Trying to move upcountry

JoOfVengerberg

I hope this is in the right place, apologies if not. I'm trying to move upcountry. I have friends in the place I want to go (where I don't have any here) and I know there will be better academic job opportunities there.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community Feel free to join in or ask any questions 

Is there any questions you have about moving we can try and help with 

Alex_Scope

Hello and welcome @JoOfVengerberg I noticed you had a few duplicate posts appear, so I've deleted them just to help our members find this one more easily. 

Was there something you're most concerned about with moving somewhere new? Also, could I ask if you're based in the UK?

JoOfVengerberg

Alex_Scope said:

Hello and welcome @JoOfVengerberg I noticed you had a few duplicate posts appear, so I've deleted them just to help our members find this one more easily. 

Was there something you're most concerned about with moving somewhere new? Also, could I ask if you're based in the UK?

Hi Alex. Apparently there was an issue my end, as my post wasn't complete. Here it is in full.

I hope this is in the right place, apologies if not. I'm trying to move upcountry. I have friends in the place I want to go (where I don't have any here) and I know there will be better academic job opportunities there. I am doing a PhD so being in an area with lots of academic presence is important to me. I don't currently have a job as I'm dealing with mental health stuff plus cerebral palsy and what I suspect is fibro, too. I discovered today that as I am on benefits, I need a referral from the place I want to move to so the agencies will consider me. It has made me feel utterly miserable as it feels like I'm doing my best managing my disabilities and mental health issues, and I want a better life for myself (hence the PhD and wanting to move) but I am not allowed to because I am on benefits. I know you will understand as we get routinely messed around with that sort of thing. I just wanted to get this off my chest, really. Thanks for listening.

Alex_Scope

Hi again @JoOfVengerberg thanks for explaining more fully, that makes sense! You are more than welcome to reach out, we're here to listen. 

I'm wondering is the place you want to move to part of the university's student accommodation? I'm not sure whether any is offered for PhD students who need accessible accommodation, so that would be helpful to know. 

I certainly do understand your frustrations at this potential barrier, and hopefully we can support you to navigate around it, so to speak. Personally I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs of housing, referrals and benefits, as moving home is not something I've been able to do yet, but I will see if I can look into it for you.

As a side note, is your username a reference to The Witcher? And what are you hoping to study for your PhD?

JoOfVengerberg

Alex_Scope said:

Hi again @JoOfVengerberg thanks for explaining more fully, that makes sense! You are more than welcome to reach out, we're here to listen. 

I'm wondering is the place you want to move to part of the university's student accommodation? I'm not sure whether any is offered for PhD students who need accessible accommodation, so that would be helpful to know. 

I certainly do understand your frustrations at this potential barrier, and hopefully we can support you to navigate around it, so to speak. Personally I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs of housing, referrals and benefits, as moving home is not something I've been able to do yet, but I will see if I can look into it for you.

As a side note, is your username a reference to The Witcher? And what are you hoping to study for your PhD?

Hey! It is a reference to The Witcher, yes! Big fan of The Witcher 3 and the books and show. I'm actually already doing my PhD (in my second year) so I'd be moving away from my university city/hometown. I contacted the agency and they said it's standard procedure to need a referral on benefits, so not much I can do.

I'm planning to at least get out of my shared house because it's causing me lots of stress, not to mention it's full of stairs lol.

My PhD is a creative writing one but it has a disability focus, so I'm looking at the cure narrative in fiction. As part of that I'm writing a composite novel (a novel composed of short stories) about 2 disabled women. One acquires an sci and wants to be cured and has a traumatic experience with it (but finds her wheelchair gives her freedom afterwards) and the other has cerebral palsy and isn't interested in a cure. I wanted to explore the opposite ends of the scale, I suppose, with cure being good or bad depending on how you feel about it. I personally wouldn't go for it but understand people who do. Just hope I can do the subject matter justice!

JoOfVengerberg

Teddybear12 said:

Hi @JoOfVengerberg Welcome to the Community. It is absolutely fine to get this off your chest, we are always here to listen. If you have any questions please ask. Have a look around the forum and join in when you are ready. Take care.

Thank you!!

JoOfVengerberg

janer1967 said:

Hi and welcome to the community Feel free to join in or ask any questions 

Is there any questions you have about moving we can try and help with 

Thanks! Lol I hope my full comment sheds some light, silly me!!

Libby_Alumni

Hi @JoOfVengerberg, 

Thank you for your comment and for explaining things a little more  

Your PhD sounds super interesting, how are you finding the workload/project? I'm also doing a part time PhD, and I know how demanding it can be, especially when chronic illness etc. 

It sounds as if the housing situation is not optimal and that you would benefit a lot from moving out of the house. Even if moving out of that particular house but staying in the same area is the first step within the bigger process - I think it sounds like a good thing to do. Would you move into another shared accommodation do you think?

janer1967

Sorry I don't understand what you mean by needing a referral from where you want to go for the agency 

A referral for what ? Do you mean for housing 

Who needs to refer you 

JoOfVengerberg

janer1967 said:

Sorry I don't understand what you mean by needing a referral from where you want to go for the agency 

A referral for what ? Do you mean for housing 

Who needs to refer you 

Honestly, I don't either. Apparently to rent through an agency I need a referral from the local housing association. Of course this is impossible as I don't live there. Absurd right?

JoOfVengerberg

Libby_Scope said:

Hi @JoOfVengerberg, 

Thank you for your comment and for explaining things a little more  

Your PhD sounds super interesting, how are you finding the workload/project? I'm also doing a part time PhD, and I know how demanding it can be, especially when chronic illness etc. 

