I attend a few support groups that are run by a mental health charity.
I get on well with the groups facilitator and she has asked me to seriously consider becoming a volunteer for one of the groups she runs. This particular group is about coping skills, and I have had a lot of therapy over the years so she feels I will be a useful resource as I can draw from my own experiences.
She sent me an application form, and I am stumped on the bit of form asking for the details of two people that can give character references. Can that be a friend? It says no family members.
The other has to be a professional one. I have not worked since 2010, and it was not an amicable split (I was fired, and I really should have fought my corner as I was treated terribly but I didn’t have the strength).
Has anyone that has not worked in a very long time had this same issue, and did you find a solution?
Also, I am on Universal Credit. Will have I have to inform them that I am starting a volunteer role? I am not yet sure if it will contradict the reasons I can not work. As I see it, I am already supported by this mental health charity so if I have a wobble whilst there, then I will be in the best place already. I think this 90 min a week volunteer role will be a good way to test things and maybe one day try for a part time job if the environment is right.