If you work in a refuge or a woman's shelter can I pick your brain?

[BoredNewsOfTheWorld]

I have an idea and I'm not sure if anyone would be interested, or if it's potentially not even legal.

Just wondering what you would think if your organization was approached with this proposition!

So my eldest is eleven and I've not been able to work since they was born due to the expense of having multiple children in child care. Prior to having my children, I had a fairly piecemeal CV as I traveled and moved around a lot. I was studying but that's been fucked by covid, I don't want to make myself too identifiable but it really isn't an option financially now, so please don't focus on that.

Basically, I need a job to get some real experience and start building a CV, and also to eventually have some sort of career. But I also have to do it around the school day or be paid enough to pay for childcare and not be paying for the privilege of me being employed.

I'm really interested in working for a woman's charity in some capacity. I'm not too fussed about the specifics though, I'd just like to feel like I have a bit of meaningful employment iyswim. So admin, or directly doesn't matter to me.

I was wondering about approaching a few and offering to work for free. Either I could set myself up as self-employed and basically charge them enough to cover national insurance contributions or they could even employ me and I donate the net income back after deductions have been made? I think both options would be legal right? I appreciate it might sound a bit mad though and they might not be interested. The thing is they'd basically get a free part time or nearly full time employee. I'd get some training. I could do 20 hours somewhere while children are at school. And could even do more at home on the computer etc once I've collected the kids. I'm an immigrant and want to pay NI contributions so I can start working towards citiznship, so I really need a "real" job not just a voluntary option.

I was wondering about approaching a few and offering to work for free

What you are offering is not working for free though, it will cost them.

You would be better to volunteer and gain part-time paid employment that would pay your contributions etc.

Also - you need to really think about why you want this - pretty much every job is meaningful - you will be grilled on this (in my experience).

there is always an element of paying childcare to be in work unless you are lucky enough to have family locally who offer to help or work opposite hours to a partner.

you need to see working and paying childcare costs as a longer term view, you may not have much leftover at the end now but in a few short years when you don't nee childcare then it will pay off as you'll have a better wage and more employable for full time jobs.

as above though, you'd be better off volunteering first, getting experience and a reference to then apply for jobs if you've been out of the workforce for a long time.