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Help with courses?

Big Jane

Hi.

I am wanting to do a course but it's expensive.  They all seem expensive.  Expensive for me, anyway, since I'm just on benefits.  I think this one could help me get a job, and that's what I want.  But I can't afford it.

So I was wondering, does anybody know of how to get funds and stuff like that?  I tried searching on the internet but all the results seem to be for children, or else nothing to do with autism.  I also am not 25 or under, which seems to be a barrier to a lot of these things (I'm 29... I guess that means I'm not a "young person" any more).

I just want to DO something.  So fed up of scrambling around for job scraps and getting nothing.  This course sounds to me like something I could at least be doing about it!  Progress!  But, well... £2500 at cheapest, no way I could ever save that up.

Having to let opportunities pass me by because I can't afford to take them is making me bitter and resentful, and that's just against my character.  :(  If I will never break out of this endless benefit trap then what kind of life will I ever be able to have?

  • Hello everyone

    I have posted below the link for the NAS helpline.  If you ring them they may be able to provide advice about where to go to get help / funding for courses that you want to go on.  I am not sure if there are any government grants for courses but I am sure that the helpline will be able to provide you with some information which might help.

    Good luck

    ColinCat

    http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/advice-and-information-services/autism-helpline.aspx

  • Thanks for the replies!  I've since found out that the course's promises of employment afterwards aren't what they cracked up to be (at least according to a bunch of people on a message board, warning about it) and so I don't think I'll be trying for that course after all.

    But it is good to know this kind of stuff.  I don't get ESA at all so that doesn't count for me.  I live with my parents also so those other things don't count for me either, although I'm going to have to find my own place soon because Mum and Dad want to sell this house and move to France.

    If there was anything specific you wanted to learn about computers, I know a fair bit myself (my degree was in multimedia computing).  Of course you won't get any kind of qualification, hehe, but yeah feel free to ask about anything or whatever.  Not sure if this site has a private message feature?  If it does we could chat over email or something.  No replacement for an actual course, of course!  But just in case it might be helpful.  :)

  • You may be entitled to a discount if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit, Income Support, or if you receive the income related part of Employment and Support Allowance. I would contact the course tutor to find out what you may be entitled to

  • I know how annoying this is, I am in  a  very similar situation myself. I have a university degree-a 2.1 in History-but I cannot find suitable employment and am on benefits. I also would like to take a course, and I am hoping to study the Computer Driving Licence course in September, in the hope that it may make me more employable. This course costs around 3 hundred pounds in total, but I cannot get a discount because I live at home with my parents, and so I am not eligible  for Housing Benefit, Income Support or any of the other qualifying benefits. Unfortunately, Disability Living Allowance does not entitle you to a course discount.