Work - a message to Scope

I am a ‘high functioning’ adult with late diagnosed autism and history of anxiety, depression.

I’ve been told that Scope has a ‘support to work’ system but would like to know how exactly that works for someone like myself, who has never had a job, and is 28 years old.

I have tried doing voluntary stuff and tried working a couple jobs back in the day but could not cope with certain demands and environment.

Because of this, I don’t know what skills I can showcase and my CV is bare.

The only qualifications I left school with are basic Maths and English.

I have considered college but not quite sure what to I’d like to study, and if I know what I wish to study, how to progress further into having some sort of career?

For example, let’s say I decide to forget getting a job and go to college instead and do a level 2 (beginner) course in health and social care and successfully get the grade to pass. What happens next? There are so many routes I could go down in health and social care it’s overwhelming. I may need to do a level 3, 4, 5 (degree level) as well. How do I get the work experience in between that, to eventually get a job?

If anyone reading this, has done any of that ^^ by the way, I’d be interested to know.

Alternatively, if I came to you, Scope, what chances do I have at actually getting a job given my circumstances?

At this point in time, I am not dead set on having a job, because I don’t even know if I’ll be able to cope with the typical 9-5, I’ve not had that routine for a very long time.

I’m scared that when I eventually reach out for help and stop being afraid, that I’ll keep bouncing from one thing to another, or not being good enough and let go.

I would like a somewhat structured plan that means something, I can follow and work toward.

Also, as I receive benefits as income, I worry that if I find paid work and find it too difficult, I’ll have to go through the process of going back onto benefits and I don’t know how easy/hard that is. I don’t want to stress about making sure my rent and bills are paid y’know?

I don’t know, I might be stressing too much thinking about all this… but I do hope that one day I can feel like I have purpose and something to be proud of.

I don’t feel very useful or proud of my life as it is, if I’m completely honest. I have become very isolated, I don’t have friends or a romantic relationship because I have close myself off because I don’t feel worthy. That is why I am thinking I need to work or something something

To better my mental health too

I worry I am missing out,

and shutting myself off from a life I wish I could have