What do you do for a job?
Unfortunately for you akuchi, if UK workplace laws are ANYTHING like Australian workplace laws, then the situation is as follows:
You can be terminated immediately for any reason during your 'temp contract' period, without warning. The fact that they will give you an extra weeks pay and a reference is fantastic, and a credit to yourself.
If you had finished your temp contract and were working on a full contract, then things would be different (ie- unfair dismissal laws, union representation, minimum 2 weeks notice etc etc).
Unfortunately, the world is a sucky place sometimes, and you my friend have just copped it bad. Cheer up though, this does mean that new doors will be opening for you! Having a reference will bump you up the 'desirables' list for the same job in another location.
Take me for example: worked as a barman/waiter in a restaurant for 2 years before being fired, for 'making threats against the company'. What actually happened was my girlfriend at the time spilt a hot chocolate down a customers back, and i kicked up a stink about her being fired. Now i didn't get 2-weeks notice or paid in lieu, I just got shown the door AT THE END OF MY 9 HOUR SHIFT! So what did i do? Called up the ombudsman and made an out of court settlement for the equivalent of 8-weeks pay.
Anyway, the next week i found myself working in another bar in a town 15 minutes away where i was getting paid TWICE as much and treated FOUR times better.
Now that all doesn't matter though, because i'll be a doctor in just under 2 years, lol. But still, my message is the same: things can only go up for you from here.
Keep smiling!