your best suggestions for a new line of work... for me...

[ruffletheanimal]

i am
-35
-mother of 3 (born '03, '04 and '06)
-sahm (shacked up, financially supported by dp)
-quals: gcse's('92), half a business diploma ('94), half an early years teaching qual ('04), basic cert in interior design ('06)
-experience: anything you don't need quals, but a brain is useful for inc all hospitality/retail/office sort of stuff. and used to be a pretty good croupier. as you do.
-have time to train or work PT
-don't want to study for 3 billion years before being able to work (so degrees are out coz id need to do maths gcse just to get onto a levels to get onto access course to even begin a degree)
-something like an apprenticeship would be ace - i can afford to work for nuffin to start with
-can possibly look at starting own business
-am creative (tho not wildly talented at any 'art' in particular), people-y, pacifist, caring, like outdoors, need variety, would like to feel like I'm adding to the world in some way (wouldn't we all?)
-located: pretty rural but close to cities, in the south (if thats relevant??)
-have 'only' been mulling this Q over for about 30-odd years.

entire first wage packet goes to the suggestion that actually works out !

Could you set up a charity?

It would be similar to a business in some respects, and there maybe some help out there. That would require someone who is creative, intelligent, peopley, caring and needs variety, but quals aren't a necessity.

I know this is a bit out there but its probs the path of least resistance in the current climate.

its a reasonable suggestion, thanks HH.
i think the natural first step towards that is to do more voluntary work for other charities... which is def something I'm into. i do a bit of voluntary work atm, am v happy to increase that. i just think it'd be good to have some sort of endgame in mind so my efforts and time now are 'useful' in getting wherever it is I'm going... :clear as mud:

what about training as a samaritan?

I'm on a pretty high dose of ADs myself Silence, don't think it'd be a good idea.

To get on to an Access course you don't need A levels or GCSEs. Have just checked my local college website and it says GCSEs in Maths and English are desirable but not essential and you can do them alongside their Access courses if you don't have them. And you don't need any qualifications to start studying with the Open University (also cheaper than conventional universities).

People of all ages can do apprenticeships now - why don't you get the prospectus of your local further education college and see what they offer? You can also check out their Access courses.

As for careers it sounds like any of the caring professions would suit you - teaching, social work, nursery nursing, professions allied to medicine (nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry etc.).

Could you look into interior design? It wouldn't have to be at degree level - you could do a btec and then plunge in.

Or could you train as a CAB advisor? If you're keen and find you enjoy it, you could apply for paid roles that come up once you're up to speed.

Direct selling such as Usborne Books, Avon, Jamie at Home etc? Very family orientated - work when you want, as much as you want, and the challenge of getting your business going. I 'do' Usborne and LOVE it!

Good luck with where it leads you!

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