Problems with references

[Phoenixwings1989]

Hello,

I've been out of work for a long time. No fault of my own. I had to step up to be a parent to my siblings while also showing symptoms of MS and undiagnosed Autism. I did try to attain work during that time but the stress of made my symptoms worse, so it was advised by my Jobcentre Advisor to go on full time sick to recover.

I never have as I was diagnosed with MS and Asperger's but as a result I'm at a loose end as I can't enter full-time education due to the conditions and the references I did have, are of no use now, so can't even volunteer without the red tape.

I am so depressed I feel like ending it all. I have spent ten years of my life writing in my free time as a way to keep myself distracted as well as looking after DD who is nearly 3. I love my DH and DD and my siblings but I can't bear to live a life without a career or professional life.

I just don't think I'm that good at anything.

Why can’t you go back into education?

They can be very accomodating.

I work in education. Most "full time" courses at both FE and HE levels are actually 2.5 days on site, but not necessarily constantly in class, the rest is self study, which you can work around your health.

Take a look.

Open university is an option too, just a bit of a long haul.

I did a foundation degree in the evenings via College, then a final Year evenings too, at Uni for the rest of the credits for my degree.

@Bard6817 Full-time education isn't an option as sadly I'm still in the support group as I'm disabled. I visited Jobcentre and they said I can't do it for that reason. I wish I could leave the support group but I know the stress that they'll put me under will be enough to send me straight back into it. I was with the Open University a few years after I took sick and I struggled with the work. But that was before I was diagnosed with Asperger's so didn't opt for support as thought I was OK back then.

@Azandme I've looked into this with a few colleges and they've all said the same as the Jobcentre. To do a full-time course I'd be penalised for it.

I did a course that the Job Centre paid for one day per week at a University College. I didn't need any qualifications or specific references and it was great for my confidence and I learnt so much. I work part time now.

Get back on the OU horse then. :)

Any credits you have will still be there and you can fit it around your other schedules.

Even if you don’t complete - it’s a great demonstration to any employer you have committment.

Can u do online free study with moocs they are widely recognised and free. Universities often recommend them some u then have to pay for certification but its something to put on a cv or find things you can do remotely from home.

www.mooc.org/

Or if you have writing skills already look at people per hour and the like. People bid for your work depending on what they need

www.peopleperhour.com/

If you are struggling with references for volunteering many volunteer placements will accept personal references from non related people

In fact volunteering positions are more likely to accept these because people who volunteer are sometimes mid/longer term unemployed people like yourself for various reasons (carers who no longer have someone they need to care for, people who have been off for years with kids, people with disabilities that have stopped them working etc)

Volunteering is actually one of the ways people build up 'professional' references as opposed to personal ones

If you are still under the care of the job centre, surely they would give you a reference if you want to volunteer?

Have you applied for any volunteer roles recently ?

Can the job centre provide you with some volunteer opportunities ?

@Bard6817 The Open University did seem ideal but they've since stopped doing free courses and operate on the same basis as residential universities, so I'd be in debt and that terrifies me. Especially seeing as studying is not my strong point which is another reason I wouldn't feel comfortable to get into debt. And I'm not sure how good the disability support is, either. I am under an organisation called MAIN that supports autistic people like myself and they can offer support for volunteering but the waiting list is 6 months. And I am doubtful they'll be able to help at all.

@MyKitchenRules I will have a look at moocs. I've not heard of them before. Thank you for the recommendation :)

@Letitrainletitrainletitrain yes, it says this online as well but when I put myself for volunteering roles they always say they only accept professional ones as personal ones can be fraudulent in the way of them not being truthful which is crazy to me but not so to them apparently.

@WhyIsthatdogwearingshoes123 heh, you'd think so, wouldn't you? My so called advisor said that he can't provide a reference for me as I don't attend interviews with him since being in the support group, so he feels he can't give them an honest answer.
I've not applied for any volunteer jobs because I know I will fall at the first hurdle with supplying references. They said they could provide volunteering opportunities but without references it would be useless 😪.

Setting aside the health issues, there are many volunteering roles and few require professional references. So perhaps you are looking to the wrong kind of opportunities? Most areas have a Volunteer Bureau which acts as a clearing house for volunteering, so you could speak to them. Volunteering as a route back into work is commonplace and many thousands of people who have no professional references do it every year. I cannot see how you are any different, except in that your health may limit certain activities. But again that is far from uncommon.

I've only had personal references to enable me to take up volunteer roles in last few years.
Which organisations, what kinds of roles, are you volunteering for ?