How do you find babysitting work?

[mouldycabbage]

I'm looking for babysitting work in the Scarborough area. I have experience but am looking for more as I'm hoping to apply for an aupair programme next year. I'm over 21, recent CRB, have my own transport and can work afternoons, evenings and weekends.

Is anyone interested?
Could anyone offer any advice on how to go about finding work?
Where do parents look when they need a babysitter?

I grew up in the North West and regularly babysat for a family over a few years, but now I'm in a different area and can't seem to find the right contacts. I've babysat on odd occasions over the last few years since I've been here and spend a lot of time caring for my 3 year old niece.

I've tried to find local online notice boards but there doesn't seem to be any or they are very well hidden! I've been into some convenience shops to look at notice boards but so far haven't found anything. I put a poster up a few weeks ago in the shop where my mum works and only found 1 contact with no work yet.

I'd be really grateful if you could offer some advice.

Many thanks!

IMO word of mouth personal recommendation is the way to get it!

personal recommendation is probably the best. Let everyone you know know you are looking for baby sitting work. Other than that have you tried gumtree.com? Also see if you can put notices everywhere that parents are likely to be (church and community halls where parent and toddler groups meet, cafes that are popular with groups of mums, doctors waiting rooms if they will let you)
where are you? someone here may need a baby sitter.

You could try advertising on gumtree.com

I'm in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. I have my own car so I'll be interested in anything in the area.

Word of mouth would be ideal but the problem is I can't find the initial people, I'm trying to find those first few who would then hopefully have friends to recommend me to. I've asked a few friends/colleagues if they know anyone but they tend to have grown up children or just dont need a babysitter at the moment. I don't want to go asking everyone at work (pt admin assistant) as it may look like I'm planning to leave (or not being paid enough) and being temp it could cause problems.

I did have a look on gumtree but the York site looks like it doesnt get used much - under the childcare section were just people looking for work. The London section was packed full of families looking for childcare so I was quite disappointed when it wasn't the same for near me.

I know I've got to be patient but I need to gather 200 hours of recent non-family experience before I can apply to the au pair programme.

Join sitters.co.uk

They will get you any local work. I,m up north & get regular work from them, it,s only minimum wage £5.50 hr , but its evenings & all children are allready in bed or just need settling with stories etc.

I'm a babysittier in york and have tried nearly every free website there is and still have found nothing. I would really like to babysit as I need a few references to help with my childcare course I am going to start next year. I have expereince with children up to 12 years old.