To wonder wtf the government expects single parents to do?

[RocksThatIGot]

I have just been given a place on an access course, as I want to study to become a social worker. I am a single mum to two dc, and I have had a nightmare few years having been in an emotionally abusive relationship, and subsequently had to go to court several times (13 and counting) to face my abusive ex. So I have been earning money where I can but the court thing has taken over my life for the last 18 months or so and because of legal aid taking any money I do earn in contributions, it just hasn't made any sense to earn money, especially with the stress of what has been going on.

I am aware of the changes coming to benefits with the universal credit, which it seems are going to adversely affect the lone parents who are self employed, like me! So I have applied to college as I have inspired by the social workers dealing with my court case, and I want to be able to give my dc a better life. I know it will be a long slog with 4 years of study, but I am determined to do it.

So I just got a place at college, and went to see about getting financial help with childcare and travel costs (the nearest college doing the course I need is 40 miles away). And it turns out that, guess what, the government has scrapped all that financial help, as of this year! I have been told that i can apply to the college for a bursary but this is not going to be very much and unlikely to even cover half of my travel costs. So I have no idea how I am going to survive the year of this course. I'm just so angry that the government are doing everything they can to make it impossible for people to be on benefits, but at the same time they are making it impossible for single parents to study and get into employment! Am I missing something here?

"I have years of being my ex dp's registered carer, do you think that would count?"

It may not be enough. I (and most applicants) had paid and family/voluntary experience. It depends on how competative your Uni is.

The reason as to why they may have been vague is because the licences have just been re-awarded for Uni's to be able to run the SW BA.

The course content used to have to be approved by the GSCC, which has now been disbanded. The HPC have taken over and there has been changes.

The course outline, should now be set and on line.

There is time spent on placement, so, tbh, it is probably best to wait until both children are in school. It depends on what type of SW that you want to do. Although many placements work around children, if you want to do CP, you get more out of the placement if you can work the hours of the organisation that you are put with.

Your pesonal statement is what gets you noticed when you apply for the BA, so the more that is on there, the better.

KellyElly - but OP CHOSE to have children. We can't fund a society whereby people just do whatever they want. Are you for real? She may have chosen to have children but do you think people 'choose' to be single parents. Would you rather she sat on her arse on benefits so people like you could say what a lazy entitled twat she was. She is trying to get herself into a situation where she can support herself and her child financially. If she needs a bit of financial assistance to do this then I'm happy for my taxes to go towards that. Lets hope you never find yourself in a similar situation and meet attitudes totally lacking in any empathy like your own.

OP, have you considered Open University, im on my 3rd year now because i want to be a social worker, but i cant afford to go to college, i need to work, if i can find work.

I really feel for you :( I nearly had a melt down when I was told that I don't qualify for help to pay nursery fees from student finance (we are classed as low income so no idea how they are working out who's eligible because its certainly not because we earn too much) if it wasn't for my dh and mil supporting me (dh helping pay for nursery and mil watching dc's for the rest of the time) I wouldn't be able to go to uni at all.
I do think OU is a good option though, I got my certificate of higher education with OU and its easy to fit around home life.

Doing a social work course is not the only way you can better yourself and provide for your children.

You condo choose to try and find work now, and train later when your dc are at school. You could have chosen to re train after you had your first child, or before you had any children. You could choose to do a different course that would mean less travel.

The government should not have to pay for your choices, even if you are trying to do a good thing now. There are other good things you could do, or could have done in the past. You can be a good role model for your children just by working and being a good person, you don't need other people to fund the course you want to do to be a good role model for your children.

"The government should not have to pay for your choices"

That's so fucking short-sighted I could cry.

The OP is talking about going into a caring profession, not asking for funds for something frivolous or self-serving.

I would much rather children and families in this country were served by the best possible social workers, not just the richest / most married ones.

Funding people going to uni benefits everyone in society, especially when we're talking about something like social work.

I would much rather children and families in this country were served by the best possible social workers, not just the richest / most married ones

It is about Life Choices and it is about Timing. No one is saying that the OP shouldn't get further education but if she's not in the best financial position to do it now then she will just have to wait as some other posters have said. Perhaps when her child is in full time education.

I'm sure there are married/couples out there in a similar circumstances where one of them might want to retrain but finances don't allow. They will be expected to wait so why shouldn't anyone else.

And, sometimes you just have to face the fact that you may not get what you want, regardless of who's footing the bill.

WOW STOP THE PRESSES If having children was down to the OP alone and she had them without any help from a man then she should have enough money for her course from selling her story shouldnt she.
Not to mention a place in the Guinness Book of Records

Loans are available. Lots of people have to take them to get education.

But the day of getting it all for free are long gone, not just for single parents, either.

"Fee loans, maintenance loans, maintenance grants, childcare grants, university bursaries, access to learning bursaries, NHS social work bursary. Sorry but there is support out there."

They are just loans, though. However they are counted as income and these means that you cannot often claim HB whilst taking out these loans.

Only the fee and maintenance loans are loans which every student has to pay - regardless of circumstance. The rest do not have to be paid back. I believe you can get housing benefit if you have children while at university though. There are many single parents on my course and it is tough. I admire them hugely.

"I would much rather children and families in this country were served by the best possible social workers, not just the richest / most married ones."

Social work is no longer a middle class profession. You should sit in my lecture theatre, we are an extremely diverse bunch. Get some facts before you talk out of your arse.

Get father of your children to contribute more

She clearly had her children with help from a man, but it's the man she should be looking to for the support she needs both practically and financially.

If he is a knob and won't give any support, then that's just the way it is. Other taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the tab because of his twatishness.

I have no idea why people think they should.

Yes, people being trained as social workers is a good thing, but if there are two equally capable people and one needs government subsidies and the other doesn't, then it doesn't take a genius to work out that the one who will have the most benefit to society is the one who costs less to get qualified.

You can claim HB during term breaks.

kilmuir the father has severe mental health issues and is on benefits.

I think the issue is childcare and travel and expecting the government to provide monies for this for free/grants. But the reality is that this just isn't going to happen and hasn't for a long time.

Get father of your children to contribute more

How? please do tell, Im sure there are many many single mothers who would be grateful for your wisdom.

*you must have missed the part where the OP said her ex has severe mental health problems and unable to work? or do you have a magic fix for that too?

expat And there is money for higher education, just not for access to HE.

Clouds and trees. Well said! That's what I was trying to say. I'm crap at writing.

'Funding people going to uni benefits everyone in society, especially when we're talking about something like social work.'

That. Thats what we should be paying for. People like the OP who want to get of their arses instead of making it hard for them ffs. I wish I could direct my taxes to people like her instead of wars and Trident and cheap bars for MP's.

It's an awful shame that so many like op can never make their way in life.
The government moan about people on benefits, but do not allow those people anyway of gaining the qualifications they need to get a job that pays a decent wage and provides that person with a good living. It seems that once on benefits there is no way out, there aren't many unskilled jobs out there, yet so many more nurses, midwifes and social workers are needed-jobs that those short of money can only dream off.
The government needs to realise cutting things like this will only cause problems in the long run ie: not many midwifes, nurses, sw etc.

People on benefits often want to gain qualifications to gain a decent job but unfortunetly we are now stuck on the dole with no way out or stuck in a low paying job that isn't longterm

Aufanie what does what profession have to do with the price of fish?

Training shouldn't be subsidised for certain professions because people deem them more worthy or selfless.

I can think of a lot of professions I would put higher than most of the social workers I have had dealings with.

You will have to wait to retrain OP until your kids are both in full time education. You sound a bit like a small child stamping her feet because she can't have what she wants right now.