter 6 – Section 4 Working for yourself

Chapter 6 – Section 4

Working for yourself

Tax

Self-employed people are responsible for paying their own tax and National Insurance. They have to keep detailed records of what they earn and spend on the business and send their business accounts to
HM Revenue and Customs every year. Most self-employed people use an accountant to make sure they pay the correct tax and claim all the possible tax allowances.
As soon as you become self-employed you should register yourself for tax and National Insurance by ringing the HM Revenue and Customs telephone helpline for people who are self-employed, on 0845 915 4515.

Help and advice

Banks can give information and advice on setting up your own business and offer start-up loans, which need to be repaid with interest. Government grants and other financial support may be available. You can get details of these and advice on becoming self-employed from Business Link, a government-funded project for people starting or running a business- www.businesslink.gov.uktelephone: 0845 600 9 006.

Working in Europe

British citizens can work in any country that is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). In general, they have the same employment rights as a citizen of that country or state.

Chapter 6 – Section 3 At work

Chapter 6 – Section 3

At work

Both employers and employees have legal responsibilities at work Employers have to pay employees for the work that they do, treat them fairly and take responsible care for their health and safety. Employees should do their work with reasonable skill and care and follow all reasonable instructions. They should not damage their employer’s business.

A written contract or statement

Within two months of starting a new job, your employer should give you a written contract or statement with all the details and conditions for your work. This should include your responsibilities, pay, working hours, holidays, sick pay and pension. It should also include the period of notice that both you and your employer should give for the employment to end. The contract or written statement is an important document and is very useful if there is ever a disagreement about your work, pay or conditions.

Pay, hours and holidays

Your pay is agreed between you and your employer. There is a minimum wage in the UK that is a legal right for every employed person above compulsory school leaving age. The compulsory school leaving age is 16, but the time in the school year when 16-year-olds can leave school in England and Wales is different from that in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• There are different minimum wage rates for different age groups From October 2006 the rates are as follows
• for workers aged 22 and above -£5.35 an hour
• for 18 -21 year olds £4.45 an hour
• for 16 -17 year olds £3.30 an hour
Employers who pay their workers less than this are breaking the law. You can get more information from the Central Office of Information Directgov website, www.direct.gov.uk which has a wide range of public service information. Alternatively, you can telephone the National Minimum Wage Helpline, telephone 0845 600 0678.
Your contract or statement will show the number of hours you are expected to work. Your employer might ask you if you can work more hours than this and it is your decision whether or not you do. Your employer cannot require you to work more hours than the hours agreed on your contract.
If you need to be absent from work, for example if you are ill or you have a medical appointment, it is important to tell your employer as soon as you can in advance. Most employees who are 16 or over are entitled to at least four weeks, paid holiday every year. This includes time for national holidays. Your employer must give you a pay slip, or a similar written statement, each time you are paid. This must show exactly how much money has been taken off for tax and national insurance contributions.

Tax

For most people, tax is automatically taken from their earnings by the employer and paid directly to HM Revenue and Customs, the government department responsible for collecting taxes. If you are self-employed, you need to pay your own tax. Money raised from income tax pays for government services such as roads, education, police and the armed forces. Occasionally HM Revenue and Customs sends out tax return forms which ask for full financial details. If you receive one, it is important to complete it and return the form as soon as possible. You can get help and advice from the HM Revenue and Customs self-assessment helpline, on: 0845 300 45 55.

National Insurance

Almost everybody in the UK who is in paid work, including self-employed people, must pay National Insurance (NI) contributions. Money raised from NI contributions is used to pay contributory benefits such as the State Retirement Pension and helps fund the National Health Service Employees have their NI contributions deducted from their pay by their employer every week or month. People who are self-employed need to pay NI contributions themselves. Class 2 contributions, either by direct debit or every three months and Class 4 contributions on the profits from their trade or business. Class 4 contributions are paid alongside their income tax. Anyone who does not pay enough NI contributions will not be able to receive certain benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance or Maternity Pay, and may not receive a full state retirement pension.

Getting a National Insurance number

Just before their 16 th birthday, all young people in the UK are sent a National Insurance number. This is a unique number for each person and it tracks their National Insurance contributions.
Refugees whose asylum applications have been successful have the same rights to work as any other UK citizen and to receive a National Insurance number. People who have applied for asylum and have not received a positive decision do not usually have permission to work and so do not get a National Insurance number.
You need a National Insurance number when you start work. If you do not have a National Insurance number, you can apply for one through Jobcentre Plus or your local Social Security Office. It is a good idea to make an appointment by telephone and ask which documents you need to take with you. You usually need to show your birth certificate, passport and Home Office documents allowing you to stay in the country. If you need information about registering for a National Insurance number, you can telephone the National Insurance Registrations Helpline on 0845 91 57006 or 0845 91 55670.

