+x+xSteadfast - There's a ban the box list that Unlock updates, and a couple of other links that might be helpful: https://unlock.org.uk/advice/ban-the-box-employers (There's a list there that also explains the latest time to disclose too) https://www.ex-seed.co.uk/recommended-companies.htmlhttps://www.personnelchecks.co.uk/latest-news/job-with-a-criminal-recordWith regards to being told to 'go self-employed'... It is advice, but it is a bit of a get out because they know it's not easy to do that. Especially if people don't have the skills that we do. Re: Facebook, I'm on there, police know. As long as there is nothing on your SHPO about social media, your username is registered, there's nothing stopping you being on there. I have to say, I've never used it for self-employed stuff though, it's just all noise and stupid videos now. LinkedIn is probably a better way to go and the police should certainly not have a problem you being on there. Building everything from scratch takes time, you need clients and reviews, I've been at it for a few years now and only have some reviews. I sell my skills, so that's something I'm able to do from home on a computer though. It's not going out and doing garden landscaping for example. It's hard and no quick path to becoming a millionaire but it keeps money coming in *right now* and helps the ever-increasing outgoings. Is it sustainable forever? Probably not / maybe depending on what it is you do, but it means I can fill that gap on my CV since my life blew up. It's also worth mentioning when your mental health takes a kicking, there's no paid time off, which then adds to the stress because if you're not working, you're not earning, and that's just as true without a criminal record. As for 'guaranteed interviews', a course I did earlier this year also 'guaranteed' an interview, a few of us were a bit annoyed that it didn't happen. Plenty of smiling faces, pointing towards job ads, confidence building and help with the CV, but no interview. The people on that course were just 'normal' people, by which I mean no criminal record, just job seekers. So there are people out there struggling too who don't have the barriers we do. The Ban the Box list is actually updated by Business in the Community. You can find their latest list here. Thanks AB, that's helpful. I guess the thing to bear in mind is there are still some on that list I would suspect would not accept people with certain types of offences because of what they do (that's not necessarily a criticism of them), but it's definitely a step in the right direction.
===== Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.
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