A Council-run training centre for the long-term unemployed has been branded a “shambles” by some of its service-users.

A lack of support staff, cramped rooms and broken computers are some of the faults listed by frustrated jobless people attending a mandatory programme at Kershaw House, in Little Germany.

A petition has been started by those concerned at the quality of service offered at Kershaw House, run by Bradford Council’s Skills for Work Team which receives funding from the Department for Work and Pensions.

In response, the Council pointed out that the Skills for Work team helped 2,377 unemployed people in 2010-11 financial year, with 92 per cent finding employment, starting qualifications or who had entered training.

The Council said there had been a “significant increase” in referrals to the programme by Jobcentre Plus advisors in recent weeks as the New Deal programme comes to an end, adding that Kershaw House was now closed to new referrals.

The Council said a complaints procedure was in place for learners not satisfied with the service and encouraged anyone with concerns to liaise with staff directly.

One of the concerned service users who launched the petition, graduate David Jennings, 51, claimed he had to attend the 13-week course to save his benefits.

Another service user, Richard Cookson, 30, said people were being ‘penned up’ like animals in rooms that were too small for comfort.

He said: “After I told the centre I was going to City Hall to complain if there was a fire we’d need to scramble across a table to get out of the door, they agreed to squash the table up to a wall but now whoever sits at the end gets knocked by the door when it opens. It’s ridiculous.”

Terry Davis, Bradford Council’s Skills for Work manager, said: “There has been a significant increase in referrals to the programme by Jobcentre Plus advisors in recent weeks as the New Deal programme comes to an end. Kershaw House is now closed to new referrals.

“On average there are 90 learners in the centre every day with 86 computers usually shared among classes at a ratio of two people to one computer."

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