OU: Don't Know Where To Start

So_Overwhelmed

Hello,

I'm sorry for my first post being a desperate cry for help but I haven't followed a lot of what I've read because it was so much at once and I'm more than a little confused. There's a lot to take in so I've broken it down into bitesize chunks with the relevant bits together.


If you want/need to know anything else please ask.


Last year I started a FD in childcare. I grew very ill and had to leave under order of my doctor and get some rest and recooperation with obviously medical help.


I am now signed off onto Income support with incapacity credits and it's not going to change anytime soon. I do not get anything else. I have applied for DLA but I was refused.


Because of that I am now going through a Debt Relief Order because I cannot afford to pay the bills that I had and my main creditor (sygma) refuses to help so I had really no other way. It wil l be finalised after the 5th August and I should know if I have it on the 10th. If I don't I don't know what I'll do.


I live at home with my widowed mother and she recieves £100 a week from a pension of my late fathers employer and carers allowance for my grandfather - we help each other out billwise, I don't pay any actual bills (none in my name) but I do put towards electric/gas/water/tv license etc and it's put down via the cccs as lodge/rent.


Since March I've basically been sat in the house vegitating. I can't get a job because my mobility is impaired and I have an issue with my heart not working correctly.


I'm going mad and I would like to continue my studies but not in childcare (it's a million pieces of paperwork at a time whilst watching the kids! It's not any fun at all )


I have 60 credits from my half finished course. Ideally I would like to work somewhere with families, like a community center almost, giving help and advice and supporting them but I'm not sure what lines of work that fits into as I used to work in a community center and tbh it wasn't that busy and we had a purpose built safe and secure playground with equipment at the back! Another dream of mine would be a media degree but I guess unless living somewhere like London it can't be applied.


It seems that the OU would be my best line as I could work from home and not have to struggle getting to places. The mind is willing but until the body is patched I'm kinda stuck but why waste it when I could be qualifying for what I want to do instead of watching daytime TV!?!


I went to the OU support page and chose '30 points or more but less than 90' as I'm not sure which one to chose and it said I could receive:

# Your fees paid up to a value of £805 for courses of 30 points or more totalling up to 60 credit points.

# A course grant of £260 to help with study expenses. as I only get £3000 a year income.


I've been looking at the courses for ideas of ones that may fit in and I'm sort of hovering around the health and social care type ones: open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/index.htm but you need a lot of points to start?!

And then I get even more confused....! So please! Anyone, please help :rotfl: Thanks guys :T

MrsManda

So_Overwhelmed wrote: »

Since March I've basically been sat in the house vegitating. I can't get a job because my mobility is impaired and I have an issue with my heart not working correctly.
I have 60 credits from my half finished course. Ideally I would like to work somewhere with families, like a community center almost, giving help and advice and supporting them but I'm not sure what lines of work that fits into.

There are lots of things to do from a community advice point of view - careers advisor, benefits advisor, community support officer.... You could try filling out the Stamford Test from UCAS to help you see what courses may be of interest to you. Also have a look at the Government Careers Advisor which also has an assessor for skills and interests, but also alot of other careers advice which may be of use to you.

So_Overwhelmed wrote: »

I've been looking at the courses for ideas of ones that may fit in and I'm sort of hovering around the health and social care type ones: open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/index.htm but you need a lot of points to start?!

I'm not sure what you mean about needing lots of points to start? In order to do OU courses you don't need any previous study.
If you are sure about doing an OU course, you can apply through their Credit Transfer website to transfer credits from your previous study but I think you need to decide what degree/course you want to do first.

Ames

I love the OU! You don't need lots of points to start at all. It's better to choose a level one course, but as you've got some recent study you could probably start at level 2. Just read the course descriptions and choose one you like! If you want to do a named degree though it's best to choose a course that's specified for that degree. You can always phone the student helpline too, I've found them helpful when I've confused myself with the courses!

So_Overwhelmed

Sorry for my late reply, until the middle of this month I don't have regular internet access as our box is... somewhat tempremental.

Thanks for your help. What I meant about points to start is the actual degree courses are like 360ish points to be allowed on - so you do the mini ones to start and then start the big degree?

Like I said, I'm on a DRO that should (fingers crossed, all going well) be sorted towards the 10th of this month if I'm lucky enough. But if I get through and get the grant of £260 do I declare it (I don't mean commit fraud - I mean would it be chargable income in the whole 'cannot have more than £50 expendable income)

Ames

I think you've read it wrong, a degree course is 360 points, that's how many you need to get the degree. You don't need any to start it. Hope I've explained that well!

I'm not sure with a DRO, but for benefits it's not counted, as it's there for study costs.