ESA WRAG: Mandatory Jobs Fair?

[Johnson82]

Hello, I just made an account to get an answer to a quick question.

I'm in the Work Programme on ESA in the Work Related Activities Group. I know that I cannot be mandated to look for, apply for, or accept work. However I've received a letter mandating me to attend a jobs fair.

I would assume this would come under the category of "Looking for work" and as such I can't be mandated to go to a Jobs Fair. But I'm not entirely sure.

[nukecad]

Although rare they can mandate you to attend job fairs and the like.

It comes under Work Related Activities which they can mandate.

They can now actually mandate you to 'look at job advertisments to prepare you for future jobseeking' (search for work by another name), again this comes under Work Related Activities.
(They are not supposed to mandate how many hours you should spend looking though).

As you say though they cannot mandate you to actualy apply for any jobs or take up any job offers.
They cannot mandate you do do work experience or unpaid work. (Yet).

Are you sure its mandatory?
Does the letter use the word "mandatory" or say that "your benefits may be affected if you do not attend" (or similar).

If it is mandatory then you should be able to claim your travelling expenses back, if you want to do this then talk to them before you go and keep your tickets.

[tom34]

Hello, I just made an account to get an answer to a quick question.

I'm in the Work Programme on ESA in the Work Related Activities Group. I know that I cannot be mandated to look for, apply for, or accept work. However, I've received a letter mandating me to attend a jobs fair.

I would assume this would come under the category of "Looking for work" and as such, I can't be mandated to go to a Jobs fare. But I'm not entirely sure.

It would be a pointless waste of your time going to a jobs fare, and i don't doubt that they know this at the Joke centre + office sounds like you may have a work roach that likes to make the rules up IMO, There should be DWP decision makers guidance available online about it , but imo what you have said is correct ,i would ask for an explanation as to the purpose of sending you to a jobs fare

[aclay267]

Could you give me any idea what to expect at my first work interview wrag group! Would appreciate! Confused already!

[aclay267]

Your bit about esa wrag work focus interview can they really make you job search and apply for jobs! On this matter any information would be very appreciated! Got mine tomorrow!

[nukecad]

Hi aclay267,
Welcome to the forum (and to WRAG).

Your first WFI is usually a 'get to know you' kind of meeting.

• You will meet the advisor, who may or may not be your regular advisor.
• The advisor will ask about your condition and work capabilities, maybe about your living circumstances, and about what sort of things you normally do everyday.
• They ask about when or if you thinK you may be able to do some work in future.
• They ask about if you do or would like to consider voluntary work or anything like that.
• They will make a "Work Related Activity Plan" for you, which is just a letter saying you will do certain work related activities.
  (Don't panic about that it's not too hard - mine says that I will come on this forum, and one other, when I can; and that's all).
• They might talk about training programmes, but with referals to the Work Programme ended and its replacement not started that would depend if there is something else in your area.
• They will occasionally talk about other benefits or help that you might be able to claim.
• They will usually make your next appointment and tel you if they want you to bring anything next time.

And that's usually about it for a WFI.
Later ones will probably be shorter and only ask abot specific things.

They cannot make you apply for any jobs.
They cannot send you on 'Work Experience', 'Community Work' or anything like that. (With a few specialised exceptions).
They can ask but can't make you do thes things.
Think carefully before agreeing to anything like that; often once you agree to start (I'll just give it a try) then it does become mandatory and you have to see it through to the finish.


PS.
It's considered more polite to start your own thread to ask a new question, rather than adding it to someone elses thread.
This is mainly because it can get confusing about who is answering which question.
To start a new thread:

1. Click on the blue 'Forum' that sticks up on the bar above.
2. Pick which forum best fits your question, (News & General, Benefits, Motoring, Health, etc), and click on that.
3. You will see a big "+Post New Thread" button, click that.
4. Type in your question, don't forget a relevant title so people can see at a glance what it's about.
5. Click on 'Submit New Thread'.

You only need to post a question once, regulars use the 'New Post' button to see what new has been posted since they were last logged on.
(It can also get confusing to follow the answers if you ask in more then one place).
Once you have started a thread try and keep everything relevant in that thread, only start a new thread for a new topic.


Once again welcome,
any more questions, I'm sure you have plenty, then ask away and someone will help.
Remember though that most here are disabled ourselves and are not on here all the time, so answers may take a while.
And do let us know how your WFI goes.

[aclay267]

Will let you know tomorrow! Tried doing how to make a new thread! Haven't got a computer! Only Android phone! Will have to ask a friend if they show me on there computer! Me and computer I still can't grasp one the moment! Have to ask tomorrow at wfi if they are any basic computer courses etc! Many thanks your reply! And info much appreciated!

Regards Andy

[nukecad]

It's just the same from a phone but change 'click' to 'touch' in the steps above.

I'm posting this from an Android phone, Samsung S3 mini.

But yes do get a basic computer course.

Tell the person at the WFI that you want to do this to improve your future chances of getting employment.

They won't pay, but may have a free one they can refer you to.
And it 'shows willing' and gives you Brownie Points with the advisor.
I found that if you are pleasant and tell them what they want to hear and ticks thr boxes then they don't bother you as much.

[nukecad]

Hi again Andy,

I have received your friends request.

Please don't be offended but I refuse all friends requests on here.

For one thing 'friending' someone on this forum does not actually do much, it doesn't work like Facebook.

The only thing it does here is show a list in your profile of who is a 'friend', and shows their posts on your profile page as well as your own.
That's all it does here, it does nothing else on this forum.

Some other fora allow 'friends' to send each other private messages, this one doesn't for security/privacy reasons.
Everything we say on here goes in plain view.

[aclay267]

That was my error! Not offended in any way! Of to first work interview for wrag activities! As to previous employment worked 32 years in garden centres!