You can't get dole while on a course

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yes!


No! LESS!!!

The £600 are the tuition fees - that's the bit you WOULDN'T pay!!!

Now you're confusing me and I'm going home

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

No worries!

I'm going out again now for a bit anyway!

Permission granted

 

[Thimble Queen]

Someone else may have already said this... but some courses fees are waived if you are on benefits or you just have to pay like a tenner or something in admin fees...

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Someone else may have already said this... but some courses fees are waived if you are on benefits or you just have to pay like a tenner or something in admin fees...

but the course would be an intensive 8-week course which means he wouldn't be entitled to benefits as he's not available for work

 

[sheothebudworths]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand back to the beginning we go!

Morning Minnie

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand back to the beginning we go!

Morning Minnie

Not my fault. Blame my brother. Poor thing's totally confuddled as to what to do now.

This is the latest off him. (I am nagging him to try using commas, and I told him where the full stop was on the keyboard).

not sure how it happened, but went to vso when i was younger, ended up working for save the children for 2 years in tower hamlets London, there told you both really differcult if over 30 to get a grant, that's why people use there redundancy and the poxy goverments whoever is in con artist or labour till you die, hope that you do use your own money

keep it coming. every little helps, what i need is a college that does construction courses, last person at civic benfleet just said we dont do that, right miserable sod.

 

[sheothebudworths]

Yeah construction courses is right, but like I said, tiling is not a particularly usual course to find even at a college that does do trades iyswim...

Read feyr's post again HERE and get him to try those first, to see if they can him give a list of ALL the courses available in his area (or failing that, hopefully at least some that are at colleges nearby).








(Btw - it was MsDarlingKiss's post I was on about in my last post )

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yeah construction courses is right, but like I said, tiling is not a particularly usual course to find even at a college that does do trades iyswim...

Read feyr's post again HERE and get him to try those first, to see if they can him give a list of ALL the courses available in his area (or failing that, hopefully at least some that are at colleges nearby).


(Btw - it was MsDarlingKiss's post I was on about in my last post )

Forgot to add this:

someone already does them around here, thats the problem i'm having finding college tiling courses do loads of other stuff but when you ask about tiling they just say none available they don't do that, that's why these training centers seem to be doing them, the one i visited the guys said out of all the courses tiling is the quietest, therefore its the gap and yes lots of people can tile but they don't know the inner workings, everyone can get in a car lots cant drive is the way they put it.

There was only one based in Essex on Feyr's link

 

[sheothebudworths]

There was only one based in Essex on Feyr's link

Sorry - I meant he should actually CALL THEM AND ASK!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sorry - I meant he should actually CALL THEM AND ASK!

I think he has, if you can decipher this

tried a few they all end up saying , join us we can get you started, been on to colleges around here forget it, one said shouldn't be saying anything but if you got the money use it to get on a training center as you will learn more quicker and can put it in to use, and he doesn't know of any grants for someone my age plus you have to be unemployed for six months minimum and those are just government cop outs,

spoke to ableskills said interested in doing tiling but want qualifications as well they suggested after doing the first tiling course review what you want to do possibly do multi craft spoke about half hour different combination's they said they can adjust or switch at any time and multi is the way lots are going. aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ha

 

[feyr]

I know what CSCS is, I sat there testing a friend of mine the night before his exam! I think maybe he's just thinking of the cost of taking the CSCS and getting the card, and I think it's probably a bit more than you say unless your employer pays for the exam and your card.

So does your brother actually know anyone who went with Able Skills?

just spoken to my brother, and as far as he knows, none of his mates chose ableskills, but prob because they were all young enough and lucky enough to get other options like colleges/apprentiships etc

I think he has, if you can decipher this

one thing my brother did say was that a lot of his mates who do tiling, did it as a side to another crafttype like kitchen fitting, plumbing etc. which i suppose would been demand for a stand alone tiler would deminish

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I think I'm swaying him away from the tiling option and he may be leaning towards plumbing now

 

[sheothebudworths]

I think I'm swaying him away from the tiling option and he may be leaning towards plumbing now

I reckon that's a much better idea!

Should be far, far easier for him to find a good course at a college and get it heavily subsidised, if not free...and as feyr says, the fact that there AREN'T so many tiling courses is probably cos it's not a skill that's so sought after on it's own.

And do remind him what I said about the ex having no quals either, so he shouldn't pay too much attention to them requesting gcse's etc - it doesn't apply to older students so much (and the tutors know that generally the older students have far more commitment to the course than the younger ones)

He'd get on one no prob I'd say.

