help me to help a 15 year old who has NO family support

[colditz]

She wants to do a hairdressing course next year (she is nearly 16)

She has NO income, and lives with a friend of her distant relatives. The woman she lives with is elderly and disabled and cannot afford to pay for her equipment, which will come to around £200.

Her family won't. She says her mother will say she will help, but will bung her £10 and say she hasn't got any more. She is very stressed, saying she doesn't know how to get 'grants and stuff' and worried that she won't be able to start this course.

She is hell bent on doing this course. I really don't believe it's just a whim.

She's vaguely related to my neighbour, which is how I know her - the neighbour can't afford to help her at all.

What can I do to help this poor girl? I can't afford to pay for it myself or I would - but she needs the equipment by September.

I'm so, so angry that she is so worried about this, that she is even in a position that she is worrying about if she can afford to complete her education, I feel I must do something.

I think this is what Social services class a 'private fostering arrangement' and really should be involved.

If the girl is 15 then she should still be at school. It sounds like she should be at the end of Year 10 and just about to start Year 11. This would mean that she couldn't go to college next year. Ask her what school she goes to.

If she has to go the following year it will give her time to raise the money. Contact the CAB to see if there are charitable trusta that will provide money for equipment. Otherwise she could get a bank loan (perhaps) and repay the money with her EMA money (a Credit Union would be better though - again CAB should know if one is in the area.)

Rob - depends when her birthday is!

RobAnthony - she's nearly 16 and has just sat her GCSE's, and banks don't loan to under 18s in any case.

i think it might be sorted out now anyway, but I'm waiting to find out about what they are doing to support her in the long term.

Hi Colditz - did this get sorted out?

Try:

The local council
The Lion's club
The Rotary club
Gabbitas

These have all given me money towards educational things in the past :-)

SS should definitely be involved - I agree it sounds like a private fostering arrangment - not that uncommon, in most schools I've worked in we've always had at least one Yr 11 pupil in this type of situation - often moving in with a school friend's parents.

Just to let you know that you HAVE to let SS know that she is in a private Fostering arrangement with a non family member because she is under 16 - please contact them

www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/safeguardingandsocialcare/safeguardingchildren/privatefostering/fostering/