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!!!!