Only thing with doing a college one though would be that he'd probably have to wait till Sep to start.

They do start them in January too at my place, so he might be able to slip into one late if there are any places, but then he'd be starting from behind, so I'm not sure how keen they'd be about that.

And ofcourse he's looking at longer than a few weeks to become qualified, too.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I reckon that's a much better idea!

Should be far, far easier for him to find a good course at a college and get it heavily subsidised, if not free...and as feyr says, the fact that there AREN'T so many tiling courses is probably cos it's not a skill that's so sought after on it's own.

And do remind him what I said about the ex having no quals either, so he shouldn't pay too much attention to them requesting gcse's etc - it doesn't apply to older students so much (and the tutors know that generally the older students have far more commitment to the course than the younger ones)

He'd get on one no prob I'd say.

Only thing with doing a college one though would be that he'd probably have to wait till Sep to start.

They do start them in January too at my place, so he might be able to slip into one late if there are any places, but then he'd be starting from behind, so I'm not sure how keen they'd be about that.

And ofcourse he's looking at longer than a few weeks to become qualified, too.

then again, he's also looking at something that encompasses everything, but I've asked him if he really wants to be a Jack or a Master.

Also not sure if he's looking at the installing boilers/central heating or hand down the bog type of plumbing. Obviously boiling/central heating means he'd need to know electrics/gas/plumbing etc. which I think would take longer and more money.

He's had a day off from thinking as it was doing his brain in

 

[sheothebudworths]

Awwwwwwwwwww....

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Awwwwwwwwwww....

Just emailed him to see how he's doing and he said

"going through the lack of confidence stage"

He's a very shy person - like me

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

He has said:

yes, i think i need to do something, maybe get some books from the library, so its not so scary, and make sure i can crawl, before i try running, the course people said they like to train new people from scratch, do you think getting the books would help or hinder me

What do you think? Would it be a good idea or would he be getting ahead of himself and be thinking ahead of where he would be at certain stages of the course IFSWIM? Or would it make things he learned on the course stick better if he was familiar with the terms/equipment etc.

Haven't explained myself very well have I, but I know what I mean

 

[sheothebudworths]

Just emailed him to see how he's doing and he said

"going through the lack of confidence stage"

He's a very shy person - like me

Oh no!!!

I was REALLY, REALLY, REALLY scared about doing mine...first of all going for the interview (bright red/stammering/cold sweat etc LOL) and then, starting the course!!!

As well as being prone to getting myself really fucking anxious about that sort of thing, I was also a 38 year old woman starting a course that was likely to be solely taken up by men in their early 20's, so I was shitting it!

I mean, I could've walked away very easily on the day I started cos I was in such a state.

As it happened there were a few older blokes too and also (much to my relief! ) another woman and our group is really friendly and positive and everyone encourages each other etc...but I totally understand his anxiety.

The way I chose my course, was to go through the prospectus and discount all the things I definitely DIDN'T want to do! Sounds really stupid, I know but maybe that would be worth a try (within the trades stuff that he already knows he's interested in, I mean)?!

Also I know that any of the tutors who work in my department would've been really approachable by someone who just wanted a bit of guidanc before making any decisions, so I guess he could call up the relevant department and see if he could go and have an informal chat with someone.

They'd have a very, very good idea of what skills would be the most transferable and definitely be able to make his decision much easier...and the decision about whether to go for a faster/immediate private course or wait etc.


Please tell him not to pay any attention to the lack of confidence thing though ...and just to deal with one thing at a time.
He WILL NOT regret it once he starts, I'm sure.

Like I said - it's very very well recognised that it's only the younger students who have any problem with motivation etc.

Pretty much all of the older students are there because they're committed to learning the new course, so they'll be more than keen to take him on.
It's much better for them to have people there who actually want to learn, than who're just there cos their mum told them they have to do a course or get a job!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Oh no!!!

I was REALLY, REALLY, REALLY scared about doing mine...first of all going for the interview (bright red/stammering/cold sweat etc LOL) and then, starting the course!!!

As well as being prone to getting myself really fucking anxious about that sort of thing, I was also a 38 year old woman starting a course that was likely to be solely taken up by men in their early 20's, so I was shitting it!

I mean, I could've walked away very easily on the day I started cos I was in such a state.

As it happened there were a few older blokes too and also (much to my relief! ) another woman and our group is really friendly and positive and everyone encourages each other etc...but I totally understand his anxiety.

