Dear Scoot040~
Welcome here, job hunting and underemployment is frustrating and depressing.
I was invalided out of my career so can relate to being let go due to a medical condition. You sound a pretty sensible and resourceful person and it's a pity the council could not slot you in , however congratulations on getting the part time job - that's more than many have.
You sound on the right path, but you are finding it pretty hard going. Doing the courses and with a possible avenue to the cash transit area I would think your prospects pretty good.
The fact you talk about a hobby shows you are thinking in the right directions.
The really hard thing when being ignored and dismissed is to realize how worth-while you actually are. The constant merry-go-round of application/rejection can wear you down, maybe some of the following might help.
Keeping as fit as you can, exercise, healthy eating and sleeping, plus socializing where you can to keep a sense of proportion and distraction. If you feel unusually depressed seek medical advice.
If at all possible treat applications as learning experiences, actively trying to improve as you go. Not easy, particularly if you get no reply at all, but sometimes possible by asking where you did not succeed. Sort of get you out of the succeed/fail mindset and into an endeavor with other things involved.
Pace yourself, so many hours per day/week with a sharp divide and normal life other times, try to separate job hunting and it's associated downs from the rest of your life - again pretty hard but something to aim for.
Have another interest - you were spot on with hobbies, and if your current one is too expensive cast around for another, if you can't go fishing tie flies - you get the idea.
I'm sure you already know that volunteering is not only useful, builds self-esteem and very occasionally leads to employment, is this something you might look at?
Family support is a great thing, I have really needed at times - do you have anyone to lean on and talk with? You are facing a pretty big burden after all.
Finally I guess see if there is anything in your part time job - possibly a boring one - to make it more interesting. Think of possible improvements, areas where mistakes/injuries could be prevented and so on. May come to nothing but keeps the mind turning over.
Please post and talk here as often as you like. Have a look around this Forum to see how others have coped in similar situations.
Croix
