If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. For Crisis Support (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨
Please help us out!
We have our annual survey out, asking a few questions about you, your needs and preferences, and the impact of our services. It should take around 5-8 minutes and by completing it, you will be entered for a chance to win a £200 Love2Shop voucher (in line with our privacy policy)
Click here to fill out our survey.
We have our annual survey out, asking a few questions about you, your needs and preferences, and the impact of our services. It should take around 5-8 minutes and by completing it, you will be entered for a chance to win a £200 Love2Shop voucher (in line with our privacy policy)
Click here to fill out our survey.
Best Of
Re: Just want the pain to stop (Trigger Warning, mentions of suicide)
Hey @TheNightmare, we see and hear you. I know how challenging this time has been for you - you've been trying so hard to achieve this goal, and I'm sorry that things haven't worked out for you yet. Your feelings are valid - without feeling like we're getting towards a goal, without routine, and without the ability to do our hobbies, I can understand it's really frustrating on what you have to do to get a job and move forwards in your career.
I've said this before, but you have been making some progress, even if you haven't hit the milestone you were hoping for. You've been putting time and effort to seek roles, have put yourself out there for jobs, and now are looking for alternative experience through volunteering too. These are all great things to do, and while they aren't the milestone itself, you should be proud of yourself of taking these steps forwards. As you say, you're trying to make this work, and I'm really glad that you keep pushing on and trying - it's the harder path, but the right one for you to achieve your goal
Having said that, I can hear how this experience is painful for you. Feeling rejected and stuck is an awful feeling, and thank you for sharing that with us because it can often be hard to say that. And while that can only happen if you have a goal and are rebuffed in trying to achieve it, the feeling of frustration isn't discounted at all.
There is one other path you could consider. While stable, formal employment is the goal, have you considered self-employment? It's growing in popularity over time (though still in the minority), but there's a wide range of self-employment roles that could be of interest. It'd help you to gain experience and money, and give you some use of your free time, at least until you get the formal role that you're applying for. It might not earn as much, but it's something. Would that be something you'd consider, or have looked into?
I'm glad to hear that final sentence that you've said. You're absolutely right - it's hard to stay focused and determined with all these headwinds, yet you've continued to keep going forwards. Really well done for doing that when it might have been easier to just give up. And that last phrase, "surely something has to come up", contains hope. Keep holding on that, and that opportunity will come your way. I really hope you get something come up for you soon, because you've worked so hard and your efforts do deserve some return! Do let us know how things go, we're right here with you through this journey to support and listen
I've said this before, but you have been making some progress, even if you haven't hit the milestone you were hoping for. You've been putting time and effort to seek roles, have put yourself out there for jobs, and now are looking for alternative experience through volunteering too. These are all great things to do, and while they aren't the milestone itself, you should be proud of yourself of taking these steps forwards. As you say, you're trying to make this work, and I'm really glad that you keep pushing on and trying - it's the harder path, but the right one for you to achieve your goal
Having said that, I can hear how this experience is painful for you. Feeling rejected and stuck is an awful feeling, and thank you for sharing that with us because it can often be hard to say that. And while that can only happen if you have a goal and are rebuffed in trying to achieve it, the feeling of frustration isn't discounted at all.
There is one other path you could consider. While stable, formal employment is the goal, have you considered self-employment? It's growing in popularity over time (though still in the minority), but there's a wide range of self-employment roles that could be of interest. It'd help you to gain experience and money, and give you some use of your free time, at least until you get the formal role that you're applying for. It might not earn as much, but it's something. Would that be something you'd consider, or have looked into?
I'm glad to hear that final sentence that you've said. You're absolutely right - it's hard to stay focused and determined with all these headwinds, yet you've continued to keep going forwards. Really well done for doing that when it might have been easier to just give up. And that last phrase, "surely something has to come up", contains hope. Keep holding on that, and that opportunity will come your way. I really hope you get something come up for you soon, because you've worked so hard and your efforts do deserve some return! Do let us know how things go, we're right here with you through this journey to support and listen
1
Re: Universal Credit
Hey @Dancer - that's a good question, and one that apparently does cause some confusion with people so you're not alone! From my understanding, UC has a function that allows them to process a "faster payment" to make sure that UC is paid on time if there are bank holidays etc that might prevent payment on time. It'd make sense then that you might usually see this over the festive period when there are 3 bank holidays (Xmas Day, Boxing Day, NYD).
I had a look around for you and found that the Parliament website had the following wording in a question & response back in 2017 on this topic that included the following:
"The faster payment function in Universal Credit ensures that where there are insufficient banking days between the issuance of a UC payment via BACS and the date it is due, the service instead issues the payment using faster payment functionality automatically. This ensures that the UC award is paid to the claimant on time. This function additionally supports claimants receiving an advance payment and therefore no additional support will be required for new claimants over the festive period in respect of new claim advances."
Hope that helps to clear things up! But I'd suggest checking with Citizens Advice to be sure, they've probably seen these before and can give you a more confident answer!
I had a look around for you and found that the Parliament website had the following wording in a question & response back in 2017 on this topic that included the following:
"The faster payment function in Universal Credit ensures that where there are insufficient banking days between the issuance of a UC payment via BACS and the date it is due, the service instead issues the payment using faster payment functionality automatically. This ensures that the UC award is paid to the claimant on time. This function additionally supports claimants receiving an advance payment and therefore no additional support will be required for new claimants over the festive period in respect of new claim advances."
Hope that helps to clear things up! But I'd suggest checking with Citizens Advice to be sure, they've probably seen these before and can give you a more confident answer!
1
Re: i just would love a hug 💔 (potential trigger warning)
I’m so sorry eylah, you don’t deserve to be messed around at such a difficult time of year
Re: Noticed that the chatwee room is open but no rooms have been opened
Heeey @Amy22, can I check what you mean by 'the link is running'?
The direct link to the rooms will always work, but the rooms themselves may be closed or open depending on the time you go there.
Yesterday was just a daytime General Chat (5-6pm) and the usual schedule of support groups will be back this Sunday, so things will be working as expected then.
The direct link to the rooms will always work, but the rooms themselves may be closed or open depending on the time you go there.
Yesterday was just a daytime General Chat (5-6pm) and the usual schedule of support groups will be back this Sunday, so things will be working as expected then.
JustV
1
Re: Judgemental family
I'm really sorry you're feeling this way. Your choices are yours to make, and you have every right to live your life the way you see fit. It’s tough when people are judgmental, but stay true to yourself. The world would be a lot better if people weren’t so quick to judge others. You deserve respect for who you are and the decisions you make.
Re: i just would love a hug 💔 (potential trigger warning)
We’re here @eylah you’re doing so well 🫂🩷
Re: i just would love a hug 💔 (potential trigger warning)
@eylah sending you the biggest virtual hug that I can
How are you today Eylah? What have you been up to? Your tattoo ideas sound beautiful, I'm excited for you to get them 
briannat
1
Re: General chit chat
Thanks @TheNightmare you too as well I hope your having a good one.
Is it me or like I can access the link for chatwee group chat tonight even though I dont think the chat is running.
Is it me or like I can access the link for chatwee group chat tonight even though I dont think the chat is running.
Amy22
1


