what can ds do in post-GCSE summer holidays?

[lainiekazan]

Apart from Playstation, of course

The holidays are long after GCSEs and before sixth form. Dh has no possibility of taking leave so we are not going on holiday.

Ds cannot do a job (if there were any round here) as he is not 16 until the end of August. Likewise volunteering - his work experience placement was keen to have him back but is not allowed to do so until he is 16.

So... any suggestions? Ds is supremely unsporty so any kind of sports camp would be his idea of Room 101.

he might be allowed to volunteer at the library, be a computer buddy maybe

the National Trust organise weekly residential camps where the teenagers clear out canals that sort of thing, a lot of kids to it for their duke of Edinburgh award

You can volunteer under 16, not as many hours as someone 16+ though. Big charities often have volunteer schemes for you people. Also animal charities will often let kids come in over the holidays to help out.

I would recommend contacting the local volunteering assembly to find out if they have any opportunities.

If volunteering isn't his thing, how about giving him a project around the house, tidying up the garden, replanning his bedroom, sorting out the shed/garage, in return for some pocket money. He could offer to mow people's(neighbours) lawns/wash cars, etc. or learn how to cook?

You can do a paper round age 14 I think.

Is he into/or would he be into War Hammer. There is a massive community of young people into that and Games Workshop hold regular events throughout the holidays for people of all ages to get involved in.

Daughter's situation was similar. We went on holiday as a family for a week in the two week gap between her last but one GCSE and the final exam. Then later for a week in the UK. Could you go with a mate/one of his friends if your partner can't get leave.

My daughter was quite tired after a huge batch of GCSEs and really enjoyed having time seeing her friends, and chilling. Three of them went off camping. She also went to her first festival with a friend and friend's Mum.

You can send him on a residential holiday. Try Village Camps.

Do you have any money for him to do something or should it be free/earning?

Thanks. I think the National Trust camps insist you are 16, which is a nuisance, otherwise something like that would be excellent. Ds would be happy to do nothing for 3 months but I feel he should do something that isn't reading Empire and watching Portlandia for the nth time.

You could host foreign students and get him to look after them and give him the proceeds (minus food costs)?

DS2 has been looking into the National Citizen Service - sounds quite good.

Sadly that too has a 16 years age limit.

It's ridiculous that ds can in effect leave school for good but is unemployable/un-volunteerable.

With one eye on my DS's probable gap year after his Pre U's I'm behaving in a completely out of character way, spurred on by the thought that I'm absolutely determined he's not sitting around on the bloody computer doing nothing at my expense for a year, I've been looking at him gaining a formal recognised qualifications in one of his two favourite sports/hobbies. He can do these in the summer after his GCSE's you obviously have to pay for them but having gained a "level three " then his next step would be an instructor which he could do post Pre U and then maybe use it abroad or even do something in the UK. I've also looked at a life guard qualification and a recognised first aid course as well.

I know someone who did national citizen service, had a brilliant time, loved it, looks great on cv or uni app etc

And it is free....and residential

At under 16 you are somewhat limited.

Is he a film fan then? How close are you to London?

Have you looked into summer film schools where he could make a film?

My ds and quite a few of his friends did this - fab opportunity

You don't have to be 16 to work, though - at 15 you can work up to 35 hours a week in school holidays (12 hours/week in term time). (Info from the govt website here )

Round here the cafés would fall apart without very cheap 14/15 year old labour to clear tables, wash up and hang around looking hung over

MY DD did the National citizenship scheme for 4 weeks, she loved it and a good thing to put on yor CV apparently
www.ncsyes.co.uk

Mine did residential camps and met people from all over the world. They viewed it as a holiday and had a great time. There are all sorts of specialist camps to take various interests into account.

He can do odd jobs for neighbours, I have a lovely 14 year old neighbour who cleans my car, does a bit of weeding, hangs out with my 12 year old (ie: babysitting but we can't call it that ). Another neighbour has asked him to paint their fence. It keeps him busy and he earns some money.

Ooh sorry, missed the bit about not being 16 till end of August. Bummer. Could you ask anyway about it? I can't remember DD having to provide any proof or etc of her age....

Most of these suggestions are great - but for 16 year olds. I have a summer born too, and it is hard as there is no flexibility: even if your birthday is within days they cannot take you. It is hard for them to go on holiday with their mates, too, as youth hostels now say you have to be 16 to stay independently, most campsites won't take them etc.

YHA summer camps are open to under-16s - I don't know what they are like. Organisations such as the National Trust also run family volunteering holidays (so you'd have to go too), but I don't know what the chances of there being any other 15 year olds there are. The BBC takes under 16s on work experience - you can search their website for relevant dates. You might find other organisations will take him but I get the impression everyone is very concerned about safeguarding for under 16s nowadays.

There are also theatre summer schools (probably quite expensive). And these www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, also pricey but they take kids from 15 into the older age group.

It is a tricky one though because a lot of the things he is allowed to do will be primarily aimed at younger children and set up with different levels of supervision and so on. He may well not want to be lumped in with 12 and 13 year olds, when his mates are doing much more exciting stuff with 17 and 18 y olds!

There is definitely a market for the - what one-sixth? - of year 11s who finish their exams in June but are not 16 till July or August and so count as children for anything independent.

Heaps of private schools run some sort of summer camp over the summer - some residential, some day-camps.

Also, Unis often run summer schools for Year 10s/going into Year 11 for specific subjects - a few examples .....

www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/widening-participation/prosp-students/horizons/pre-16/yr10-summer-school

www.liv.ac.uk/educational-opportunities/residentials/Year_10_Dangerous_Science.htm

Have a look at activity camps overseas. Goethe Instit run great 3 week football camps with German, with classes for beginners, and there will be others in other languages.

How about helping at a total immersion English camp for Spanish teens? I did this a couple of years ago (the adult camp) and its brilliant, well run and professional. All you pay for is a flight to and from Madrid and a nights accommodation either side of the week/fortnight camp. All camp accommodation, food, activities, etc are provided. I plan to send my DS when he's 13 (they only accept 13-18s in education)
diverbo

Try and get involved in the National Citizens service programme. It was devised for those who had finished their GCSE and the next stage of their life. Its 3 consecutive weeks:
Week 1: Outward bound week.
My dh dd did: Gill scrambling, rowing, climbing, walking, camping, abseiling and mountain biking all in one week! Definitely going to recommend this to the others when they get to that age.
Week 2: Living independently with a group. The same group of young people that attended the outward bound week.
Week 3: Volunteering in the community. With the group on a project. EG. painting a community centre and helping the kids club.

This can also lead to other things especially if dc is interested.
EG. Young Recruiters and Young evaluators courses.
Volunteering updates
New interests in the outdoors

Its very worth while and is funded by the government except from the £10 to cover outward bound equipment.

Highly recommended if you have some where in your area that is doing it.