JSA: Gateway to work/YMCA Training

lauraknight_1988

neonlights85 wrote: »

Just an update...

The course I went on was completely pointless, but bearable. The trainers said I had the best CV they'd seen and they pretty much left me alone to do what I would have done at home anyway. I sorted my own placement out and went to a company I did some freelance work for, which was amazing. Again, all off my own back.

It's a complete waste of government money but I survived it, and the silver lining is it boosted my confidence - especially being surrounded by the dregs of society who didn't even know what a CV was.




I found out that the people at the job centre get a £200 bonus for every person who gets a job. My advisor has tried to force me to be a personal trainer, a cleaner, a security guard and a foreign language teaching assistant - none of which have ANY correlation to me whatsoever. I'm being a bit more forceful now. There's no point in me being forced into a job I neither like or have any interest or experience in... I'd end up leaving/getting sacked and be right back where I started.

I am a little worried about the 13 week course I have heard whisperings about. Anyone heard of this?

The 13 week course is apparently just like this course but a longer amount of time in a placement.
I dont think you have to do this, you can choose to do voluntary work, start your own business or some sort of training i think thats the options anyway. glad u survived gateway to work and heres hoping u dont have to do the next one!

lauraknight_1988

neonlights85 wrote: »

And Jowo...

I completely agree that everyone needs a back up plan; I have two. I just feel that I need to give it a good go at getting my dream job before I pack up for a life of misery and mediocrity.

People on the course I was on REFUSED to look for work, they said they didn't want to work. I think that people like myself, and others in this thread, should be allowed to attempt to find work in our chosen profession for as long as possible until we get there. It's hard, but not impossible. I would rather be unemployed and look for work I actually want to do that just do something random and descend into depression at being unfulfilled.

just to let you know that is isnt impossible to get a job in media as my sister who has been unemployed for a year just got a job at the bbc! so dont give up! and dont be swayed by an advisor, some of them are the same age as us and because they havent got the drive to go for their dream job they think everyone else should just work for peanuts in a dead end job"

neonlights85

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Kaleidoscope27

I've got my 6 month review tomorrow morning.

This thread has been both enlightening and terrifying. Yesterday I applied for my 100th job in 6 months. I've had 5 interviews in this time. I look all over the Internet for jobs, in papers etc. I don't want to be forced to sit in a room with the "typical job seeker" and be forced to job hunt.

But if nothing else, this is going to force me to crank up my job hunt even more.

Can anyone tell me how long after your 6 month review they start making you do these courses? Roughly?

donnajunkie

Kaleidoscope27 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me how long after your 6 month review they start making you do these courses? Roughly?

if you are in an area that still has the old new deal then at around the 18 month mark will be when you start doing a course. it will last for either 13 weeks or 26 weeks and be fulltime. you will do 4 days on work placement and 1 day in a centre.
if you are in an area that has flexible new deal then you see an advisor once a month at the jobcentre from the 6 month mark to the 12 month mark. you then get refered onto a course at that point. fnd lasts for 12 months but is mainly part time. i have been on it for about 5 or 6 weeks and so far all i have had to do is see my advisor once a fortnight and do a 3 hour induction. at some point i will be required to do a minimum of 4 weeks on a work placement.

Amistoso_2

some people on this thread are very hypocritical, you know who you are!!!!

OP you have nothing to lose, just go on the course with an open mind and you might get something out of it.
All the best with the job hunting :O)

Kaleidoscope27

donnajunkie wrote: »

if you are in an area that still has the old new deal then at around the 18 month mark will be when you start doing a course. it will last for either 13 weeks or 26 weeks and be fulltime. you will do 4 days on work placement and 1 day in a centre.
if you are in an area that has flexible new deal then you see an advisor once a month at the jobcentre from the 6 month mark to the 12 month mark. you then get refered onto a course at that point. fnd lasts for 12 months but is mainly part time. i have been on it for about 5 or 6 weeks and so far all i have had to do is see my advisor once a fortnight and do a 3 hour induction. at some point i will be required to do a minimum of 4 weeks on a work placement.

So either way, I'm unlikely to be put on a course any time soon? Just (possibly) have to see my advisor more regularly? I can live with that

neonlights85

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donnajunkie

Kaleidoscope27 wrote: »

So either way, I'm unlikely to be put on a course any time soon? Just (possibly) have to see my advisor more regularly? I can live with that

dont get comfy though as i believe they have the ability to put people onto a course anytime they feel like. i have known people to get put on the old new deal after 6 months even though the general rule is 18 months. i was put on fnd after 10 months instead of 12. my advisor claimed he thought i was at the 12 month mark but no-ones that stupid.

donnajunkie

neonlights85 wrote: »

I rang up the company providing the 13 week course but the girl I spoke to was new so couldn't offer much help. If I can organise my own placement(s) to go on four days a week then I think this will be bearable.

in my experience they do let you organise your own placement. you cant waste much time doing it though and they have to be happy with it. it will mean spending a little time sat in the centre everyday while you wait for them to do a health and safety check. they will only need to do that if they have never sent anyone there before.