Advice needed regarding Mandatory work experience

Flyonthewall

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I've been to see the advisor and I was really anxious about it. I told him that I'd found a placement before he had the opportunity of bringing up the MWA. He wasn't that helpful really but I think he isn't putting me on the MWA as yet. I've told him that I would prefer to try out some volunteering for a while. He said that I might still have to go on the MWA eventually.

Sadly the Job Centre really like MWA and Work Programmes. It makes them look like they're doing something. Only real way out of it is to sign off, but you don't want to be doing that without a job. So there's a good chance of one or the other coming up all too soon.

Don't worry though, you can keep on with the volunteering to put off MWA and the Work Programme is basically like signing on at the Job Centre except they go through CVs, cover letters, spec letters and that type of thing, although odd ones include volunteering (but you'd be doing that already) and they may try and get you to go on one of their "courses" (i.e. sitting in a room bored for a couple of hours) so you may have to firmly say no to that.

I felt very depressed today and I realised that reading all the replies was probably adding to that. I shouldn't have asked in the first place. Anyway, thank you for showing some intelligence in your replies. At least, there have been some nice replies today.

Problem is that JSA and the Job Centre aren't a liked topic on here and people have strong opinions. Add that to the fact text can sometimes be taken the wrong way and you end up with a thread like this. Try not to take things personally, people are just trying to help and you have had some good advice so focus on that and ignore the rest.

Andrea2528 wrote: »

After the job centre visit, I went to the place that I'm supposed to be volunteering at and it's really small. The person I was supposed to see regarding the position wasn't available. I spoke to the other person and I'm afraid I wasn't that impressed with the place. I'm hoping that if I go there, I will be able to find something else to go to that is more suitable. It's a bit of way to travel as well and I'm not sure they'll pay travel expenses. But I had to have something to tell the advisor, so should I stick to this placement or look for something else?

Only way you'll know about travel expenses is to ask. Job Centre won't help, but the company might.

I'd say stick with it for now. It's only a few hours and you may realise it's not as bad as you think! Give it a try and if it doesn't work out it's an experience, possibly a reference and you can be proud you gave it a go. Plus the Job Centre may ask for more details at some point so if they check up you'll save yourself problems there.

Nothing to stop you looking for other places too.

I've noticed online that there is volunteering that you can do from home. I wonder if the Job Centre would regard that as being suitable volunteering or would they expect me to go out of the home? I suppose I'll have to try and find out.

With volunteering online I'd use it as a way to gain experience and get a reference. The Job Centre probably wouldn't think to question whether it's online, you can just tell them who it's for and what you're doing (e.g. admin). However, you're less likely to find an online only job. Volunteering at a place will be a way to help you deal with the anxiety, volunteering at home won't and if you want to work you've got more chance at finding something if you're not just looking for online only jobs.

FBaby

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I've been there and told him anyway. I was relly anxious about because I was supposed to go to the volunteer place after that. Anyway, I went there and I don't think the placement will suit me, but I suppose I'll have to go there now after organisating it. I think I'm going to try and find something else though more suitable. I really want to get out of this situation.

What wasn't it about it that made it unsuitable? You only have a short visit and already you are focusing your energy on how you can get out of it rather than how you can try to be positive and see how it pans out.

Posters have been challenging, but I think in most cases it is to help you. You seem to think that only those posts that suggest ways to avoid confronting your anxiety are helpful. Maybe that's why counselling hasn't helped you so far. You need to be receptive to support that encourages you to face your anxieties rather than to avoid them. Why not try to give this volunteer opportunity a go with a genuine open mind? What have you got to lose doing so? If anything, at least it will keep your adviser satisfied for the time being, hence releasing some anxiety on that front.

Andrea2528

FBaby wrote: »

What wasn't it about it that made it unsuitable? You only have a short visit and already you are focusing your energy on how you can get out of it rather than how you can try to be positive and see how it pans out.

Posters have been challenging, but I think in most cases it is to help you. You seem to think that only those posts that suggest ways to avoid confronting your anxiety are helpful. Maybe that's why counselling hasn't helped you so far. You need to be receptive to support that encourages you to face your anxieties rather than to avoid them. Why not try to give this volunteer opportunity a go with a genuine open mind? What have you got to lose doing so? If anything, at least it will keep your adviser satisfied for the time being, hence releasing some anxiety on that front.

