I feel so angry!...Help from those who are supposed to, don't count on any! Mainly directed towards Probation.

[NHSseemstonotcare]

Sorry, but I had to express myself and felt the forum was better than anywhere else!

Today i just got back from Probation where I had a meeting with someone from the Shaw-Trust. 18months I have been out of prison. 18months. NOW they are just putting in an application to the Sherrifs Grant for a grant of £50 to get me cloths so I am not naked coming out of prison! 18months! They had told me help would be given to get a fridge,cooker,washing machine, flooring,bed,etc. I could buy them somehow , secondhand,etc, and so long as I had the receipts, these could be submitted and some money would be given to me. So, I borrowed money from a fantastic friend, and brought second hand items needed to survive. Today, after being told ,to bring all paperwork and receipts, remember been waiting 18 months for this to happen. I have been told today "prove I said go out and buy stuff and we will submit the receipts!" When I said that my probation officer was in the room when he said it, he looked as me and said "prove it!" When I was inside someone, will not say who, but they were staff, not a inmate, gave me a booklet that lists all the charities, government initiatives, everyone who helps prisons getting out....ALL are probation officer referral only. You can't contact or put in a application for yourself. I asked my probation officer BEFORE I was released if she could apply for any as I had nothing, only the clothes on my back and would desperatly need, clothes, fridge ( otherwise my medication would no longer work ), something to sleep on, cook on, etc, ANYTHING to help...... NOTHING!!! NO financial help, no benefits sorted, no medications sorted, no fridge, no clothes, nothing! NOW ,after getting in debt, are the applying for £50 worth of clothing, which I have been informed I have to go shopping with them to buy like some sort of child..... EVERY WEEK I asked for help, asked for applications to be sent, Mental Health support, NOTHING but bull, constant lies and bull, inmates inside told me "probation and all the supposedly "help" you are supposed to get is nothing but bull, just see them, say everything fine, and you don't need any of their help, because they are worse than useless, their only make life difficult for no reason other than to just annoy you." Only like a fool I trusted them when they said they where there to help, to try and make sure you don't slip back into old habits. Truth is they lie, are dishonest, and you CANT trust them to help in any way what so ever! Hate is a strong word, but after being lied to constantly, week after week, getting me into debt..... It's been difficult writing this.... I have had to leave out a LOT of words that would have thrown me off of the board believe me!!!! Needless to say, anyone just out, or has relatives coming out, DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD PROBATION ,OR ANY OF THE OTHER "HELPFUL" ORGANIZATIONS SAY! Find your OWN GP, mental health help, clothing, housing, your own applications for benefits, bank accounts, passports, etc, expect NO HELP WHAT SO EVER!!!!

[hypercat54]

Sorry you are having such a hard time. I learnt many years ago to count on no one but myself so I am not disappointed when I can't get help. I hope for the best but expect the worse. That way I am pleasantly surprised if it works out.

The truth is the NHS has no money or will to help any but the most serious cases. I am in a situation where due to my health problems I cannot do things like housework, walk more than a few yards, live a normal life, but there is no help available for me either. It's a case of sink or swim on your own now and no one cares which it is. If you have money then you can pay for it but otherwise you have to rely on family and friends and none of mine can help and I am poor so can't pay. x

[NHSseemstonotcare in reply to hypercat54]

Lol... Guess really that is what is making me so annoyed. I have exactly the same "negative" attitude towards life, but, that's what got me into the trouble in the first place. It takes me so much effort to trust in others, but that's the only way I can exist in society if I am not to spiral downwards again, if, I can ,overcome, or at least interact despite my PD Aloneisum. I apparently have to "trust in others" and Not expect the worst. Well, i did, in the one who told me i have to trust others, and, yep, they lied to me and let me down! When i wrote the above i had sliped back into the old, dont trust anyone, whats the point of society, to hell with everyone,etc....... I cant let myself think like that, or i will make the same mistakes i made in the past. lol, sorry, guess i lapsed for a bit, lol, it certainly isnt easy NOT lapsing when i still havent got a councillor or something, as well as coming off of the fluxotine i have been on 19 years..... I didnt get much sleep last night either dont know if its the side effect of lower dose, or stress i knew i would have today? Either way, it didnt help lol! 😊 Thanks for replying hypercat54, I feel a lot, lot, better now, lol, guess I just needed to rant somewhere safe, lol, Never good to rant at a probation officer lol!!!! 😃😆

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi NHSseemstonotcare and welcome to this caring forum This sounds like a very difficult time for you. I have typed into Google "charities in the UK that give financial support to people who were in prison." A lot of organisations came up on the screen including---

Support for ex-offenders/who else can help/The Princes Trust

princes-trust.org.uk

Who can help?-Prison Reform Trust

prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Fo...

There are a lot of other organisations listed on this website. They may be able to help.

Also. Mind Charity

mind.org.uk has an advocacy service that may be able to help you. Your GP may have a mental health nurse attached to the practice and he/she may be able to provide support. Are any other forum members able to help, please? Stay strong. Things will get better. Do stay on the forum for help and support. Thank you and best wishes.