When I read that unemployed people in Aberdare were to be given free fake tans to boost their employment chances, I actually thought that the world had gone bonkers. I mean, it's right up there along with the guy in China who sued his wife 'cause she's ugly. (He won the case by the way).
Surely, the government had completely lost the plot somewhere along the line. I mean really. Would being tango'd increase your job prospects?
So, I had a laugh about it, a small rant about 'tax-payers money' and how even more ridiculous the guests on Jeremy Kyle would look when they are orange.
Then, I actually thought about it a bit and read some information rather than just the tabloid headlines.
This 'scheme' if you want to call it that, isn't actually run by the government, you don't get handed a bottle of 'Lauren's Way' self tan along with your giro (are they still called giros?)
Nope the TOWIE crew weren't sharp enough for this clever piece of marketing mixed with a bit of altruism.
We all know that if you look better, you feel better inside, more confident, more positive and have a bit of a spark that can be missing when you're run down by everyday life and the daily grind.
Now, much as the press love their sweeping generalisations that all unemployed people are lazy gits that sit on their arse all day, drinking, smoking, breeding their staffies and aiming to appear on daytime tv, it's not always the case.
Even trying to find another job, whether unemployed or not can take its toll on your self confidence. After even several knock backs, your opinion of yourself starts to wane.
It's at that point when the appearance of a fairy godmother could prove very useful. Ok, The Well-being and Training Academy call it a Gok Wan makeover and in some cases that could be way more useful than a couple of mice and a pumpkin. But the press have merely picked up on a non-profit organisation helping unemployed people feel a bit more confident and turned it in to......well, a sensationalist type headline.
The director of the academy told The Telegraph, “We want to give people that extra confidence – or that Gok Wan makeover – to give people the incentive to find work. It will recognise those who are doing their utmost to find unemployment by giving them a beauty treatment.”
Notice it says 'A BEAUTY TREATMENT' Sarah Sweeden did not say 'I think making the unemployed population of Aberdare look like oompa-loompas will be a right hoot' (though it would amuse me if she did).
They have nutritionists, beauty therapists, fitness instructors, personal trainers and offer holistic therapies too, it's not all TOWIE tans & vajazzles.
I have a lot of admiration for people giving back to their community and if it helps a couple of people feel better about themselves, then it's all good.
Pay it forward guys. Maybe some organisations should do that too.
