It can be particularly difficult to get back to work after a period of mental ill health partly due to prejudice and the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.
However, many people find that some kind of work, whether paid or not, helps a great deal with self-esteem and contributes to recovery. There are many ways that you can go about finding "useful occupation" and the agencies below may be able to help. There are Disability Employment Advisers who can help with looking for work or with claiming benefits at Job Centres, but you may feel more comfortable seeking advice from someone more independent at first.
Disability Employment Advisors's at Bristol Central Job centre.
Contact: Sue Allen
Tel: 0117 991 3007
Fax: 0117 991 3001
The Government has recently introduced the " New Deal for Disabled People " and according to the Disability Employment Advisor at the Bristol Central Job centre, "Participation is voluntary and should not affect your benefits." "Full-time work" is now regarded as over 16 hours a week by the Benefits Agency.
However, there are a lot of other things that you could do such as voluntary work, "permitted work" (what was called "therapeutic earnings"), training, interview preparation etc.
This won't affect your benefits and may enable you to get back into paid work if that is what you want. In the Bristol area there are 5 providers of New Deal for Disabled People :
If you are in contact with a Community Mental Health Team, you may be able to get help from an Occupational Therapist, but it's quite likely that they'll refer you to one of the agencies below or above.
Connexions West of England
The Connexions Service is a mainstream government-funded project. It aims to help young people in their transition into
adult life by providing careers advice, guidance and support. Connexions also help people through organising college
assessments and preparing a request for funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for college places.
4 Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST
Tel: 0117 907 4465 Minicom: 0117 907 4514
E-Mail: scrump@connexionswest.org.uk
Website: www.connexionswest.org.uk
Volunteering Bristol
Volunteering Bristol is a referral agency providing access to over 400 volunteering opportunities. Its
aim is to promote, support and develop opportunities for people to become involved in their own community.
Contact
details Liz Woodman, Volunteering Bristol, Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4GB
Tel: 0117 989 7733
Fax: 0117 989 7732
E-Mail: info@bristolvolunteers.org.uk
Website: www.bristolvolunteers.org.uk
Ways into Work
An NHS programme run by Occupational Therapists and other mental health workers of the Work Development Team based at
Colston Fort, Kingsdown. They will help you work out a Vocational Action plan and continue to support you when you get a
job.
Tel: 0117 924 8824
Fax: 0117 924 8814
Crisis Centre Ministries (based in St. Pauls)
The LITE Course is a part-time course specifically for people who have been long term unemployed. It aims to
provide the essential initial step towards further education and/or employment by helping to build confidence and self
worth as well as introducing life skills (such as handling emotions, responding to authority, handling responsibility,
assertiveness) and job search skills.
Contact Andy, Tel: 0117 942 3088
Email: andy@crisis-centre.org.uk
Website: www.crisis-centre.org.uk
Mental Health Matters
Mental Health Matters in Bristol provides four programmes. An IT training programme, two work experience programmes (one
in horticulture and forestry skills at Barrow Woods, and another which offers experience in a small commercial business
which produces hand made paper, and hand made and computer generated greetings cards). Service users are involved in all
aspects of running the business from design through to point of sale.
Each programme offers a stepping-stone to mainstream opportunities. We also offer an employment link worker service which
supports service users to move on to mainstream training and work opportunities in the community.
Contact : Jill Foster, Mental Health Matters, Hebron House, Sion Road, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 3BD
Tel: 0117 966 2288 Fax: 0117 966 8888
E-Mail: jillfoster@onetel.net.uk
Website: www.mentalhealthmatters.com