Hi, I'm Kim Farry and I am looking for a job. I've been applying for anything from a cleaner to a carer. I've the experience and enthusiasm to do my bit for society; live to feed myself and my daughter, pay the bills and pay my taxes like anyone else.

The problem? I've a criminal record. For years, I've had an addiction to shoplifting and while I had odd jobs throughout my adult life, the urge to steal from shops was greater. It overtook my life and ruined relationships with those I love the most.

But I've been clean for almost 20 years. You look at my criminal record, I've not committed a crime since 2002. But nobody is willing to give me a chance to earn a living. I hate living on benefits and while I love volunteering, it doesn't pay the bills.

I know I'm not alone in this. There are too many people in my shoes - people who've had a dark past and trying so hard to do good. We've been failed by a system and there's a cycle that's got to be broken. Otherwise, we'll fall into a cycle where we feel we've no choice but to fall back to old habits. 

I'm calling on the UK government to introduce guidance which doesn't prejudice against those who had a criminal record (which have petty crime offences) that hasn't got a new entry for at least five years. The law requires us to have a clean record for 11 years, or never being in prison. This is grossly unfair and should change. I've been to prison but why should that mean I'll never get work? People have committed worse crimes than shoplifting and yet they can find jobs and I can't? 

I want to help. I want to contribute to society. I want to provide for our family. Please help me and many others in my shoes with achieving this.