Having a bad time, would like a fresh start

jazabelle

I would really appreciate some help.

For three years I worked for a charity that I loved, with a supportive manager. In July this year another company took them over and have been awful. Firstly they took away all my reasonable adjustments I need to work, and became so awful and caused me so much stress, it aggravated my conditions and I had to go off sick. I have multiple chronic illnesses that cause severe constant pain, fatigue, and lots of other fun things. They also moved me to an office I find very inaccessible – no disabled bays so I can't get my wheelchair out, no toilets or kitchen on the same floor, so I find it difficult to get there, etc.

I'm still not back because they massively dragged their heels on trying to negotiate something that would work for us both. My union were totally useless, and even the legal aid I contacted just wanted me to go straight to a tribunal for disability discrimination, where as I wanted to either sort it out or do a compromise agreement. Anyway, the company finally agreed on enough points that it makes it hard for me to keep arguing, but they won't budge on something that's still going to make it incredibly hard to go back to work as it's going to cause additional severe pain/fatigue.

I'm so exhausted from fighting them, and am in a very low place emotionally currently.

This month I think my sick pay runs out (I can't ask, as HR are the people I've had all the problems with, and they aren't approachable), but I'm not due back until a week or so into February, because from Monday until the end of January I am going to be in hospital as an in-patient.

Sorry for the back story which isn't really relevant to what I'm asking I guess, but I wanted to give you an idea of what's been going on.

I couple of years ago I started making jewellery, which I love as it really distracts from the pain. My dream would be to quit work and go self-employed (even if it's just for awhile until I can find another job, which I haven't been able to so far.)

I'm 24, and I've been told there is help available particularly because of my age to help get me kick started. I wanted to know things like how to register as a business tax wise, and keep accounts, and come up with a business plan. A bit of hand holding really! Can anyone point me in the right direction please? Ideally I'd like someone I can actually meet and go through things with, so while I'm aware of the Prince's Trust for example, I don't think they'd come and help me with this kind of thing, unless anyone knows differently?

However, a massive worry is that my income is going to vanish, and I won't be able to pay for rent/my treatment most importantly, plus everything else of course! I've been told I can still claim Working Tax Credit if you're self-employed. Is this right? I know it's going to be a massive strain financially, but I need to make sure I'm going to have something coming in. How will it work?

I have a website slowly being set up by myself, which isn't great. I can't seem to work out how to put a shopping cart in, and I've messed it up by not using frames, so everything I want to change something, I need to go through every single page. My website is in my profile if anyone is willing to take a peek and tell me what you think. I know it's not great, but it's taken my hundreds of hours to get this far!

Anyway, any help and advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

vintagebrighton

Regarding your income, do you have any disability benefits coming in? Have you ever applied?

I think you've chosen an extremely competitive field in jewellery. Is there anything else you can do if only to expand the range of items you offer? Sorry, I can't help with the techie stuff, I gave up on mine and got someone else to do it!

WhiteHorse

The handmade jewellery market is utterly saturated. I don't want to rain on your parade, but there are hordes of women out there who think that they can make a living out of it when they can't.

You would have a better chance if your were actually a gold or silversmith. Courses are available. You might even get help to do them.

In the meantime, chucking a secure job to pursue this idea seems very unwise. Better to sue them for discrimination.

chalkie99

I'm sorry to hear your situation, sounds awful for you.

The problem I think you need to address with the jewellery project is the true viability of it.

The website, although I know you have put a lot of time and effort into it, needs re-doing from scratch really and would probably be better done with some proper shopping cart software. One option would be to use OpenCart which, like most things, has a bit of a learning curve but the advantages are that the software itself is free and there are lots sales features built into it.

Don't be too despondent about that because you have the content (your products, photos and descriptions already done so you are not really starting from scratch.

You would also find Wordpress very easy to set up with several different free shop options you can include.

Have a look at http://themeforest.net/ for several themes on both of these systems (and more) where you can buy a decent looking layout for $25 - $40 (about £16-£26).

However (!) back to the viability issue.

Even if you get the web site sorted and end up with a great looking site which lots of people want to buy from, can you actually make a living from it? Because, frankly, unless you can, it is not a business proposition and you won't get a grant. More importantly, there is no point in having a grant unless you can sustain yourself once the money runs out.

You are selling items at £4 and £5 each. You really need to work out an honest costing for these. Exactly how much do the items cost you, including the cost of getting the bits and pieces delivered to you. then, how long does it take to make each one? Then take off the charges from PayPal.

Even if you have the volume of business can you really make and sell enough items per week to earn a proper wage?

Then you come back to the problem that everyone and their friends are already trying to do exactly the same thing. It really is an idea that many have as a "dream" of setting up a little business but few have really sat down and worked out the actual figures.

Sorry I cannot be more positive.

Football_Widow_2

I was very sorry to read your post.

It sounds very much as if your company is trying to manage you out, which is absolutely awful but not unheard of. I think that you have a decision to make. You either continue struggling with all the issues that your company are throwing at you, to maintain a salary. You could take them on and fight (do you have support personally, someone who can accompany you to meetings etc) or you could decide to give notice and try to find another job.

Although I do agree that everyone is trying to make a living from crafts, I think that it is something that may need to go hand in hand with employment rather than a stand alone. I think the idea of doing a course for silversmiths would be very sensible, especially if you can get it at a subserdised rate.

You would need to check the benefit situation. I receive child tax credit and I am self employed and working part time. I'm afraid I don't know about working tax credit.

