Volunteering / Work Experience / Free Courses

gillykms

Hi All,

My brother is 43 and has been unemployed for around the last 5 years. He has done a bit of gardening work to keep him going but over the past years he has begun to suffer mental health problems (in part due to the stress of being unemployed & having very little money) and so he has very nearly stopped any work he was doing. I am really worried of what will become of him. He just sits in his house all day wasting away which is so sad because he was intelligent and I would really like to help him get back on track.

He did some volunteering at a local festival which he seemed to enjoy & he got out to meet people and I'd like to find any sort of 'free' work related activities he could get involved in such as those below:

-Can anyone recommend some good things to volunteer at?
-What sort of workplace schemes are there for someone to do a placement these days? (Do they even exist for someone in their 40's?)
-Are there many free talks about setting up your own business, maybe like some of the events Invest NI offer, I think it would get him out of the house and give him something to think about.
-Free courses would be good too - are there be any schemes gaining any new qualifications at little or no cost?

I'd really like to help him in get back out there again and overcome what he's dealing with at the minute. All advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mr_Bun

Hi,sorry to hear your brother is having a bad time:(
What area are you/he in?

[Deleted User]

You've posted in the N. Ireland board so I'm guessing that's also where your brother is based?

this website seems to be a bank of volunteer opportunities in NI, and you can search by post code to see what is available near him, and you can also narrow it down by his interests.

http://www.volunteernow.co.uk/

I think grants/loans for education/courses will depend on several factors (e.g. what, if any, qualifications he has already, what the course is, what is available locally etc) he would be best speaking to someone at the local college about funding if there is a course that he is interested in.

Sorry I can't be of much help - but I hope things pick up for your brother soon.

D9

gillykms

We are in a very small boring town in Co. Down. One of those depressing places most people try to get out of!

mezza101

a couple of websites that might be helpful;

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/employment/jobseekers.htm

http://www.communityni.org/

http://www.amh.org.uk/

jellynose

This might interest him:

http://www.communityni.org/opportunity/homeplus-diy-volunteer#.UjwUGdI3vQs

Our homeless Drop-In Centre is looking for a volunteer to help with tasks such as painting and decorating, tiling, putting up shelving, fixing broken furniture etc. if needed, and cleaning and stocking of the outreach van.

This is on Communityni that mezza101 mentioned

thefreckle

MOOCs seem to be the up and coming way to study - I've been tempted for a while to give a few of them ago...

Wikipedia for some background...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course

The BBC take on it...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23069542

And then dive in and see what you want to do...
http://www.mooc-list.com/

suseb_99

Hi,

I don't know what experience your brother has but the health service are recruiting at the minute for NI.
It's only a band 2 but the opportunities for internal promotion are great.
here is a link :

http://www.hscrecruit.com/job_details.aspx?Job_Reference_No=72213083

Hope he gets something soon x

danih

When I moved to omagh I only knew my partners family. I was doing irregular as and when work for the first 3 years, which make poor environment to get to know people. All my own friends and family are least an hours drive. At the time I couldn't drive, most of my family still don't.

2 things really helped. I got a v sad, rescue dog whom I walk every day. Its amazing how many people stop you to chat cos of a dog. Neighbours and other dog walkers, random people in the street. Thanks purely to Max I have a lovely friendly relationship with my neighbours, and other dog loving locals. Dogs are also known to be great at lifting your mood.

The second thing was to start volunteering with the order of Malta. We learn first aid skills, and provide first aid cover at local events - sports, music festivals, car rallys, horse riding for the disabled, funfairs. I have also had some of the best social nites out of my life, and made friends for life. I got engaged at one of these events (my non member partners choise) and invited the unit to my wedding.

The order of malta has a unit on dromore, co down. Can be contacted via facebook.