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Tired of JSA
CheapCheap
Posts: 4 Newbie
Left school at 15 without any qualifications and went on to serve over 5 years in prison courtesy of bad choices and desperation.
Got released on licence, got recalled for an altercation which was unavoidable. Got re released into a hostel and things started looking up after running a variety of jobs through agencies i found an employer willing to take me on full time but after getting on the wrong side of one case worker at the hostel i got recalled for something stupidly trivial and basicly served another year and lost the opportunity i worked so hard for.
So finally i am released as a free man serving the full term of sentence and i absolutely struggle to find work again. I've moved to 6 different towns/cities across the UK and haven't found 1 job that even called/emailed back let alone get an interview. Anyways i have now being claiming JSA about 4 years and it's really bugging me. My lifestyle has been affected in such a negative way. Poor diet, bad health, stress lack of money to afford new clothes or engage in leisure activities which might have possibly yielded a network of friends that could potentially lead me back into work. I've ballooned to over 18 stone in this time now but no employer is aware of this yet since i haven't had face to face contact.
The job center sent me to a training provider who helped me update my pathetic CV and referred me to other training companies but as of yet this has had no results in terms of job opportunities.
There have been atleast 10 occasions where i have asked for funding from the job center to pursue a course at college or online only to be told none were available or i wasn't entitled.
It would be in my best interest to gain some kind of qualification however it is impossible to fund any courses from my own pocket sop what do i do? Is there anything out there for someone in my situation to get me into some kind of education?
Sorry for the long post but figured background might help in determining what is available
Got released on licence, got recalled for an altercation which was unavoidable. Got re released into a hostel and things started looking up after running a variety of jobs through agencies i found an employer willing to take me on full time but after getting on the wrong side of one case worker at the hostel i got recalled for something stupidly trivial and basicly served another year and lost the opportunity i worked so hard for.
So finally i am released as a free man serving the full term of sentence and i absolutely struggle to find work again. I've moved to 6 different towns/cities across the UK and haven't found 1 job that even called/emailed back let alone get an interview. Anyways i have now being claiming JSA about 4 years and it's really bugging me. My lifestyle has been affected in such a negative way. Poor diet, bad health, stress lack of money to afford new clothes or engage in leisure activities which might have possibly yielded a network of friends that could potentially lead me back into work. I've ballooned to over 18 stone in this time now but no employer is aware of this yet since i haven't had face to face contact.
The job center sent me to a training provider who helped me update my pathetic CV and referred me to other training companies but as of yet this has had no results in terms of job opportunities.
There have been atleast 10 occasions where i have asked for funding from the job center to pursue a course at college or online only to be told none were available or i wasn't entitled.
It would be in my best interest to gain some kind of qualification however it is impossible to fund any courses from my own pocket sop what do i do? Is there anything out there for someone in my situation to get me into some kind of education?
Sorry for the long post but figured background might help in determining what is available
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Comments
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if you haven't already had a grant for Uni or college there is no reason why you can't go to college or uni, do a really good course though, you will get a grant and loan for living expenses and not need to pay it back until you are earning over £21k
Do a course that you can see a clear path to a career, don't just pick a random course such a Business, also maybe something that you can be self employed.
This will get you off benefits and help you in your future too.0 -
if you haven't already had a grant for Uni or college there is no reason why you can't go to college or uni, do a really good course though, you will get a grand and loan for living expenses and not need to pay it back until you are earning over £21k
Do a course that you can see a clear path to a career, don't just pick a random course such a Business, also maybe something that you can be self employed.
This will get you off benefits and help you in your future too.
How do i go about applying for these grants?
What about distance learning online? Is this just as good or is it second rate?0 -
CheapCheap wrote: »How do i go about applying for these grants?
What about distance learning online? Is this just as good or is it second rate?
the open uni is good but a real Uni is much better, an Open uni course can cost as much as a proper Uni so why miss out on all the extra help a teacher will be able o offer in the class room.
Easy, think of a career you want to do, many will say you need so many GCSE etc to get on but for those already left school don't normally need them, or you may need to do a foundation course which will get you up to speed for the degree course, Uni and colleges love adult learns, you will be surprised how easy it can be to get on these courses.
Once you work out what you want to do, ring the Uni and ask them what they require of you to get on the course.
As for claiming the grants etc, once you know the UNi and course, again the Uni will walk you through the process, it is really not a big deal, they do it day in day out.
Your biggest problem will be working out what to do.
Like I say pick the best course you can do, not just a crappy low lvl course.
Teacher training.
Nurse
Vet
Surveyor
pharmacy
Tree surgeon
Carpenter
etc
You can still claim housing benefit if your income is low, living expenses in the form of loans and grants can be around £6000 or more, which is more than JSA.0 -
the open uni is good but a real Uni is much better, an Open uni course can cost as much as a proper Uni so why miss out on all the extra help a teacher will be able o offer in the class room.