I know the difference between someone who is genuinely trying to be helpful and someone who thinks they're being helpful. I think I wrote that I'm going to try the volunteering regardless. Why do you think I haven't been receptive to counselling. I've been to see enough of them, including psychologists and they haven't been helpful

missbiggles1

Andrea2528 wrote: »

As I previously stated, it is not the same as shyness. If you Google social anxiety, you'll get plenty of information about it.

All the websites I looked at link shyness and social anxiety and what you've said about your reactions show that it's true in your case.

missbiggles1

fluffypaws wrote: »

job center advisers can incorrectly push there demands onto more vulnerable claimants, avoiding confrontation with more challenging customers, - as with the case here. If there are heath conditions this must be considered and a less robust approach should be taken. A volunteer position sounds like the best step - and the advisor agreed with this, but it seems the advisers sudden demands have made OP health worsen as she is worrying a lot about the MWA - which is stressful for anyone to cope with, as the compliance level is very high , OP was recently claiming ESA and this should be considered- I'm sure if OP talked with the Job Center Manager, her concerns would be listened to- and her agreement re-drafted to suit her current abilities.

It would be and he did but he won't have been expecting that to be for just a few hours a week when the OP feels up to it!

missbiggles1

Andrea2528 wrote: »

After the job centre visit, I went to the place that I'm supposed to be volunteering at and it's really small. The person I was supposed to see regarding the position wasn't available. I spoke to the other person and I'm afraid I wasn't that impressed with the place. I'm hoping that if I go there, I will be able to find something else to go to that is more suitable. It's a bit of way to travel as well and I'm not sure they'll pay travel expenses. But I had to have something to tell the advisor, so should I stick to this placement or look for something else?

I've noticed online that there is volunteering that you can do from home. I wonder if the Job Centre would regard that as being suitable volunteering or would they expect me to go out of the home? I suppose I'll have to try and find out.

Apart from getting the Jobcentre off your back (which it probably won't do anyway) how is volunteering from home going to help you to overcome your difficulties?

It's when you say things like this that people become less sympathetic as it sounds as if you're more concerned about continuing to claim JSA that you are about solving your problems.

Flyonthewall

missbiggles1 wrote: »

All the websites I looked at link shyness and social anxiety and what you've said about your reactions show that it's true in your case.

You can be shy and not have social anxiety and you can have social anxiety and not be shy.

Social anxiety affects people differently.

For some they just don't like being around groups of people, some may be fine in a group but not like presenting to a group, some may only be fine in groups of people they know, some are fine with those they know but struggle the moment they meet someone new, some are fine unless it's a public or unfamilar place etc.

Being shy is a common link because if you're already shy then any time when you have to be more social you're more likely to feel nervous if you don't feel comfortable. Having said that, being shy is different for people too much like the above.

FBaby

Why do you think I haven't been receptive to counselling.

Only because you've appeared on this thread to be more receptive to suggestions about avoiding confronting your anxieties than others and I know that one of the main reasons for failed counselling is to be focus on how something can't be done (avoidance) rather than on the methods to allow to take that step.

However I have no issue with you telling me I am totally off the mark as I don't know you and can only make assumptions based on what you've written. Either way, I do sincerely hope that you can move forward successfully so that you can gradually learn to cope with your anxieties so could can enjoy a life that can be more fulfilling.

Flyonthewall

There are 3 ways with dealing with anxiety.

1. Doing everything you can to overcome it and trying not to let it get to you.
Positive thinking, medication, counselling, CBT, diet (as in cutting down on sugar, alcohol and caffeine and drinking more water), relaxation techniques (e.g. lavendar and deep breathing to calm down) etc. Doing as much of the above as possible and not avoiding situations.

2. Finding ways to cope with it and gradually overcome it or at least manage to control it a little.
Not avoiding situations. Instead taking deep breaths to calm down, having something with lavendar on, using Bach products, taking medication, distracting yourself etc. Using one or more techniques to cope with the situation you're in and get through it.

Then there's the third one.
3. Coping with it, but never controlling it.
So avoiding certain situations to avoid getting anxious over them and leaving the second a situation makes you anxious.

By doing online work only you're doing number 3. By volunteering and leaving the house you're doing number 2. It's fine to do online volunteering, but not for the reason of not having to leave the house and deal face to face with others.