The way I chose my course, was to go through the prospectus and discount all the things I definitely DIDN'T want to do! Sounds really stupid, I know but maybe that would be worth a try (within the trades stuff that he already knows he's interested in, I mean)?!

Also I know that any of the tutors who work in my department would've been really approachable by someone who just wanted a bit of guidanc before making any decisions, so I guess he could call up the relevant department and see if he could go and have an informal chat with someone.

They'd have a very, very good idea of what skills would be the most transferable and definitely be able to make his decision much easier...and the decision about whether to go for a faster/immediate private course or wait etc.


Please tell him not to pay any attention to the lack of confidence thing though ...and just to deal with one thing at a time.
He WILL NOT regret it once he starts, I'm sure.

Like I said - it's very very well recognised that it's only the younger students who have any problem with motivation etc.

Pretty much all of the older students are there because they're committed to learning the new course, so they'll be more than keen to take him on.
It's much better for them to have people there who actually want to learn, than who're just there cos their mum told them they have to do a course or get a job!

I don't think it's lack of confidence in doing the course itself, it's more that he's a totally shy, and very much a loner type of guy anyway who lacks confidence full stop, not with the course itself.

I've told him that doing this and sticking with it might be a boost to his confidence and make him a more confident person overall

 

[sheothebudworths]

Ah re. your last post....ok - should have expanded....when I was talking about the tutors knowing older staudents tend to be more motivated etc....that has FUCK ALL to do with any expectation that you'll have any prior knowledge and I never once felt stupid for asking questions. A good practicla tutor would actually make him feel that asking as much as he needed to do was totally appropriate!
If it's not a course where he needed any previous experience then y'know - take that as read!

My course is a mixed course with some people doing the NVQ and some of us doing an alternative (off site) qualification, so obviously there are people working in the trade at the moment, who cam in with some prior knowledge (some lots, some a little)...but then again there are plenty of us with no previous expereience whatsoever.

We all have the same practical handbook, but we work through it at our own pace. The tutor encourages you to spend as long as you want or need to on each project.

I was very worried about my inexperience before I started (I'd barely picked up a saw since school ) but it's been a complete non-issue.


I suppose it wouldn't do any harm, except that he might learn it 'wrong' and then have to relearn it...or it might frighten him even more! Lots of the stuff we've done looked far more complicated written down than it did once it'd been explained iyswim.

Best that he knows that it's extremely likely that there will be plenty of othe people in exactly the same position as him and that if it says it's from scratch, then it is!

Also - with the theory classes, the teacher we have for that goes at the pace of the people who need the most help iyswim...and again, everyone helps each other.

So all he should focus on, is whether he is motivated enough to want to learn a new skill, or not (and he sounds totally motivated to me)!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Ah re. your last post....ok - should have expanded....when I was talking about the tutors knowing older staudents tend to be more motivated etc....that has FUCK ALL to do with any expectation that you'll have any prior knowledge and I never once felt stupid for asking questions. A good practicla tutor would actually make him feel that asking as much as he needed to do was totally appropriate!
If it's not a course where he needed any previous experience then y'know - take that as read!

My course is a mixed course with some people doing the NVQ and some of us doing an alternative (off site) qualification, so obviously there are people working in the trade at the moment, who cam in with some prior knowledge (some lots, some a little)...but then again there are plenty of us with no previous expereience whatsoever.

We all have the same practical handbook, but we work through it at our own pace. The tutor encourages you to spend as long as you want or need to on each project.

I was very worried about my inexperience before I started (I'd barely picked up a saw since school ) but it's been a complete non-issue.


I suppose it wouldn't do any harm, except that he might learn it 'wrong' and then have to relearn it...or it might frighten him even more! Lots of the stuff we've done looked far more complicated written down than it did once it'd been explained iyswim.

Best that he knows that it's extremely likely that there will be plenty of othe people in exactly the same position as him and that if it says it's from scratch, then it is!

Also - with the theory classes, the teacher we have for that goes at the pace of the people who need the most help iyswim...and again, everyone helps each other.

So all he should focus on, is whether he is motivated enough to want to learn a new skill, or not (and he sounds totally motivated to me)!

Yes, that's what I'm worried about, that'll he'll have seen something done a certain way in a book and the tutors might show him a different way and he'll question them and they'll think he's being difficult

I told him

Not really sure. I suppose it could help things like materials/equipment/terminology easier to understand when you start the course, but it might make you start questioning them because you've read this and that effectively making you want to start running before you can walk. Of course, you could make it a rule with yourself to put things to the back of your mind whilst on the course itself (ie. HOW to do certain things) but keep the terminology/equipment/materials in mind making it easier to understand whilst tutors are teaching you IFSWIM?!