Pensions

Everyone in the UK who has paid enough National Insurance contributions will get a State Pension when they retire. The State Pension age for men is currently 65 years of age and for women it is 60, but the State Pension age for women will increase to 65 in stages between 2010 and 2020. You can find full details of the State Pension scheme on the State Pension website, www.thepensionservice.gov.ukor you can phone the Pension Service Helpline: 08456060265
In addition to a State Pension, many people also receive a pension through their work and some also pay into a personal pension plan too. It is very important to get good advice about pensions. The Pensions Advisory Service gives free and confidential advice on occupational and personal pensions. Their helpline telephone number is 0845 601 2923 and their website address is www.opas.org.uk . Independent financial advisers can also give advice but you usually have to pay a fee for this service. You can find local financial advisers in the Yellow Pages and Thomson local guides or on the internet atwww.unbiased.co.uk .

Health and safety

Employers have a legal duty to make sure the workplace is safe. Employees also have a legal duty to follow safety regulations and to work safely and responsibly. If you are worried about health and safety at your workplace, talk to your supervisor, manager or trade union representative. You need to follow the right procedures and your employer must not dismiss you or treat you unfairly for raising a concern.

Trade unions

Trade unions are organisations that aim to improve the pay and working conditions of their members. They also give their members advice and support on problems at work. You can choose whether to join a trade union or not and your employer cannot dismiss you or treat you unfairly for being a union member.
You can find details of trade unions in the UK, the benefits they offer to members and useful information on rights at work on the Trades Union Congress (TUC) website, www.tuc.org.uk .

Problems at work

If you have problems of any kind at work, speak to your supervisor, manager, trade union representative or someone else with responsibility as soon as possible. If you need to take any action, it is a good idea to get advice first. If you are a member of a trade union, your representative will help You can also contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) or Law Centre. The national Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) website,www.acas.org.uk gives information on your rights at work ACAS also offers a national helpline, telephone 08457 47 47 47.

Losing your job and unfair dismissal

An employee can be dismissed immediately for serious misconduct at work. Anyone who cannot do their job properly, or is unacceptably late or absent from work, should be given a warning by their employer. If their work, punctuality or attendance does not improve, the employer can give them notice to leave their job.
It is against the law for employers to dismiss someone from work unfairly. If this happens to you, or life at work is made so difficult that you feel you have to leave, you may be able to get compensation if you take your case to an Employment Tribunal. This is a court which specialises in employment matters. You normally only have three months to make a complaint.
If you are dismissed from your job, it is important to get advice on your case as soon as possible. You can ask for advice and information on your legal rights and the best action to take from your trade union representative, a solicitor, a Law Centre or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

Redundancy

If you lose your job because the company you work for no longer needs someone to do your job, or cannot afford to employ you, you may be entitled to redundancy pay. The amount of money you receive depends on the length of time you have been employed. Again your trade union representative, a solicitor, a Law Centre or the Citizens Advice Bureau can advise you.

Unemployment

Most people who become unemployed can claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). This is currently available for men aged 18-65 and women aged 18-60 who are capable of working, available for work and trying to find work. Unemployed 16 and 17 -year-olds may not be eligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance but may be able to claim a Young Person’s Bridging Allowance (YPBA) instead. The local Jobcentre Plus can help with claims. You can get further information from the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Jobcentre Plus websitewww.jobcentreplus.gov.uk .

New Deal

New Deal is a government programme that aims to give unemployed people the help and support they need to get into work. Young people who have been unemployed for 6 months and adults who have been unemployed for 18 months are usually required to join New Deal if they wish to continue receiving benefit. There are different New Deal schemes for different age groups. You can find out more about New Deal on 0845 606 2626 or: www.newdeal.gov.uk .
The government also runs work-based learning programmes which offer training to people while they are at work People receive a wage or an allowance and can attend college for one day a week to get a new qualification.
You can find out more about the different government schemes, and the schemes in your area, from Jobcentre Plus,www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk , or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Chapter 6 – Section 2 Equal rights and discrimination

Chapter 6 – Section 2

Equal rights and discrimination

You can also get information and advice from websites such as:www.do-it.org.uk , www.volunteering.org.uk andwww.justdosomething.net . It is against the law for employers to discriminate against someone at work. This means that a person should not be refused work, training or promotion or treated less favourably because of their:
• sex
• nationality, race, colour or ethnic group
• disability
• religion
• sexual orientation
• age.
In Northern Ireland, the law also bans discrimination on grounds of religious belief or political opinion.
The law also says that men and women who do the same job, or work of equal value, should receive equal pay. Almost all the laws protecting people at work apply equally to people doing part-time or full-time jobs.
There are, however, a small number of jobs where discrimination laws do not apply. For example, discrimination is not against the law when the job involves working for someone in their own home.
You can get more information about the law and racial discrimination from the Commission for Racial Equality. The Equal Opportunities Commission can help with sex discrimination issues and the Disability Rights Commission deals with disability issues. Each of these organisations offers advice and information and can, in some cases, support individuals. From October 2007 their functions will be brought together in a new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. You can get more information about the laws protecting people at work from the Citizens Advice Bureau website:www.adviceguide.org.uk .
In Northern Ireland, the Equality Commission provides information and advice in respect of all forms of unlawful discrimination.
The Commission for Racial Equality, St Dunstan’s House, 201-211 Borough High Street, London, SE11 1GZ, telephone: 020 7939 000, fax 020 7939 0001, www.cre.gov.uk
The Equal Opportunities Commission, Arndale House, Arndale Centre, Manchester M4 3EQ, telephone: 0845 601 5901, fax: 0161 838 8312, www.eoc.org.uk
The Disability Rights Commission, DRC Helpline, FREEPOST MID02164, Stratford upon Avon CV37 9BR, telephone: 08457 622 633, fax 08457 778 878, www.drc.org.uk
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Equality House,
7 -9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DP, telephone: 028 90 500600, www.equalityni.org

