Careers advice needed for bored sahm of 3

[mam29]

im 32 and sahm mum as hubby does long hours.

I really fancied doing social work and went to look local uni and loved the course and the campus.

barriers are 9grand a year tuition fees.

100day placement ideally would need to learn to drive-more expense.
childcare-would definatly need as no family to help

funding -yes could get bursery and small loan but as I have done a 1st degree after college loans wont fund 2nd degrees.

by way my 1st degree is business and legal studies-got a third as messed up my final year:(. hubby annoys me saying a thirds equivilant of gcse in his days he dident do a levels or degree.

I fell into retail managemnt after uni and dident really enjoy it.
plus definatly not child freindly career.

considered teaching and nursing.

but teaching very competative even ta courses now very popular.
plus not sure if its for me as only got d at matchs and science gcse and need c in english, maths and science. I got my english.

I did at further education level

advanced gnvq business and finance-felt wasent considered as good as a levels when applying to uni.

I then went college and did 2a levels in a year

law-I loved this alevel wa mostly criminal law.

socialolgy-I really liked and wondered about doing course in this but not sure how it would help me with jobs in future.

My bsc business and legal studies I found quite boring as as hated the accountancy module and most of law was civil contract, european law.

looked at open uni and wondered about joint ba in law and sociology.
I would enjoy it but what kind of job could i get with that?

the cost is huge

£2500 a year for 60credits-degree worth 360- so would take me 6years and £15,000 .

I guess in future when kids older and we better off financially the social work degree might be doable.

Because courses so expensive im worried about doing things just for fun as think it needs to help me in future.

could i get onto masters with my third in business and finance?

Other random interest into the mix.

floristry
interior design or art.

How do i find out more about ou?

confused by how it works. could my 1st degree count as credits?
can i mix up 60 credit courses to make a degree,if wanteda diploma is that less credits and less time?

do they do any short courses that maybe worth doing?

i have 3years until all my kids in primary.
dont want to waste the next 3years.

ideally courses need to be distance learning
affordable.

sorry for so many questions.

want to do something useful, that i enjoy

Think so many people rushed into uni at 18-19a nd now regreetting it as the new system seems to punish mature learners who done previous degrees.

posted on fe board too as dident realise this one existed.

wish i knew what I want to do when grow up.

I think you'd struggle to get on a social work course unless you have some significant social care experience that you've not mentioned here, most courses look for at least 2 years. You will need your C in Maths for social work too. Social work courses and positions for newly qualified staff are very competitive at the moment, at the last count I think it was something like a 3rd of newly qualified workers could not find qualified roles. Social work is a fantastic career choice if you are robust and fiercely committed to its cause but it's not a good career to just fall into imo. I'm not saying your not these things by the way, I'm just giving a word of caution as two of my friends have recently fallen into social work and they got the shock of their lives. On the flip side I qualified years ago and love it.

Do you have a real passion for social work? I think it's really hard going unless you are determined you want to do it for the rest of your life.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years time?

i do feel it would be career i would enjoy.

I volunteer as peer supporter at breastfeeding group at local clinic.had to do course with midwife for that one.

I am on primary pta which means working with children as we run film club, discos ect.

I also volunterr at eldests rainbows once a term and when middle child starts preschool we have to volunteer termly.

plus I have 3kids 4including stepson whos had a few troubles.

been through carew system myself as young child.

so given all this i do feel its career I would like and enjoy.

but dont think could even consider it until 3years time.

so what do I do in mean time?

what courses may help me get on degree?

would ou in social sceinces be a good one?

only other option i maybe considered is floristry and setting up my own shop but in recession and not quite knowing what a qualified florist needs im not sure.

looked up ics in floristry but unsure how good ics courses and qualifications are as seems very cheap.

Your insight as a care leaver yourself will be valued, but IMO none of the other things you mentioned are relevant to the social work degree. Volunteering at Rainbows and school discos are pleasant experiences and no doubt have developed your people skills etc but I'm not sure how this translates to a highly pressured environment where you will be forced to assess and analyse the absolute darkest aspects of humanity on a day to day basis. In my experience social work is not a job people like or enjoy, it invokes anger, disgust, fury and only those with a well developed sense of social justice and a ferocious kind of compassion are able to do it well. Could you use these interim few years to get a bit more experience in the field before committing to the course?

Watching with interest as I too am considering retraining as a social worker... I have posted on the returning to work subject...