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I'm just sooooo busy!Poor you! You've got things to do, places to go and people to see. When will you have time to get that advice you need? Well, you're the lucky ones, because not only do you have connexions advisers in school, connexions centres, colleges or conventions. You also have access to a new service called Connexions Direct. We mentioned it in last months article. It is a service for 13-19 year olds and you can access it in different ways. |
If you check out www.connexions.gov.uk you will be able to access the web based services. But you have lots of choices for contacting Connexions.
You can speak to an adviser on the telephone. They are available 7 days a week
from 8.00am to 2.00am. This is great because it means that you aren't tied to
the usual office/shop opening hours that services usually stick to.
These are the contact numbers :-
| Telephone: | 080 80013219 |
| Textphone (not mobile text): | 08000 688336 |
Advice is given on a confidential basis. This means that anything you discuss will not be shared with other people, unless you or someone else is at risk of being seriously harmed and your adviser will need to for refer to someone else. They will talk to you about doing this and offer support to you. If you have any questions about what 'confidential' means when using any of these services, why not ask your adviser who will be happy to explain before you start.
You can text an adviser on 07766 413219 using your mobile phone. This is great, because you can contact connexions anywhere (providing you have signal!!!)
There is usually a set topic and you are invited to use the website to put your view forward. Yes…I'm not teasing…. Someone actually wants to hear what you think! You can also check out other young people's opinions on issues such as bullying.
If you're surfing and you have a quick question, why not just put it on an email. Also, if you feel a bit embarrassed about speaking to people on the phone, you can use email instead!
So you want to call an adviser, but you've got loads on. You don't want to forget to do it so…..Get them to call you. Check out the 'Let Us Call You' section and book a call!
Well, last month I promised that I would stop telling you what I think of everything and get a young person to trial a service from Connexions Direct.
Mae is 15, she is currently doing her G.C.S.E's and didn't really know what she wanted to do after year 11. She thinks that she is pretty sure she doesn't want to go to 6th form or college next year, but doesn't want to finish learning completely. This is what she said about the web chat in Connexions Direct.
"I'd been to the connexions centre in town and used the computers to look at jobs I could do when I leave school. The computer came up with loads of weird careers that I wouldn't want to do, but I did like the idea of working in a shop. My mum's friend said that I might want to do a Modern Apprenticeship, but I didn't know much about it. She said that I could use her computer to speak to an adviser on a web chat thing. I went on the website and clicked on the web chat. It was really good because I didn't have to wait long before some writing came onto the screen to ask what I needed help with. It was an adviser and I could type to them and they would type back with answers. It was like talking to someone, but in writing or by text message.
They asked what I wanted information on and I told them. Then they said that they needed a minute to find some information for me. After waiting for about 30 seconds, on the other side of the computer screen, a load of information appeared. It was all about retail and some other web links to more information. They asked how old I was and where I was from and then sent me the address and telephone number of my connexions place at home. Then they asked where I had heard about this site. I think the web chat was really good because I didn't feel stupid about having to talk to someone on my own. It was great because I didn't have to walk into town either and could do it all from my mums friends house. I would go on it again if I had any more questions because it was really easy and quick…which gives me more time to go out with my mates!'
So don't just take our word for it! If you need advice or information, why
not try using connexions direct. Or if you would prefer to speak to someone
face to face, find out who your connexions adviser is at school, college or
your local centre. You may also find that they have their own websites or helplines
that have really great local information to! You have loads of options to help
you access the information and help that you need for a better future!
Good Luck
Jennie Glitherow
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