Desperate to work - help!!

[sharron6970]

Hi,
Really need some help. I am wanting to go back to work and looking at working with kids, pref in a school. My local authority are not employing support staff. I would be looking at getting 16-25 hrs pwk. Situation is I am going to taken off Income Support and onto JSA come end of dec, and I do not want to sign on (if possible). If i went for a job of say 6-8 hrs pwk, I would be forced to look for another job of 10 hrs in order to sign off. However, I am a single parent and have no other support at home, so how could I work two jobs in order to sign off that works around the hrs of childcare? Getting really depressed about this, and do not know which way to turn. Any help greatly appreciated!

Are you me?

I'm struggling too sharron6970. Like you I am approaching my date and tbh having been a sahm for the last 8 years the thought of getting a nice 16 hoursish job getting me out meeting adults again etc was beginning to appeal. I have started looking but there is bugger all about. I too am interested in working in schools but very little there, general office admin etc very thin on the ground. Shop and restaurants etc may be a little more but where I am happy to make use of after school club, nurseries etc for childcare (remember your 80% childcare tax credits) I would struggle with evenings and weekends as no childcare then.

What makes it worse was supposed to start uni this sept and bottled it and scarpered. So so so wish I'd stayed :(

Hi Mspontipine,
Lol you are me!!! :) About to look on directgov in a bit, but I know there will be nothing for me to go for as it will be evenings, nights, working 5 days out of 7 etc-all of which I cannot do...arrghh!!

What course were going to do and which uni? A couple of friends of mine started last year and this year, but with budget cuts, they are going to really struggle over the next 3/4 years. Glad to know I'm not alone in my thinking!

Have you looked at TA and lunchtime staff jobs? Or you could ask at very busy local pubs and restaurants if they need people for lunchtime shifts. They're usually 10.30 or 11.am-2.30 or 3pm so fit really well with the school day. Same with city sandwich shops that have a lunchtime rush but don't need people all day.
May not be an ideal job but it's a start. I used to work in catering and it's amazing how many regular customers end up asking for your CV. If they see you work hard and get on with people they are interested in hiring you themselves.