Have you contacted ACAS about the problems that you have been experiencing? They may be helpful.

I have had a look at your website and considering you have done it all by yourself I think that you have done a really good job. I have some suggestions. Include some images of your jewellery on your home page. Also I think the images could be a little larger so that people can get a better view of what you are selling.

I can tell you are very down at the moment, but please try not to give up on everything. Continue with the jewellery and the web site as it obviously gives you pleasure (and your items are lovely) and you really don't know where it might lead. I don't know if you are getting any counselling but maybe you should go to the doctor and try and get some support. Do you see an Occupational Therapist, if not try and get referred as it is their job to get you into/support you in work.

Have you been to the CRB and asked for their support?

Do you get DLA?

Of course you could always contact your local MP to let them know about your difficulties, especially as the government are very keen to get people back to work. I'm sure they would be interested in what has being going on?

Please let us know how you get on.

FW x

podperson

A lot of areas have a local Business Enterprise or Gateway Centre - try asking at your jobcentre as they usually have details. These will run sessions on things like tax/book keeping/making a business plan and usually have advisors and local business people who are able to help. They will often have information on grants and set up help. The one in my old area was fantastic.

You can claim working tax credits on a self employed basis - since you don't say you have children then you would need to be working over 30 hours a week for it.

Regarding your website if you're struggling have you thought about asking at a local college or putting an ad on Gumtree or something asking if any student might like to help you in exchange for experience/a reference. It sounds like it would be a fairly straightforward website to do for someone who had a bit knowledge and I know in my area I see quite a few people offering to do things like that for free or very cheap so they can build up a portfolio to show new clients.

Also, while a website is obviously useful are you are looking at other markets - I know a lot of people in that business refer people to their website from elsewhere - eg craft fairs, market stalls, other selling sites (have you looked at places like Etsy). Or are there any independent shops near you that might agree to take a few items and see how they go. Apologies if you've probably thought of these already, just off the top of my head.

Good luck with it x

jazabelle

I'm already running late, but I wanted to answer some things really quickly.

I do get DLA, at both of the high rates. The mobility side is tied up in an adapted car though.

Working Tax Credits - I get the severe disability premium, and when you're disabled your limit is 16 hours, not 30 luckily. Also as I'm 24, I wouldn't get tax credits anyway until I was 25, unless I was disabled.

I do realise the jewellery market is stupidly full. My USP as it were is awareness items for charities and disabilities. It started when I was finally diagnosed after years of pain from a very young age. I was so relieved I wasn't the only one out there, and that doctors would now understand, I wanted to buy a bracelet. But all I could find were ones in America that were going to cost £90+. So I made myself one, and lots of people commented and wanted ones made for their condition. I now supply a disability charity with their bracelets, and would love to expand this.


Sorry, I know there is so much more to answer, but I have an appointment. I would be open to expanding into any other market, or any other idea for home working, but I just can't find any. I can't do accounting as I have dyscalculia (yes, I'm aware I'm a wreck.) Editing seems to have a lot of people in it already.


My dream would be to start up a local charity that helps disabled people - because there just isn't one in my town, even though it's large. For example when I was trying to apply for benefits - no one would help me. CAB said they didn't fill in forms as they were too busy, the Welfare Officer at the council only helps organisations, not individuals, DIAL doesn't cover my area. If I had been over 65 there was lots of places, but nothing for us. The person at the doctors that fills in forms just wasn't that good, so I was stuck. Eventually someone else who had the same condition as me helped me. However, I can't do it alone, and despite being active in the disabled community in my town, I've found no one I'd trust to do this with. (Disabled or not!) I am also the chair for an access group - but that's voluntary.


I know I've not covered/responded to loads of stuff, sorry.

Horace

If you can stomach it, make a formal grievance to your employer and apply to an Employment Tribunal for constructive dismissal and disability discrimination.

You may be able to get help from the Princes Trust with regard to setting up a business because you are under 25.

I would be inclined to contact DIAL anyway and ask them if there is anyone they could recommend in your town to help you to complete forms.

suki1001

Ok, the thing about a website when you run your own business, is you need to give it a good bit of time before you give up any other income streams you have. Me and my oh didn't consider leaving our jobs until we had full time incomes coming in from the website. When we changed what we were offering, I went back to work full time for a year while we built our customers up again. There has been some good advice on here and I don't know enough about the jewellry market to know if you're viable.

The positives of running a business online is your cost and risks are low. However, how are you going to gain more customers/more income when you leave your job?

lincroft1710

You say you worked for a charity which was taken over by another "company". I presume the "company" is not a charity. If your new employer is a charity then I would be letting my local paper know just how they treat disabled employees.

paulwf

I'm sure you know this OP but it is a point worth making again. You'll be doing 60 hours a week not 37. You don't get minimum wage guaranteed. There isn't any holiday pay. Sick pay is harder to obtain. Even if you feel sick and can afford it you can't take the time off anyway because the customer is waiting for their order. If I had multiple chronic illnesses and fatigue the last thing I'd want to do would go self employed.

During the summer I worked 50 days in a row. Even now my days off are mainly doing admin. I've taken 1 week of holiday in the last 15 months. You're just about to go into hospital for 3 weeks, my business would be stuffed if I did that.

Apologies for being blunt but self employment is the hardest thing you'll ever do physically and mentally. You need twice the energy as anyone in employment and you need to be able to sustain that for weeks and months at a time.