THE scheme now arriving at platforms across south Essex will call at Basildon, Southend and Thurrock – and it’s going to put a smile on the face of hundreds of cash-strapped jobseekers.

Rail operator c2c is re-launching its hugely popular Job Start scheme in south Essex, meaning anyone on the dole can get free travel to and from interviews, and even keep travelling for free after they’ve got a permenant job.

Under the scheme, people drawing jobseekers’ benefits, severe hardship or disablity allowance, income support or are returning to work after a two-year break can get on board without paying a penny, anywhere between Shoebury and Fenchurch Street.

The scheme is easy to access through the Jobcentre and the most a person will have to fork out is a £10 one-off admin fee.

Julian Drury, c2c managing director, said:”We are funding this all ourselves. We aren’t getting any Government subsidies.

“Why are we doing it? Well, it genuinely comes down to wanting to give something back.

“We’ve been here for a while now. We want to get to know our c2c community and help them. It’s as simple as that.

“We know the hardships facing a lot of people. When you are job-hunting, the last thing you want to worry about is how you are going to afford your train fare.”

Under the scheme, anyone going to interviews to and from any stop along the c2c line can get free travel up to six times a year.

Once someone has been offered a job and they have a permenant contract for a year, they can also get two months of free travel to help them ease into their new life.

The scheme has been run in stages over the past few years and now c2c chiefs want to hammer home the message to Basildon, Southend and Thurrock rail users that it’s back.

Under the Job Start scheme, a Southend resident taking advantage of six free interview trips and a two month free season ticket would save more than £600.

It would be a saving of about £470 for a Basildon jobseeker. Anyone of any age is eligible as long as they are on jobseekers’ allowance, however the scheme only covers c2c trains and not the London Underground.

Mr Drury said: “We ran the scheme in February and had quite a big uptake, with about 100 people claiming the tickets.

“It is not just youngsters starting out after university, there are a lot of older people wanting to get back into the workplace after being made redundant, or mums wanting to get back to work after raising a family.

“We are very proud of this scheme. We’re proud to be helping to make a difference and we’ve had very positive feedback from people it has helped at often a very challenging time in their lives.

“As far as we are aware we are the only rail operator to run such a scheme."

Representatives from c2c will be promoting the scheme and handing out leaflets at railway stations across the area tomorrow. In Basildon, John Baron MP for Basildon and Billericay, will be on the platform to support the scheme, as will Rochford and Southend MP James Duddridge at Southend Central and Jackie Doyle-Price, Thurrock MP, at Grays railway station.

l Anyone interested in taking up the scheme needs to visit their local Jobcentre and speak to a member of staff about how to apply. You can only access the Job Start programme through the Job Centre and you will need written evidence you are on benefits to apply.