To set up a crowd fund to pay for my post graduate degree?

[Spiceupyourlife1989]

I don’t have the funds to pay it and am currently living on a low income, topped up by universal credit.
I know the post grad loans are £11,500 or thereabouts, but that’s to pay for course fees AND to live on without help, I won’t be able to do it. I want to improve my job prospects, specifically for my toddler son, who I don’t want to end up going without, particularly when he starts school.

How do you think people do it normally?
How come you haven’t been able to use your first degree to get a reasonably paid job?
It sounds great but I’m not sure there are an abundance of play therapy jobs out there? (I may be wrong on this)

Do it! It sure beats depending on top ups from the govt. The right people will support you.

No.

Not a chance. YABVU.

Can’t you get a job whilst doing the degree? What is it you do now?

Is there an option to study part time or in a modular way?

I’m making an assumption you may have a previous qualification in something like early years or social sciences. I think you’d get decent work part time in a field that would link to play therapy and if it’s possible to study part time, it would compliment this. And it spreads the costs out for you.

I’ve always studied and worked and sometimes near the start of my career yes it’s been tight but honestly it’s an investment and a great thing to do. Good luck.

Give it a try if you want. I’d be staggered if you actually managed to raise the necessary funds though.

Parents if a local child are raising funds to send her to dance school. They were trying to raise £12000 a year for board, food etc. I think it is a three year course, so £36000 in all. When I checked the page they had just eight donations, the last some weeks ago.
I don’t think people will donate towards something they couldn’t afford for themselves or their children, unless it is a deserving cause such as medical treatment/a last wish for a suck child, etc.

I want to improve my job prospects, specifically for my toddler son, who I don’t want to end up going without, particularly when he starts school.

Then make use of the qualifications you have already.

If you don't try, you don't get.

Mumsnet HATES these crowdfunder websites but they do work. People do donate.

Mumsnet posters always act like if you ask for something, you must think you're somehow super special and deserving of something that others want but can't have too. It's obviously not that at all. It literally comes down to - some people ask, and others accept that they can't have it and move on.

I personally wouldn't use crowdfunder as my pride wouldn't allow it, but one of my best friends has always been a bit ... For want of a better word, 'cheeky'. And I often feel envious of her because she will put herself out there (even to the point of being, what I would consider, vaguely outrageous) but she often DOES get what she wants in the end!

Was she more deserving than me or anyone else? No, in many ways, but also yes, because she swallowed her pride and asked.

Is being so proud that you never ask for anything a good trait, like many Mumsnet posters imply? I am too proud so I often don't get what I want. She loses her pride and does. I envy her a bit.

I say go for it, if you're brave enough!

You'll improve your sons prospects more by actually getting a job and not relying on UC and Instilling in him a better work ethos.....

You've got a degree you don't surely need another. And if it's required as part of your career most employers are happy to pay for post grads to be undertaken part time whilst you also work.....

I know somebody who is qualifying as a proper accredited play therapist. Every single person on the course also has a full-time job, and fits the course in around that. I wouldn’t contribute to this. You might just need to wait until your child is at school and then do a course. In the meantime try and get as much experience working with children as you can.

While play therapy is important, what's not clear is wether you need this to improve your prospects.

Or can you use your current degree to improve it, the do the PG later.

At the moment it sounds more like you want to do the PG, you could inporve your situation without it. But that's not what you want and planning on using your 'I want to give my son a better life' as your patter to gain sympathy and donations

30 or 40 years ago, a single mother wanting to do a masters would have garnered interest and sympathy.

Now, a large percentage of women are single mothers, benefits, subsidised child care and loans exist to smooth the pathway. You already have a degree so there is no reason why you can't get a half decent job now or pay for your own masters.

I personally wouldn't donate but then I find crowdfunding begging to be crass.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

SCORES of women with or without children would love to improve their educational prospects and enhance their careers, however a post grad is a luxury when you’re already educated at degree level. I’d honestly be wondering what made you think you are so special that other people should pay for you to achieve this?

Same.

Crowdfunding is begging. Just because it’s online doesn’t make it any less begging than if you were standing on the street with a begging bowl. The begging bowl is just virtual.

IME people who end up doing degree after degree without having a job into the mix are just delaying the need to work for a living. They’re like professional students, and in this instance you think the public should pay for it.

How about you get a job and pay for it yourself.

Meanwhile I really need a job and no-one will give me one because I have a disability. Perhaps I should set up a crowdfunder because I really fancy a holiday. ;)

If you have a degree and it's not helped your job prospects, why do you think an additional qualification will?

I wouldn't contribute to this OP. Sorry.

Not the kind of thing I'd donate to. I donate to people who genuinely need help and have been through a really tough time. Somebody's further education? No, that's a luxury, not something you're entitled to. It's up to you to fund that yourself.

Nice try 😂 I won’t be contributing! Some employers pay for post grad qualifications though so look into that. My husband’s in the MOD and he’s just done a fully paid for Masters. They occasionally consider PHDs but he doesn’t want to do that.

You don't seem to have bothered to get a job to pay for it. Why should others pay for your easy life?

I have only donated once to one of these pages to help send a very sick child (who I knew) to America for treatment (which worked thankfully). However, I'm afraid I would not donate to your page but that doesn't mean others wouldn't. There are so many more worthy causes, sorry.

You think you need a masters in play therapy? That's the most mickey mouse course I have ever heard of.
Incidentally I found play therapists fairly useless when my DS was undergoing serious surgery & treatment ... perhaps they lacked formal qualifications but all they seemed to do was hold up a Where's Wally book while the needle went in.

There's actually an article on prospects.ac.uk encouraging people to do this and telling them how to go about it. 😐

Each year I have a small pot I use for charity donations and sponsorship etc, theres no way I'd donate to your cause

It wouldn't be unreasonable of itself OP, but I doubt there will be many contributors.

I don't think the OP is coming back.