Where can i go for careers advice/guidance?

[queenrollo]

I have been out of work for nearly three years (SAHM)....previously self employed in a retail business.
I want to start on the path to a career, but haven't ever really had any direction. I have an area of work in mind, mainly counselling/communicating with people in this way somehow. Friends have suggested nurse training but i'm not sure that's really the path i want to take.

Where do i go for some professional advice and guidance on what courses/employer opportunities would suit me? everywhere round here stops giving careers advice when you hit 25......i'm 32.

have you tried your local jobcenter? the gov are really into to trying to get parents back to work at the mo so they have advisors there or parhaps your local college or uni? they would be happy to give advice on courses

never had much luck with our job centre.....they just want to hand out application forms for nursing home jobs. i guess i could go down there and see if i can get some sense out them!
local colleges are a bit hit and miss, but i guess it's worth a try.

I'll be following this thread with interest as I'm thinking of a career change. I can see that there is advice available on the www.prospects.ac.uk website - all sorts of different things available, but at a cost. And it's for graduates only I think.