Easy, think of a career you want to do, many will say you need so many GCSE etc to get on but for those already left school don't normally need them, or you may need to do a foundation course which will get you up to speed for the degree course, Uni and colleges love adult learns, you will be surprised how easy it can be to get on these courses.
Once you work out what you want to do, ring the Uni and ask them what they require of you to get on the course.
As for claiming the grants etc, once you know the UNi and course, again the Uni will walk you through the process, it is really not a big deal, they do it day in day out.
Your biggest problem will be working out what to do.
Like I say pick the best course you can do, not just a crappy low lvl course.
Teacher training.
Nurse
Vet
Surveyor
pharmacy
Tree surgeon
Carpenter
etc
You can still claim housing benefit if your income is low, living expenses in the form of loans and grants can be around £6000 or more, which is more than JSA.
much appreciated0 -
You best get help with your university application. Even with a foundation course it won't be easy competing with other applicants, ones who are young, got good A levels, don't have any criminal records. It'll be easier applying for Open Uni to be honest.0
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You best get help with your university application. Even with a foundation course it won't be easy competing with other applicants, ones who are young, got good A levels, don't have any criminal records. It'll be easier applying for Open Uni to be honest.
are you kidding, when did a criminal record stop you from going on a uni course and adults don't tend to be asked for the same qualifications as school leavers, Uni are crying out for people to do these courses, they get paid for everyone they take on.
Some courses such as for Vet training, yes can be hard to get on but even that has an adult pathway to get on, which doesn't need A levels.0 -
are you kidding, when did a criminal record stop you from going on a uni course and adults don't tend to be asked for the same qualifications as school leavers, Uni are crying out for people to do these courses, they get paid for everyone they take on.
Some courses such as for Vet training, yes can be hard to get on but even that has an adult pathway to get on, which doesn't need A levels.
Universities don't need to give you a reason to reject you. You must declare criminal convictions when applying, and they'll give others the advantage because of this. Obviously they won't write OP out just because of this, but OP will need to write a really good personal statement... and a good personal statement is usually written when someone has a strong background to speak of.
And just because OP is an adult doesn't mean he has a free ticket over school leavers. He still needs A levels, or work experience plus some formal qualifications. Seems like he's lacking in both areas.
It's probably easier studying a HND at a college and after showing you have commitment and academic capability, supported with college references, then it's possible applying for uni to top up the HND into a degree.
I don't want to sound like a !!!!! but I think the HND route is going to be easier, and more realistic for OP based on his circumstances.
Can OP supply two good references for a uni application? If he got in the 'wrong side' of a case worker at the hostel, I'm not sure he'll get a decent reference from there.0 -
Universities don't need to give you a reason to reject you. You must declare criminal convictions when applying, and they'll give others the advantage because of this. Obviously they won't write OP out just because of this, but OP will need to write a really good personal statement... and a good personal statement is usually written when someone has a strong background to speak of.
And just because OP is an adult doesn't mean he has a free ticket over school leavers. He still needs A levels, or work experience plus some formal qualifications. Seems like he's lacking in both areas.
It's probably easier studying a HND at a college and after showing you have commitment and academic capability, supported with college references, then it's possible applying for uni to top up the HND into a degree.
I don't want to sound like a !!!!! but I think the HND route is going to be easier, and more realistic for OP based on his circumstances.
still needs A levels! no that is totally wrong, maybe for a law degree but for most everthing else an adult learner can be accepted without any qualification or just needs to do a foundation course, an A lever or O level or GCSE that was gotten 20 years ago is going to be all but useless now, this is the reason adult learner are not expected or asked to have these, and if the course is more vocational then even just an interview may be enough to get on the course.
No reason whats so ever for the OP to do only an HND, for some reason you think that he will get on a HND course with his criminal record but not a Uni course! he will have no problems getting on either.0 -
It depends on the kind of profession you want to go for but I personally think doing the university degree won't necessarily give you a job. There are lots of graduate who are unemployed after studying for four years. You might have a better prospect getting a job and lot less debt if you train yourself with NVQ and likes which would be much shorter course. You can always study a degree later even when you are in 50+.0
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still needs A levels! no that is totally wrong, maybe for a law degree but for most everthing else an adult learner can be accepted without any qualification or just needs to do a foundation course, an A lever or O level or GCSE that was gotten 20 years ago is going to be all but useless now, this is the reason adult learner are not expected or asked to have these, and if the course is more vocational then even just an interview may be enough to get on the course.
No reason whats so ever for the OP to do only an HND, for some reason you think that he will get on a HND course with his criminal record but not a Uni course! he will have no problems getting on either.
Let's see if OP manages to secure a uni place then. The sole reason an adult applicant is less scrutinized for formal qualifications is because they have work experience to substitute that. OP doesn't have this work experience.
The most important thing of course is getting those two references. OP will NOT be offered a place without references.0
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