It sounds as if the housing situation is not optimal and that you would benefit a lot from moving out of the house. Even if moving out of that particular house but staying in the same area is the first step within the bigger process - I think it sounds like a good thing to do. Would you move into another shared accommodation do you think?

Hey!

I'm honestly finding the PhD the easiest thing on my plate at the moment! I think because I really care about it it doesn't feel like work? It's the chronic pain/fatigue/mental health stuff that's really getting to me I think.

I don't think I'd move into another shared house. I have PTSD (I was diagnosed while in this house) and find that I am on constant alert all the time because I don't want to run into anyone, I just want to keep myself to myself. So living in my own space is the priority. I think you're right though that moving out of the house and somewhere in the same city is a step in the right direction.

janer1967

Have you tried other agencies ? 

Could you rent without an agency 

Do they mean a reference rather than referral 

It doesn't make any sense to me 

JoOfVengerberg

janer1967 said:

Have you tried other agencies ? 

Could you rent without an agency 

Do they mean a reference rather than referral 

It doesn't make any sense to me 

I emailed to clarify and they said definitely a referral. I asked why and they gave me no reasoning except 'it's company policy' even though I pointed out it's technically discriminatory. I'll certainly be looking at other options, it's just annoying that there's gatekeeping when if I had a job it wouldn't have been a problem. Hopefully I can find somewhere else. Doesn't make sense to me either, honestly.

Libby_Alumni

Hey @JoOfVengerberg,

That makes complete sense, especially when you're so passionate about the subject area and enjoy learning. Yes, that's what I struggle with, the fatigue can be challenging at times, but I do make sure to take regular breaks as it's so mentally demanding. How do you manage your fatigue - physical and mental?

That makes sense and I'm sure if you find your own place, you will hopefully feel a little safer and secure and therefore, won't feel as apprehensive etc. I do hope the housing situation can get sorted for you. Do you receive a PhD stipend from your university?

JoOfVengerberg

Libby_Scope said:

Hey @JoOfVengerberg,

That makes complete sense, especially when you're so passionate about the subject area and enjoy learning. Yes, that's what I struggle with, the fatigue can be challenging at times, but I do make sure to take regular breaks as it's so mentally demanding. How do you manage your fatigue - physical and mental?

That makes sense and I'm sure if you find your own place, you will hopefully feel a little safer and secure and therefore, won't feel as apprehensive etc. I do hope the housing situation can get sorted for you. Do you receive a PhD stipend from your university?

Honestly at the moment I DON'T manage my fatigue. I've been ill for about 6 months. Just got off the phone to the doctor and have to do a battery of tests to rule various things out, so that's fun. Most of the time I'm working from my bed, on a good day I can get to my desk. What's your PhD on btw? Curious

I don't get a stipend, no. It would remove a lot of 'I need to get a job' stress if I did, even though I've basically been signed off bc of my mental health (it is shot at the moment hahah.)

I think right now I just have so much on my plate that having gone on a break (interrupted study) my body has basically crashed.

Libby_Alumni

That doesn't sound too pleasant @JoOfVengerberg, however, hopefully it will give you some answers moving forward. This will then hopefully lead to some management strategies to alleviate certain symptoms etc. I guess that is the beauty of the PhD, you can work from your bed (I know I do that too at times). My PhD is in Sport Psychology - I enjoy it but more interested in the clinical side of things now.

I understand that about the job worries etc. Do you have an idea about what you might want to do career wise after the PhD?

Sometimes it is a sign from our bodies telling us it needs rest, I have always thought that too, especially when I was diagnosed with two chronic conditions in 2020. It's hard to pause things and rest, but our bodies know best and I've learnt to listen to it overtime

APHRODITESHEART

HOW INSPIRING! I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN STUDYING FOR MASTERS. THEY ARE ALL VERY EXPENSIVE. €500+ /CREDIT. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO RAISE FUNDS? (SHOULD I START A SEPARATE THREAD?) 

JoOfVengerberg

APHRODITESHEART said:

HOW INSPIRING! I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN STUDYING FOR MASTERS. THEY ARE ALL VERY EXPENSIVE. €500+ /CREDIT. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO RAISE FUNDS? (SHOULD I START A SEPARATE THREAD?) 

Hi! I wouldn't be able to advise I'm afraid as I'm in the UK and was able to get a loan to do it. Sorry

JoOfVengerberg

Saw this in 'my discussions' and I can't believe how differently things have turned out. In May the friendships I wanted to move closer to dissolved in a pretty bad way, so I haven't moved at all. Feeling very stuck actually, though I hope the new year brings movement and momentum. Sigh.

Autism_at_40

Your situation sounds very hard.

I was in a similar situation in that I was living with my sister in Wales and wanted to move back to where I'm from in England (4 hours away), where I had a friend and knew that I would feel more comfortable.

I found that unless you have a local connection to the place that you want to live (ie work or family), the council won't accept housing applications.  They will only do their homeless prevention, but you have to prove that you will be homeless if you don't move out of your current place, which doesn't seem right to your situation.

Can any of your friends accommodate you for a time while you find somewhere to live?

I had to do that, thankfully my friend has taken me in and I have been searching in my new location for a month now and have only just (potentially) got somewhere to live (of course, Christmas and New Year hindered it a bit).  I don't think I would've been able to move had I not had my friend.

I hope this helps in some way.