[Sir Neil]

A few practical suggestions:

• Give someone who you know is unemployed an interest free loan to help them get a job (e.g. to buy a suit for an interview)
  
  To be honest, you don’t even have to give money to an unemployed person to be helpful. Sometimes all you have to do is to be supportive or talk encouragingly.
  
  I know from experience, that unemployment is a very misunderstood circumstance to be in. It really isn’t the lazy, carefree bum-around on benefits which the media paint it as. It’s very surreal and brings all sorts of anxieties and insecurities to the surface. Often you feel like you’re going round in circles and are a burden to everyone, particularly if you are long-term unemployed.
  
  Quite often, others will speak to you as if you actually are a useless burden, and as if they ‘own’ you in some way, so if you can talk encouragingly or helpfully to an unemployed person, then it really is of great help.
  
  Don’t talk platitudes or guilt trips like “ beggars can’t be choosers, “ because they know that already, and certainly don’t compare them to others or ‘suggest’ shots in the dark job vacancies, because those really aren’t helpful. Put a few kind or encouraging words certainly are.
  
  And in doing so, you will be sending out all sorts of light which will come back to you in some way.
  

Any more suggestions?[/quote]