Tired of JSA

GMbabies

denla wrote: »

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.

But if OP were to go to uni and perhaps do a part-time work or even a voluneering work (perhaps once a week for 3 months etc), those places should be able to provide him with the reference he need so it's may be not that hard. Charity organisations are always looking for volunteers.

sniggings

denla wrote: »

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.

No, as how can you have work experience for a job you yet need to train to do, the work experience as you put it is not work experience but LIFE experience, that is the reason they don't get asked for qualifications, because they will be more mature than the average school leaver, all the OP needs for many courses is to pass an interview, if they show they are keen and mature, they will get on the course or be asked to do a foundation course.

I think you are only here to put off the OP for some unknown reason, I'm now not going to reply to you any more.

OP ignore this guy as he clearly has something against those trying to turn their life around, trust me, getting on a course is very easy to do.

marybelle01

sniggings wrote: »

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

I have a tremendous amount of admiration for the OP wanting to turn their life around after such a bad start. So it is relatively crucial that they take advice from someone who knows what they are talking about. Which, based on this post, Sniggings doesn't. There is not a single degree / university course in "carpentry" or "tree surgery" in the UK. so it will be difficult to choose such courses since they do not exist at university level. And of the other suggestions (with the possible exception of surveyor) the OP has not a cat in hells chance of being accepted for training, or of obtaining employment in those fields anytime in the next decade, if ever. A five year sentence is an extremely serious conviction; their parole failed not once, but twice; and although the OP does not mention any other convictions, it is exceptional (and very serious) if someone is given a custodial sentence for a first offence, so there may be other convictions behind this. This is all going to look really marvellous on the mandatory CRB check for these professions, and this conviction will never be spent for the purposes of any of them.

sniggings wrote: »

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.

There are very few circumstances in which students can claim housing benefit, even if their income is low. There is no evidence that the OP falls into any of these categories.


OP. I do think that persuing some qualifications is an excellent idea. It certainly won't harm your employability, and whilst you are out of work it will give you some useful occupation. But it is not a solution to your problems, and nor is any qualification going to be a passport to employment. You know you made some bad decisions, and those are going to haunt you for a very long time. In terms of some possible choices, possibly for ever. There are some choices that will simply never be available to you now, or if they might be, they will be so far in the distant future before your record is not a barrier, as to be useless to think about for now.

You are going to have to work harder to achieve something with your life, and you are going to have to accept that it won't be easy and that there will be knockbacks.

Specialised support is available to you, and I would suggest that you avail yourself of every bit of help available, from advice on employment to advice on courses and support available. There are often local organisations that can help with this, but a good starting point would be the Apex Trust (http://www.apextrust.com/apexhome.asp), NACRO (http://www.nacro.org.uk/), and the St Giles Trust (http://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/). Your local college may be able to help too - whilst you are out of work some courses may be free for you, and you are allowed to study provided you are still available for work and do a limited number of hours (I think it's no more than 16 hours, but they would advise you on this too).

I would also suggest talking to your local volunteer bureau about whether there are volunteering opportunities available to you. There will be a number of opportunities that are not available to you because of your criminal record, but there will be some that will be possible. They aren't likely to be at the more "glamorous" end of volunteering, but will give you an opportunity to prove yourself if you stick at it.

Good luck.

dizzyrascal

To the OP, please disregard everything sniggings has written however well meaning. Marybelle01 has posted much better and more relevant information for someone in your circumstances.
Because of your background there will be areas that you won't ever be able to work in. Teaching and becoming a solicitor are completely out of contention. Becoming a vet is a silly suggestion too because you need to show a history of high academic achievement AND a total commitment to the work, not to mention the very high level of competition to even get on the course.
I think you need to spend some time deciding what you can do and how you can apply that to a career. You will need to do some study if you hope to go to university so I would suggest you start at a low level to get yourself in the swing for longer term study. perhaps a gcse or a short OU course.
Also, get yourself some volunteering. That way you can start to find out where your skills and passions lie and you can start thinking about how to forge a career that can fit in with your specific background. You will need help to achieve all this so please follow Marybell01's links.

flutterbyuk25

How old are you?

thegirlintheattic

Going to university isn't a guaranteed ticket to a job. It is a particularly bad idea for someone who will struggle to find a job (even with a degree), who is by their own admission not academic and doesn't have a particular career in mind. It maybe something to consider in a few years time but not now.

As for some of the careers suggested, many will be difficult if not impossible for someone with a conviction and prison time (5 yrs for 1st offence indicates a serious crime). Teaching, nursing, pharmacy, vet all out. Universities do ask about criminal convictions as well, and it will work against you in selection.

Universities are not crying out for students, many have had caps placed on them and so are looking for exceptional candidates. The government is trying to reduce the number going to university and this is the first year that is kicking in.

