Is this a bad idea?

10 replies

noddyholder · 14/04/2011 14:22

We stopped giving my ds his allowance apart from the phone when he started college as he was entitled to EMA in the 1st year which was as much as we used to give him.This was also to encourage him to find a p/t job. There are absolutely NO jobs here as there are also 2 unis and 2 art colleges and students everywhere.Now that EMA has been cancelled he is going to be penniless and I don't want to just hand him £ again as he is fairly lazy. And his tutors have said having a job would be good for his dyspraxia. I have now decided that maybe if he gets a voluntary job of which there are 1000s in Brighton I will start his allowance again so effectively I am paying him! Ran this by some RL friends and they say no but I don't know what else to do!

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Sarsaparilllla · 14/04/2011 15:10

I don't think that's the worst idea in the world actually at least he'd be doing something in order to get his allowance rather than you just handing it over!

I assume if he missed a volunteering shift you'd deduct his allowance? Could he volunteer somewhere that'd give him experience in an area he wants to work in eventually or would support his college work?

sharbie · 14/04/2011 15:14

sounds good to me - good luck

adamschic · 14/04/2011 15:16

I think it's a good idea if he has tried and failed to find a paid job and you can afford it, it's not great being college age and having no money, he will need funds for lunches etc. My DD gets EMA, tiny bit of maintenance that she has access to for unusual expenses, driving fees etc. She also works a few hours at the weekend and does some voluntary work. I think volunteering is really good for them at this age.

How much EMA is he getting, the recipients of the £30 a week will still get £20 next year but nothing for the £20 and £10.

Original poster

noddyholder · 14/04/2011 15:19

Well it would probably be a charity shop as there are plenty here. They are full of young trendy students and I think it would help his organisation skills to actually WORK! He wants to be a film editor so no call for that voluntarily! He is out filming today so gets plenty of experience tbh. I think he needs a job in the real world to teach him some basic skills like cash handling and dealing with the public and just having to be somewhere etc.He will still be looking for a part time job but it seems impossible atm

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Original poster

noddyholder · 14/04/2011 15:20

He will get nothing next year

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missymayhemsmum · 15/04/2011 22:30

Sounds like not a bad plan, maybe the allowance should come with the same strings as EMA, eg good attendance at college etc.
I would have thought there would be lots of voluntary organisations would like short promo films done. Having a video on your website is all the rage. Could he do this kind of work experience which would help his CV?
What would your son prefer? to go back to getting an allowance from you to support him in his college work (which may feel like a step back from the independence of EMA) or to try first to get a part time job, or maybe babysitting/ odd jobs?
My son got bored with a cafe job and now busks with his fiddle when he wants cash!

Maryz · 15/04/2011 23:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

crystalglasses · 15/04/2011 23:54

It's an excellent idea as he will learn lots of skills like customer care, use of the till, stock control and display, plus enhance his CV

Shoesytwoesy · 15/04/2011 23:59

just seen this, sounds good, a couple of ds's mates did voluntarily work just so they could put it on thier cv's, so your ds will get the extra bonus of being paid, with ds I paid him for helping with his sister.
(Noddy heck out meet up thread)

notremotelyintofootie · 16/04/2011 17:12

Voluntary work looks great on ucas applications for uni too!

Go for it!

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