 

[sheothebudworths]

I don't think it's lack of confidence in doing the course itself, it's more that he's a totally shy, and very much a loner type of guy anyway who lacks confidence full stop, not with the course itself.

I've told him that doing this and sticking with it might be a boost to his confidence and make him a more confident person overall

Yeah well that applied to me before I started too iyswim.

I mean seriously, the idea of all the interview and then all those new people made me feel paralysed with anxiety....but the nerves didn't last much longer than the first day, because you're there to learn and you have plenty enough to be concentrating on as it is, so worrying about chatting to other people kind of falls away.

I think I imagined that they'd all be boistorous, loud, young, builder types (whatever the fuck that means ) but that wasn't the case at all.

He just mustn't let his own fear put him off doing it y'know? I'm positive if he sees it through, he'll find himself at a point where he'll definitely be wondering what he was worrying about...and yeah just gaining confidence from how well he actually manages it and also from the fact that he's learning new stuff all the time, which is great.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I suppose it wouldn't do any harm, except that he might learn it 'wrong' and then have to relearn it...or it might frighten him even more! Lots of the stuff we've done looked far more complicated written down than it did once it'd been explained iyswim.

So all he should focus on, is whether he is motivated enough to want to learn a new skill, or not (and he sounds totally motivated to me)!

This is another thing I suppose. Some people learn better by books/instruction manuals whereas some people learn better by seeing things done. I'm the latter, I have no time whatsoever for manuals etc. - I prefer to be shown - call my lazy if you like

Manuals I think can also sometimes make things sound more complicated than they are which I why I mentioned maybe just learning the terminology/equipment etc. rather than the "how to" aspects of a book

 

[sheothebudworths]

Well I thought I should do that at the very least too (names of tools etc) buti didn't bother in the end and again, it's made no difference (and in fact I still call them 'the scribey thing with the nail on ' or 'the thick chisel for locks ' or whatever ).

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Well I thought I should do that at the very least too (names of tools etc) buti didn't bother in the end and again, it's made no difference (and in fact I still call them 'the scribey thing with the nail on ' or 'the thick chisel for locks ' or whatever ).

do you have a left-handed scribey thing with the nail on?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Have been relaying your comments to him saying I was speaking to someone online

He said:

thanks to your mate that helps , its just me not believing in myself. as i said before done bit of basic electrics and repairs rewiring etc and also minor maintenance which was hands on and learnt how to use tools, e.g. got cordless drill well nice good power, but totally shit for practical use crap chuck plastic not metal and it weights a ton,

Also said he was bored in the meantime.

I told him to get the dole to put him on a course as they love nothing better. I said he could be put on a computer course and might learn where apostrophes and commas were on the keyboard

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Also asked him how long before he got redundancy

don,t really know was made redundant on the 10th February paperwork was all to be handed back to liquidators by the 13 th from everyone so now have to just wait now. they said between 4 and 8 weeks

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

sheo - I didn't ask you what kind of course you're on?

Plumbing?

 

[sheothebudworths]

Site carpentry!

But really, he's not to worry! He WILL NOT be the only one feeling like that - lots of other people will be feeling very nervous too and also lots of other people will have even less experience than him (ie NONE!)!

Tell him he's totally welcome re the advice but I'll take that straight back if I hear he bottles out of applying!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Site carpentry!

But really, he's not to worry! He WILL NOT be the only one feeling like that - lots of other people will be feeling very nervous too and also lots of other people will have even less experience than him (ie NONE!)!

Tell him he's totally welcome re the advice but I'll take that straight back if I hear he bottles out of applying!

I emailed him posts about the qualifications as he IS also now looking into college courses.

plumbing require gcse english and maths, think they just need you to know the basics really.

i wouldn't know not had much to do with that side of things, just been on to job enquires as i have no qualifications, to see if they have something that would be like a I.Q. test to see if i can go through the back route to qualify for certain jobs or courses.

and also looks like he's got himself confused about NVQs (if you can decipher this!)

hi just been talking to learn direct, they saying that i can train at college much cheaper takes a year then have to be employed on site then assessed on site for NVQ, Able skills after reading it again and with learn direct, i will only have a technical skills certificate not the actual NVQ, and would not be able to go into peoples houses, as i would not be able to get insurance, and they were saying indirectly save your money, i did say the way it was written i wasn't sure, they said those courses are really for those who are already doing the job, and due to legislation need to get certified. so what is plan D