Maybe look at local college courses (either full or part-time) to boast your qualifications or in something like mechanics. Many charge no or very reduced fees for those on JSA.

denla

GMbabies wrote: »

But if OP were to go to uni and perhaps do a part-time work or even a voluneering work (perhaps once a week for 3 months etc), those places should be able to provide him with the reference he need so it's may be not that hard. Charity organisations are always looking for volunteers.

Here we are encouraging OP to apply for uni but now you say oh it's easy to get voluntary work... If OP tries to get voluntary work he'll be competing against graduates with decent extra curricular activities. And he needs TWO references. Do you even realise how difficult it is to secure a voluntary job nowadays?

And to the other user commenting on 'life experiences', well, I'll let you help OP find something positive to talk about when writing his personal statement in his uni application.

The realistic thing to do is apply for a college course or successfully secure a voluntary job for several months at least. You'll need to prove you can commit yourself to something. Just saying oh you've changed and you have so much life experience learning past mistakes won't cut it. Show you've achieved something positive.

denla

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Going to university isn't a guaranteed ticket to a job. It is a particularly bad idea for someone who will struggle to find a job (even with a degree), who is by their own admission not academic and doesn't have a particular career in mind. It maybe something to consider in a few years time but not now.

As for some of the careers suggested, many will be difficult if not impossible for someone with a conviction and prison time (5 yrs for 1st offence indicates a serious crime). Teaching, nursing, pharmacy, vet all out. Universities do ask about criminal convictions as well, and it will work against you in selection.

Universities are not crying out for students, many have had caps placed on them and so are looking for exceptional candidates. The government is trying to reduce the number going to university and this is the first year that is kicking in.

Maybe look at local college courses (either full or part-time) to boast your qualifications or in something like mechanics. Many charge no or very reduced fees for those on JSA.

Finally, someone who isn't naive like the others.

nimbo

Hi,

is it the case that you have no qualifications at all?

If So I would highly recommend looking at local colleges that may offer good opportunities for you to get some qualifications that you feel would relate to the area of work you may wish to do...

Do you have any specific wishes dreams or ideas? I mean maybe astronaut is off the cards, but think what might interest you, although be warned that many people have to settle for jobs at least several rungs down the ladder form their ideal... (I was aiming to be George Clooney's wife but ya know we all have to settle sometimes)...

A criminal record may not stop you from doing anything (depending what it was for). I am on a social work degree and even though we are subject to enhanced CRB's there are still people who have criminal records although not for violence against vulnerable people for example.

Access to getting GCSE's at a college should be easy enough to get for at least English and maths... (if the course is going to be of the same level try to aim for something that is recognised as this will stand you in goo stead of you wish to go on to do other courses)... Get in touch ASAP as you may still be able to enrol for this September - and even part time it will engage your brain. WARNING I did science as an evening GCSE and the younger students could be slightly annoying - one woman transferred into the evening course as the daytime students were total *****. Don't be put off if they don't want to learn. Remember you are getting something out of the experience.

If the job centre are little help then call the college direct. People in my local town library are really helpful, and can sometimes be a really useful source of knowledge about places of learning local to you...

On direct Gov about half way down the page there is a link woth a free phone number for adult learners...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained/DG_10039024

I'm based in South Yorkshire and we have a wonderful place called Northern College (see link below) they offer all sorts of courses aimed at different levels to all people. They had live in places (enrolment is probably closed for this year now, but they may have something similar where you are based)...

http://www.northern.ac.uk/content/?id=31

I would say what ever courses you wish to enrol on try t get one that is going to lead to something practically... (going back to what do you want to do)?

So maybe aim for something like social work a hands on practical course (they would consider the criminal record before allowing you to enrol as if it would stop you getting employment after graduation then it would be pointless you doing it)...
Or something to do with Youth Justice, or YOT...
Nursing,
Some kind of grown up version of an apprenticeship? Although even a crud one paying less than £3 an hour would at least be teaching you the joys of brick laying or plastering?
Counselling?

Where do you feel that your experiences could prove to be useful?

Don't get disheartened, and ignore the crappy job centre staff - some of them can be great others just seem to have given up. (It must be really depressing for them knowing that there are no jobs, and that they can't really help anyone)...

nimbo

CheapCheap wrote: »

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.

I'm not trying to be judgemental but go to the oldstyle board.

They have a weight loss thread - it's good to suffer with other people helping you out...

They will also be able to give you ideas about improving your diet, and how best to budget when it comes to shopping... They are really nice and generally don't bite. Again we sometimes know what we should do but it's nice to have support to get it done.

Ask your doctor for help (do not take tablets as they make you poo your pants - my sister tried them it was really funny for me but not so much for her) in the area I live in they are able to refer people to Slimming world for 12 weeks - it can work wonders a guy in our group lost 9.5 stone. my sister lost 5.5 stone (I stopped going but have still lost nearly 2 stone)... even if they can't refer you they may be able to help - it's nice to have support.