GAIL Fenwick recently applied for her 100th job. Like many unemployed people, she has tried everything and everywhere she can think of.

However, she's sure why she's not had much luck yet - her age.

The 54-year-old, of Walney, has been looking for work for six months and believes employers are often reluctant to employ older people.

She said: "They are putting everybody into one box.

"It's hard not to take it personally.

"You have got to brush it off in your mind but it's not easy."

Gail is one of 297,000 people between the age of 50 and 64 who are unemployed in Britain.

This age group is the one which is most likely to have people who are long-term unemployed.

The sad reality is when people in their 50s or 60s are away from the workplace, whether by choice, redundancy or illness, they find it increasingly difficult to get back in.

One group which is trying to break that cycle is Age Works, a project run by the Barrow branch of Age UK at Lakeland House in Abbey Road.

Attributes in older employees

The programme, which gets a lot of referrals from the Jobcentre Plus in Barrow, has been running for 12 months and has had great success in getting people back into employment and training individuals with the skills they need to master online applications and a recruitment process that is ever increasingly digital.

The course leaders want to push the benefits of businesses and companies hiring older people, noting their loyalty, life experience and patience as key attributes.

Selwyn Wright, project manager, said Age Works, which is a Lottery-funded project, gave unemployed people in the Furness area hope in a friendly setting.

He said: "We managed to get the money in Barrow because there's a large number of people in the over 50s category who are unemployed in the area.

"Many people want to learn more about how computers work - that's one of the barriers for people finding work as loads of employers these days only take applications online and older people find that a bit of a challenge at times.

"The longer anybody is out of work, the more difficult it is to get back in. It's very easy for people to lose confidence and if you are sitting in a room with another six or eight people and they are all in the same boat as you are in and they are having a little bit of banter at the same time then people are not hopefully losing confidence.

"We are trying to promote the value really and older people can be reliable and very loyal and have a lot of life experience."

The job club meets five times a week on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 10am to noon and then from 1pm to 3pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.

People who attend Age Works have varying circumstances, with some made redundant from jobs they held all their working lives, some having moved to the area from afar and others who had lost confidence after trying various recruitment agencies.

Success story

One of the success stories of the group is Margaret Lenihan, of Rampside, who started work again in September after five years of being unemployed and just a few months after joining Age Works.

The 61-year-old now works as a dinner lady at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School in Dalton and thoroughly enjoys the job.

She said: "I just love it. I feel this is the right place for me.

"[Age Works] set me on the right road. It just gives you the little push to not to be embarrassed about trying."

Speaking about the issues she faced in finding work, Mrs Lenihan said when employers meet older people face-to-face most of their misconceptions disappear.

She said many big corporations don't let older people even get to the interview stage as they have already dismissed them based on their age.

She said: "No matter if you don't look 61 or if you don't feel like you are 61, an employer who doesn't meet you is going to see you as 61."

Big support

Another person who hopes to gain employment like Mrs Lenihan is Janis Tweedie, 59, of Leechfield Close, Barrow.

She is confident Age Works will work for her and help her find a job in administration.

She said: "It gives you the focus and encouragement. You meet like-minded people.

"It's harder when you are older. The volume of people going for each job is high and you are up against that.

"The last three positions I had were temporary maternity cover. They do last more than expected but I want something permanent. I wouldn't go down that route again."

Another person who appreciates the one-to-one support Age Works gives him is Stephen Dougan, 56, of Newport Street, Barrow.

He said: "It's the best thing I have ever done. I meet people and talk to people.

"I have been to a few courses but this is the best. It's one to one all the time."

Volunteers at Age Works help unemployed people by giving them guidance on online applications, drafting CVs together and identifying what skills they might need updating or refreshing.

It's a friendly atmosphere and each session is spent searching for local positions and writing cover letters and detailed applications.

Christopher Kirkby, 62, of Barrow Island, is another person looking for employment and currently volunteers at the St Mary's Hospice warehouse to help his CV and give something back in the meantime.

He said: "I'm finding the project great. It gives me something to look forward to. They have given me good advice.

"I'm a people person. I've very friendly and approachable.

"I feel its ageism a lot of the time. As soon as they see your age then it ends there."

Confidence boost

Despite the many knockbacks, Gail Fenwick is optimistic that she will find work thanks to the team of Age Works.

She said: "I enjoy coming. It's brilliant. It's great to have some support and meet like-minded people .

"I've struggled with online applications because they can be so long-winded.

"It's a whole new world because things have changed. They just expect you to be computer literate.

"A lot of people are old school and we haven't been brought up with computers and it's frustrating but I'm getting there."

Contact Age Works

To register with Age Works (Barrow and District) ring 01229 831425.

Follow Age UK Barrow on Twitter here or visit the website here .

Five tips for unemployed people over 50

1) Update your CV with all your experience.

It's a good idea to keep a tally of everywhere you have worked and of promotions as it's easy to forget some of them.

2) Use your age to your advantage.

Don't shy away from your age so in applications speak of the skills your extra experience gives you like reliability and communication.

3) Prepare for the interview.

Do lots of research before an interview and understand how the role will break down into daily duties and how you are well matched to each.

4) Embrace the internet.

You could sign up to social media sites like Twitter or Facebook as it shows a willingness to adapt and is where a market of jobs are advertised.

5) Get networking!

LinkedIn is a good way to find like-minded people and can be a great help in understanding job progression.