paying for childcare whilst volunteering

howdidthishappen

Hi I was hoping someone might be able to advise me. I am lookng at starting a part time NVQ in January which involves 1 night a week at college. In order to be eligable for the course I need a placement in that line of work. I have wrote to every establishmen in my area with regards to this, and all have said they would take me in an unpaid capacity only as i do not yet have any qualifications. The problem being i have a 20 month old little girl who would have to go to nursery whilst i was on placement but if im not getting paid i would not be able to afford this. Does anyone know if i could get help with the cost of childcare?

Thanks in advance

bestpud

Do you have a partner, and if so, does he/she work?

JimmyTheWig

Option 1 - can you find a placement where you can take your daughter with you?
Option 2 - get funding. Contact your local Families Information Service and ask them if they've got anything. Round here they had funding until recently.

howdidthishappen

thanks for the replies guys.

bestpud i am married and my DH works fulltime.

jimmy i will definately contact them thank you. it is a nursery nurse i am wanting to train as and all nurseries i have been in touch with have said i can take dd but would have to pay £65 a week for her

bestpud

If you can hold off until your dd is three, she will be eligible for free childcare.

Is that an option for you?

Do you claim tax credits? Have you checked you are getting everything you are entitled to benefit wise at the moment?

JimmyTheWig

howdidthishappen wrote: »

it is a nursery nurse i am wanting to train as and all nurseries i have been in touch with have said i can take dd but would have to pay £65 a week for her

Have you got a local Children's Centre? Would you be able to help out there with your daughter?

JimmyTheWig

Good thinking, bestpud. Depending on income and how much you pay out for childcare you can claim some (most, sometimes) back in tax credits. Income limits are quite harsh, though.

howdidthishappen

bestpud we do claim tax credits but im guessing they wont help extra towards childcare if im not in paid employment we also dont qualify for any other benefit (except cb)

jimmy we do have a new childrens centre locally, i will also look into this as im not entirely sure what the childrens centre is or what it does. Is it like a nursery?

bigbill

Most organisations who use volunteers pay all out of pocket expenses, many include childcare as eligable, ask them?

[Deleted User]

As it is not paid employment there would be no help from TCO I'm afraid.

Good luck finding something.

JimmyTheWig

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

As it is not paid employment there would be no help from TCO I'm afraid.

But OP's OH works full time, so as a family unit they will at least be entitled to apply, surely?