Launch of beatredundancyblues.co.uk

Hi everyone

I am pleased to announce that beatredundancyblues.co.uk is now officially launched.

beatredundancyblues.co.uk is very similar in content to beatredundancyblues.com with access to Job Sites, Recruitment Sites and Courses Sites, from within the one site. The difference with the .co.uk version, is there is much more opportunity for interaction with you. Let me know what you like about the site and any further help and support you need through your comments and feedback.

As you may be aware from my last post, I recently went to London on Monday 15th of July to meet Her Majesty the Queen and I had the opportunity to speak to her. You can read the full story on my writing blog at http://www.quirkybooks.wordpress.com This was for the CSV 50th Jubilee Celebration. I started working as a Health Buddy for Community Service Volunteers whilst being unemployed and look at where it has led to.

I know redundancy can be difficult and if anyone had said to me when I was first made redundant, that I would be meeting and speaking with HM the Queen in a few years time, I would have laughed and not believed them. When I was made redundant for the second time, my attitude towards what is possible in life, began to change and now I believe that anything is possible. The more I believe that, the more impossibles do become possible. It all starts with baby steps of stretching yourself, your knowledge and your experience. My Grandma says there is no such word as can’t and if you don’t believe there to be, then that is true. Start believing that your dreams can become a reality and then take steps to make it happen.

Stay positive

Sandra

A Redundant Workers Perspective – Getting back into work

Hi Everyone

For those of you who don’t know, I have a Facebook page to support this blog and one of my followers of this page has written a beautiful account of his journey back into work.

“Hello I have been following this page since I was made redundant in September 2012 and Sandra has asked me to say something about my experiences so far .It has certainly beena rollercoaster ride of emotions almost a type of grief when you find yourself at home after so long 21 years for me in the same role however looking back they probably did me a favour .I amlucky in that I had a longstanding art hobby which has run alongside my work and for long people had said go professional but I never had the curage however when the decision was made for me I had no choice One of the first things I did was vounteer at my daughters school helping with an art class which I loved and built a rapport with the kids and staff this also gave me confidence in my own art .I did the usuall trawling the internet to no avil but really knowing my future was in art.On the day I applied for details of a teaching assistant course I went to an open day at an insurance company to talk about customer service roles.I loved this as they told me that experience wasn’t needed just personality and enthusiasm .I applied and was accepted .Now three months later I have completed training and am now learning the job .Its not easy but rewarding and the next six months are crucial.I’ve continued to paint and am exhibiting widely and planning a range of my own greeting cards from my paintings and several outlets are interested .Long term I would to self publish my own cards and have my own business.It hasn’t been easy but I promise you there is life after redundancy and far from beaten I feel released to do new things .I still have down days and I must admit I’m not my own greatest fan but I plogh on .You can catch up with my exploits atwww.Facebook.com/MatthewEvansArtist.Good luck also to Sandra with this great work onward ever onward and best wishes to you all .Stay strong .”

Before you ask me to use a spell checker, as a writer I always check my work for spelling errors but I have purposefully kept Matthew’s account exactly as he has written it, so that you know that I am not fabricating his story. If you wish to see it on Facebook go to http://www.facebook.com/beatredundancyblues

Thanks to Matthew Evans for posting this, it gives great insight and hope to many others. I wish you much success with your artwork and let us know how you get on.

Stay positive

Sandra Bellamy

 

My Invitation to St James’s Palace

Hi Everyone

As you probably know http://www.beatredundancyblues.com is your one stop resource for redundancy. As well as the practical aspects of redundancy it also covers health and wellbeing including stress, anxiety and depression.

You may like to know that I do voluntary work as a Health Buddy for CSV (Community Service Volunteers) in association with BBC Radio Devon. We promote health messages, learn from health specialists and encourage the 5 ways to wellbeing:

1. Connect
2. Be Active
3. Take Notice
4. Learn
5. Give

On Wednesday 10th of March, I went to a CSV Health Buddy celebration of music and activities from local refugees who are being looked after by Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support.

I could not help but take notice of the variety of talent amongst the refugees. There were lots of activities including singing, sports, character making out of carrots and foods from their country. I learnt more about them and the foods they eat. People from different backgrounds connected and it was lovely of them to give up their afternoon to entertain and teach us.

At this event I was pleasantly surprised to be presented with a bouquet of flowers and a Certificate of Achievement for helping a distressed and vulnerable person as part of my role as a CSV (Community Service Volunteer) Health Buddy.

I was even more thrilled to be told that I had been chosen to represent the CSV organisation at their 50th anniversary celebration, to be held at St James’s Palace in London on Monday 15th of July 2013. In the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I feel incredibly honoured to be chosen for.

Redundancy can make you feel deflated and powerless. Take back the control in your life by discovering what you were born to do and make it happen for yourself.

