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How Do You Cope With Thinking You'll Never Work Again?
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Volunteering does not just mean working in a charity shop
I do admin work from home for the local volunteer run of Ipswich Cats Protection. I also ticketed 246 teddies for the summer fete and rolled up the same number of tickets again into the big wooden cat.
There are many charities out there who need all kinds of help.0 -
For volunteer ideas go to http://www.do-it.org.uk/
You choose what group you'd like to volunteer for from a drop down menu, stick in your town/postcode and Then it gives you a list of what's nearby.
They wont count voluntary work as proof you can't work as ESA is about supporting you in finding a job you can do, volunteering is a positive step!
Good luck0 -
just wanted to add the scope for doing voluntary work is endless.
iv volunteered in animal rescue, and done everything over the last couple of years from picking up strays out the pound and fostering them here, to defleaing dogs, shavin matted ones down, doing homechecks for a rescue, transporting them to a new home, accompanying old folks dogs to the vets , rehoming, admin, or answering the rescue phone line. what i can do depends on how i am feeling as i gave ms and i can step down and leave it when needbe until im up to it again.
i have made a great many friends , and helped save some lives and its very rewarding. not a charity shop in sight!
when i first finished my old job i was looking toget into grooming before a relapse affected my hands and also meant i cant lift larger dogs, i joined the rescue circuit offering free haircuts on inmates for the practical side of a home study grooming course done thru job seekers.0 -
www.do-it.org.uk is where I found my volunteer job. Alternatively, your nearest town/city may have a Volunteer Bureau. And you can also look online for local charities and email/call to see what help they need.0
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Wow the volunteering for animal charities (especially if there are things people can do from home) sounds like something I could consider.
Although, a while ago I did apply to be an RSPCA volunteer going to homes of potential adopters. I attended the inital course, references were sent, yet never heard anything since. Never been given a home to inspect. Totally made me feel like a failure, that I couldn't even manage volunteering.
Might look into the suggestions by KxMx & bored at home.0 -
For volunteer ideas go to http://www.do-it.org.uk/
You choose what group you'd like to volunteer for from a drop down menu, stick in your town/postcode and Then it gives you a list of what's nearby.
They wont count voluntary work as proof you can't work as ESA is about supporting you in finding a job you can do, volunteering is a positive step!
Good luck
Thank you for the link - I've had a look & there is one helping a credit union which I'm thinking of offering to help. There are others but they require you to have your own transport or they are too far away for me to get back to school in time for pick up. I shall keep checking the site though.
I'm hoping they'll take me on although it will depend on how clear their systems/computers are as I may not be able to see clearly enough to help!
I know volunteering shouldn't affect my ESA, but with all the hoo haa about benefit cuts I'd hate to give them any excuse to kick me off. Maybe I've become too cynical :rotfl:the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »Although, a while ago I did apply to be an RSPCA volunteer going to homes of potential adopters. I attended the inital course, references were sent, yet never heard anything since. Never been given a home to inspect. Totally made me feel like a failure, that I couldn't even manage volunteering.
I have to be honest, a bit of me is worried that I wont be suitable or they wont want me, & I'm not sure I could take much more rejection! But I will try, as it is rubbish not feeling like you are contributing.YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »I was so proud of being able to juggle my family life and my job, sometimes working 50 hours a week but still being there to meet my kids off the school bus every night.
I hate relying on benefits and I hate not using my brain. Being at home 24/7 is lonely and isolating. I am also scared that even if I am able to work again no-one will want me. And people say us "scroungers" have an easy life, yeah right.
I now have so much respect for anyone who is battling ill health, no matter what the circumstances are and I really do wish you the best. Use what money you have to make the best life you possibly can for yourself and take each day as it comes.
Thank you, that echos how I feel too. I am lucky in that I'm only partially sighted & not suffering from another condition & I do count my blessings for that.
Bluedog - thank you for your excellent post.I'm not sure at which point or what it was that I finally realised it didn't have to be like that and figured that it was ok to do things slower, differently to the average person and set about focusing on what I can do and "how can I do it" instead.
I've always had a good sense of humour and this definitely has helped, even when I was at my worst. Some of it was embarrassment as there are people with far worse problems than I had/have yet seem to be able to do more or better that I was - and currently am. Again, its been a switch of thinking from that to "well, if they can do it, then so can I".
I do need to try & stop comparing myself to others & thinking about where I think I "should be". I need to concentrate on what I can do.
Some positive news - I have enrolled on a basic bookkeeping course, so I shall be using my (now jelly like) brain & hopefully it may lead to getting a job in the future. If not then it will still be a useful skill to have.
Thanks to everyone for their input & ideas - I really appreciate it. :beer:And I find that looking back at you gives a better view, a better view...0 -
After my essay above I checked my email - & here is my daily horoscope from Russell Grant. Bizarrely I have just had a coffee with a friend I don't see that often & she has helped me see the bigger picture! Spooky....
Aquarius (Jan21-Feb19)
You've been so wrapped up in your own problems you have neglected your nearest and dearest. Drag yourself away from a difficult project and meet with friends. They'll put the world back in perspective. When you devote your energies to help others, your own troubles become much smaller. Take this opportunity to volunteer at an animal shelter, work in a public garden, or tutor underprivileged children. There are so many ways to put your talents to good use.And I find that looking back at you gives a better view, a better view...0
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