Can I fix this?

[WigglesWaggles]

I am a newly single mum of 2 boys and one has additional needs the other is a baby. I am currently receiving benefits and thankful we have a system like this. However, I am struggling so much day to day. I have no real 'skills' and at the moment being there for the DC means I cannot go out to work and afford suitable childcare.
I'd love one day to have my own business but I feel you need to spend money to make money in some sense. I guess I'm looking for advice on ways to make money from home around the children.
I didn't have the greatest start as a child and want to give my children more and prove everyone wrong. I just want to be comfortable. I know I am not the only one in this situation and I know only I can change it. Any advice or pointers would be really helpful.

I was self employed for 20 years before I left my husband, the variation in income was ok when I was in a couple but as a single mum I decided that I needed a regular wage so I went back to college and retrained as an accountant. I have fixed hours and paid holidays now which is much easier to manage around the kids.
Do you have any school qualifications?

Thanks for your reply @MissSmiley
Well done you! It's very hard going from a joint income household to being alone and on benefits. I do not unfortunately. I grew up in foster care and was regularly moved homes and therefore schools. I never sat any exams or went to college. I would 100% have more options open to me if this wasn't the case.

If you have little to no qualification you can unskill for free in government funded courses. There are loads of providers just Google search

How old are you? I think some services are specially for young adults.
Try calling the national careers service for advice (gov website) 0800 100 900, they should be able to tell you what free education you can access and if you qualify for free childcare to do it

I am 28. Thanks so much for the info.. I have done two funded courses at a level 1, customer service and also a Understanding Mental Health course.

What about a job somewhere like McDonald's or Lidl where they promote more quickly?

You can do level 2 and level 3 funded as well ,in a variety of courses. Level 3 is A level so well worth doing

You're more capable than you give yourself credit for. Have a look at Open University access courses, which will prepare you for degree level study.

www.open.ac.uk/courses/do-it/access?ps_kw=open%20university%20access%20course&cid=sem-7551142525&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvOLZgNyf9QIVSeR3Ch2isgmvEAAYAiAAEgKrkfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Learn to program if you have any aptitude for it. That’s a route to highly paid remote employment.

@WigglesWaggles I went to college one day a week to do AAT when I was on maternity leave with my second child. I did the first set of exams when she was 5 months old and fully breastfed. Then I had twins and finished the qualification a few years later, now I have a training contract to do CIMA and a full time job. You can make it, don't feel guilty about putting your kids in childcare, it will benefit you all in the long run