How do I find a teenage babysitter?

[StickyNote]

Does anyone have any good ideas as to how I could find a responsible teenager for babysitting? We've moved recently and there's no teenagers in the road, so bar accosting likely looking candidates in the street, I don't really know where to start.

TIA

Tricky one, stickynote. We have a 15 year old next door neighbour who's great but her parents will only let her do it in the holidays, in case it compromises her school work. Sorry to be no use.

Just an idea but could you ask at the local school? That way you would almost be getting a reference at the same time. They're hardly likely to suggest someone irresponsible.

It's difficult isn't it? I was rather hoping that there would be a nice friendly family with teenage kids living in the road but they're all either families with little kids or older couples. I'll try the school idea, thanks .

local church? sometimes organisers of youth clubs will know the sensible ones

Try finding out where the nearest college is which does NNEB/Nursery Nurse courses. The students are often glad of babysitting work, and you know that they are genuinely interested in children, and in theory anyway might know a little about what they are doing.

Nursery nurses at the local nursery school are sometimes good for babysitting. You could also put a note in the local newsagents and ask for references.... or just tell us where you are and there might be some MN down the road with a lovely 16 year old!

These are great ideas, thank you. I'm in South Bucks which is pretty short on MNetters full stop, let alone ones with teenagers!