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment can take different forms. This includes
• indecent remarks
• comments about the way you look that make you feel uncomfortable or humiliated
• comments or questions about your sex life
• inappropriate touching or sexual demands
• bullying behaviour or being treated in a way that is rude, hostile, degrading or humiliating because of your sex
Men and women can be victims of sexual harassment at work. If this happens to you, tell a friend, colleague or trade union representative and ask the person harassing you to stop. It is a good idea to keep a written record of what happened, the days and times when it happened and who else may have seen or heard the harassment. If the problem continues, report the person to your employer or trade union Employers are responsible for the behaviour of their employees while they are at work. They should treat complaints of sexual harassment very seriously and take effective action to deal with the problem. If you are not satisfied with your employer’s response, you can ask for advice and support from the Equal Opportunities Commission, your trade union or the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Chapter 6 – Section 1 Looking for work

Chapter 6 – Section 1

Looking for work

If you are looking for work, or you are thinking of changing your job, there are a number of ways you can find out about work opportunities. The Home Office provides guidance on who is allowed to work in the UK. Not everyone in the UK is allowed to work and some people need work permits, so it is important to check your status before taking up work. Also, employers have to check that anyone they employ is legally entitled to work in the UK. For more information and guidance, see the Home Office website ‘Working in the UK’- www.workingintheuk.gov.uk .
Jobs are usually advertised in local and national newspapers, at the local Jobcentre and in employment agencies. You can find the address and telephone number of your local Jobcentre under Jobcentre Plus in the phone book or see www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk . Some jobs are advertised on supermarket notice boards and in shop windows. These jobs are usually part-time and the wages are often quite low. If there are particular companies you would like to work for, you can look for vacancies on their websites.
Jobcentre Plus is run by a government department-the Department for Work and Pensions. Trained staff give advice and help in finding and applying for jobs as well claiming benefits. They can also arrange for interpreters. Their website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk lists vacancies and training opportunities and gives general information on benefits. There is also a low cost telephone service- Jobseeker Direct, 0845 60 60 234. This is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Qualifications

Applicants for some jobs need special training or qualifications. If you have qualifications from another country, you can find out how they compare with qualifications in the UK at the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC), www.naric.org.uk .
For further information contact UK NARIC, ECCTIS Ltd, Oriel House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham Glos, GL50 1XP telephone 0870 990 4088, email: info@naric.org.uk .

Applications

Interviews for lower paid and local jobs can often be arranged by telephone or in person. For many jobs you need to fill in an application form or send a copy of your curriculum vitae (CV) with a covering letter or letter of application.
A covering letter is usually a short letter attached to a completed application form, while a letter of application gives more detailed information on why you are applying for the job and why you think you are suitable. Your CV gives specific details on your education, qualifications, previous employment, skills and interests. It is important to type any letters and your CV on a computer or word processor as this improves your chance of being called for an interview.
Employers often ask for the names and addresses of one or two referees. These are people such as your current or previous employer or college tutor. Referees need to know you well and to agree to write a short report or reference on your suitability for the job. Personal friends or members of your family are not normally acceptable as referees.

Interviews

In job descriptions and interviews, employers should give full details of what the job involves, including the pay, holidays and working conditions. If you need more information about any of these, you can ask questions in the interview. In fact, asking some questions in the interview shows you are interested and can improve your chance of getting the job.
When you are applying for a job and during the interview, it is important to be honest about your qualifications and experience. If an employer later finds out that you gave incorrect information, you might lose your job.

Criminal record

For some jobs, particularly if the work involves working with children or vulnerable people, the employer will ask for your permission to do a criminal record check. You can get more information on this from the Home Office Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) information line, telephone 0870 90 90 811. In Scotland, contact Disclosure Scotlandwww.disclosurescotland.co.uk Helpline: 0870 609 6006.

Training

Taking up training helps people improve their qualifications for work. Some training may be offered at work or you can do courses from home or at your local college. This includes English language training. You can get more information from your local library and college or from websites such as www.worktrain.gov.uk andwww.learndirect.co.uk . Learndirect offers a range of online training courses at centres across the country. There are charges for courses but you can do free starter or taster sessions. You can get more information from their free information and advice line: 0800 100 900.

Volunteering and work experience

Some people do voluntary work and this can be a good way to support your local community and organisations which depend on volunteers. It also provides useful experience that can help with future job applications. Your local library will have information about volunteering opportunities.