I am living my dreams and I want you to be too.

Stay positive

Sandra Bellamy

Remain Active, Remain Motivated During Redundancy

Hi Everyone.

Whilst you are redundant it is important to keep yourself active by:

• Seeking work: Surf the web, go to the job centre, look in shop windows, buy the paper, talk to your contacts, upload your CV to job sites, contact agencies in your field of expertise, keep looking and never give up.

• Applying for jobs: It may sound stupid but if you keep telling yourself there is no work out there, you will begin to believe it. There are jobs out there but there are more people going for the one vacancy and competition is at an all time high. Tailor your CV and Cover letter to the job for which you are applying, don’t just send out the same one to each employer. Potential employers are only interested in what you can do for them and their company and will soon pick up on anything that seems like it’s not applicable to them, putting you firmly in the rejected pile. Highlight your skills in relation to that specific role.  Do your research, sell your relevant skills and sell yourself.

• Doing voluntary work:  Is a great way of learning new skills, boosting your self confidence and self esteem and is a fantastic addition to your CV. You are more likely to get work if you can prove to a potential employer that you are capable of work.

• Hobbies and interests:  Make sure you pursue these.  It is important not to stagnate and become depressed.

To stay motivated, besides doing the above, you must set yourself realistic goals and tick them off when you have achieved each one. Without goals, you do not know where you are headed and you will never achieve your dreams. 

Remember – Stay positive.

Sandra Bellamy

Redundant? It’s time to take stock of your life

Hi Everyone

As I know from personal experience, redundancy can have devastating consequences.

It can make you anxious, nervous, depressed and stressed.

Yes, although you are not physically working, your brain is more than likely working overtime by worrying about what may or may not happen to you in the future.

Now is the time to take stock of your life to gain some degree of control over it.

Make a list of your monthly income, which is probably money from benefits, then of your expenditure and of any savings you may have.  If you have yearly expenditure you could divide that by 12 months  This should help you to establish what salary you need to be earning when you apply for jobs and enable you to establish how long you can live without paid work.  If you are in dire financial difficulties you can ask your local housing benefit office if they can access emergency funds.

Make a list of all the things you want to do in your life, both personally and professionally, from the simplest of ideas to the ideal dream scenario.  Let your imagination run wild.  Then next to each one, write down what it would take to achieve each of these.  It may be to go back to college or university.  Do voluntary work or work experience.  Read a Self-Help or How to Book in order to teach yourself through their simple step-by-step guide.  Enquire at your local job centre about funding.  You will often discover courses are much cheaper or entirely free if you are claiming Job Seekers Allowance.  Go to your local university or college and pick up a catalogue of information regarding the different courses available.  Be proactive not reactive and make things happen.  Many courses you can do in the evening and so you would still be available to work in the day.  By doing a course it will increase your skills and experience,  therefore making you a more appealing candidate to prospective employer.  It will focus your mind on something other than your problems. Get you out of the house and increase your confidence.

Whilst this is a nerve-wracking subject for some, if you have any health problems or issues, now is the time to get them sorted.  You will worry more in the future if you don’t face these now.  Whether it is your physical or mental wellbeing, now is the perfect time to go to your doctor, ask to see a specialist consultant and/or attend counselling sessions.  There is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.  I have recently become a Health Buddy for South West CSV on a voluntary capacity for “The Stripping it Bare” campaign in association with Radio Devon.  We encourage people from all walks of life to go for screening for things such as Chlamydia, Testicular Cancer and Breast Cancer.  Whilst you are out of work, this is the perfect time to get yourself checked out and if you feel poorly, to get yourself better, so you are at your fittest to take on another job whether that be working for yourself or for someone else as an employee.

By actively doing things to improve your life or circumstances in some way, you will have less time to feel nervous, anxious, depressed or stressed about being redundant  You will feel you are making some progress in your life and that will have a positive effect on you.

Stay positive.

Sandra Bellamy

Remain Active during Redundancy

Hi Everyone.

Whilst you are redundant it is important to keep yourself active by:

• Seeking work:  Surf the web, go to the job centre, look in shop windows, buy the paper, talk to your contacts, just keep looking and never give up.

• Applying for jobs:  It may sound stupid but if you keep telling yourself there is no work out there, you will begin to believe it.  Tailor your C.V.and Cover letter to the job for which you are applying.  Highlight your skills in relation to that specific role.  Do your research.  Sell yourself.

• Doing voluntary work:  Is a great way of learning new skills, boosting your self confidence and self esteem and is a fantastic addition to your C.V.

• Hobbies and interests:  Make sure you pursue these.  It is important not to stagnate and become depressed.  To stay motivated you must relax and enjoy life.

Remember – Stay positive.

Sandra Bellamy