Advice/Suggestions please to keep DD1 entertained during her long summer hols post GCSE's

[Sonnet]

I am searching for some advice/suggestions to keep my DD1 (16) "entertained" during her long sumer hols post GCSE's. Some background first:

we live rurally, fields surround us and she would have to walk a mile and a half down a busy country road without a pavement to get to the bus stop and access the infrequent bus service.

Both DH & I will be at work

We normally have a 2 week family holiday but this year due to financial pressue we are going without. DD1 is quite down about this

Dd1 has friends but they live scattered over a wide radius and she cannot get there without us to take and pick up - thereofre needs to be planned and for a whole day.

She has 1 weeks work experience to look forward to (she is dreading it as rather reserved - but has to do it for school)

So faced with this scenario - what would you mumsnetters do or suggest?
TIA

[FoundAChopinLizt]

Also if she's a fit type there are grouse beating jobs in Scotland where you live in as well. We used to get £££s for that.

[NotaDisneyMum]

I will have to prod her along...where do teenagers get jobs these days?

I always have teens coming into my shop asking for work - the ones that show some initiative, I ask for their phone numbers and have given hours to one or two as needed - the ones who don't seem keen, don't know their phone number or aren't really interested, I don't bother!
I've had a few parents coming in with their DC or even asking on behalf of their DC's - thats a red flag to me - I want to employ someone with initiative, not someone who needs their Mum or Dad to find them a job!

Perhaps if she's lacking confidence then some form of personal development programme might be a good idea? There are a few aimed at teens; the school could probably advise? She'll get overlooked for work unless she can come across to prospective employers as confident, capable and willing.

[chocoluvva]

SU camp for a week?

[twentyten]

my dd is volunteering at a primary school post gcse's-could she do that near where you or dh work?
Local authorities often have get volunteering schemes on their websites.
Is she into crafts?Make cards etc to sell?could she do some work experience where you work?

My dd has a jar of pieces of paper she writes things she wants to do post exams-books/computer games etc......

[StabInTheDark]

Can thoroughly recommend National Citizen Service if they have it where you are. DD1 has done it twice now and is looking to volunteer as a group leader this summer she loved it so much! Brilliant for building confidence, particularly.

[Sonnet]

Thank you all. Will have a serious chat with her at the weekend. I really line the look of the citizen course. I hope she will too. Her big issue will be not knowing anyone, but also why it will be good for her.
I love the jar idea twentyten

What is SU camp chocoluvva ?

[crazypippa]

I feel very sorry for your DD - what does she normally do during summer hols. Could she not spend some time with friends. My son joined army cadets absolutely wonderful keeps him so busy and they do a 2 week camp at summer. Would recommend

[exexpat]

Even if you can't afford a family holiday, might you be able to afford to send her for a week to some kind of summer camp with activities she'd be interested in, eg YHA summer camps or one of the PGL or Camp Beaumont ones aimed at teenagers?

Or could she go off and do something low-budget like camping or youth-hostelling with a friend? The summer after my o-levels a friend and I spent a week youth-hostelling around the Lake District, and the next year we did Devon and Cornwall.

[givemeaclue]

I agree re the youth hostels, its not expensive and she would have a great time and be having a holiday.

[mummytime]

Sorry to bring the tone down, but depending on what she is doing next, she could do a lot worse than doing some study. There is a big gap between GCSE and a'level. CGP produce some books to help bridge this gap.

I tried very hard to get my DS to do some last summer, and it would have helped a lot.

[chocoluvva]

SU is Scripture Union - a non-denominational Christian organisation which promotes bible study. You don't have to be a Christian to go on their youth holidays. They're not free, unless they offer grants for households in financial need, which they might.... but they're comparatively cheap. Activities usually involve things like, hill-climbing, go-karting, wild camping etc.

[ninja]

Sorry, haven't read all of these but at her age I went on work camps, loads of fun. Cathedral camps used to take 16 year olds. Lots of kids a similar age, voluntary work

[ninja]

Just checked, they've changed their name to CSV Heritage camps and cost £200 for the week. They do take 16 year olds

[ninja]

If you google volunteer work camps in UK, there's a Guardisn article that has details of loads of opportunities, many open to 16 year olds. Will link later if I get a chance

[Sonnet]

Just seen all these updates - thanks

We are now going on a 2 week family holiday and she is also doing the national citizen service. She has also devised a list of books she wants to read, going to reading festival, a weeks work experience and a D of E trip that was postponed due to the weather earlier this year.
Thank you all