Work following a child's bereavement

property.advert

My heartfelt condolences on your loss. As a parent I cannot imagine how hard it must be on you both. I wish you well.

Practically, I think you have to start from the other end. As finances are a consideration, rather than doing something and then wondering what can be earned from that skill, if anything, I would look at current businesses which are flourishing, seeing where you could add another dimension or fit into that working environment and think about it as a business because I think at best, it would be on a commission basis.

Even when I was earning very well, the cost of a professional massage at my then gym was very expensive and above that which I thought was fair. Thus, even though I could easily afford it, I did not use the service because of, in my opinion, too high pricing. Had someone offered a better priced alternative, then I would have jumped at the chance.

Now if there was over capacity at a gym (just an example) then could your wife "hire a chair" (as hairdressers do - though this would be a salon room) for one day a week or two half days and start by offering £5 or £10 an hour sessions ? It would lose money at first but you would be able to work out beforehand where your break even point was and the cheap starting prices would probably generate some trade. Maybe the outlet would give you some free time if they had spare capacity.

This would all be after training I agree but looking at what works and what is wanted could perhaps help to guide your wife in what training she really needs.

perplexed.com

I don't have any real practical advice but just wanted to say I really feel for you and your wife. I lost a baby ( 5mths of age ) some years ago and it hurts so much, affecting you in every way for a long time. One thing I know is that just when you think you're thinking and feeling normally and making decisions rationally, you look back a year later and realise you weren't.
So I would suggest that you take everything slowly and surely and not make any decisions that you can't reverse. And be prepared for changing your mind again later.

Pennylane

Very, very sorry to hear about your daughter.

A very good course is via the VTCT - Swedish Massage (which is approx 1 year at college part-time) and includes Anatomy & Physiology, how to run your business, Health & Safety and much more, as well as the practical massage and working on clients. It's a level 3 course and I think I'm right in saying, equivalent to 2 A levels.

Check out whether she could get help from the National Extension College who are working in conjunction with the Princess Royal Trust to enable carers to access educational courses.

Also Age Concern were offering training grants in some areas for carers (even though it is AGE concern you didn't have to be caring for an OLDER person.)

I know, sadly, your wife is no longer a "carer" but I'm sure one of these will help if they can.

Also see what courses are on offer at your local colleges and there are all sorts of reductions available if you're on Income Support, unemployed etc. You can check all this online.

Hope your wife realises her dream and best wishes to you both.

elfen

Think she may be eligible to get a college course free if she doesn't already have a level 3 qualification. Also would go down the lines of a college course, my sister did one and is a trained sports masseuse now, and think that this would be more worthwhile, and probably pay better in the long run.

ali-t

depending on the age of your wife she may be able to get a business start up grant. I set up when I was under 30 and received £1000 which was great to get me started although i was already qualified and this was business start up costs.

So sorry to hear about your loss, what an awful time for you to all have gone through.

Savvy_Sue

property.advert wrote: »

Even when I was earning very well, the cost of a professional massage at my then gym was very expensive and above that which I thought was fair. Thus, even though I could easily afford it, I did not use the service because of, in my opinion, too high pricing. Had someone offered a better priced alternative, then I would have jumped at the chance.

Now if there was over capacity at a gym (just an example) then could your wife "hire a chair" (as hairdressers do - though this would be a salon room) for one day a week or two half days and start by offering £5 or £10 an hour sessions ? It would lose money at first but you would be able to work out beforehand where your break even point was and the cheap starting prices would probably generate some trade. Maybe the outlet would give you some free time if they had spare capacity.

I think that would be SERIOUSLY undervaluing whatever qualifications she may have obtained by that stage.

I admit that I don't like paying gym prices, but that's as much because I don't know the staff there, or what level of qualification they have. But I don't begrudge the lady I see regularly her £35, because I KNOW she is well qualified, not just in massage but also in anatomy, and I trust her not to do anything which might make things worse.

If someone was offering massage at £10 per hour or less, anywhere other than as part of their college course and through the college, I'd run a mile ...

angel13

As said by everyone else so sorry about your loss. As for the course this is not something I know anything about so cannot advise on which course is best.

One thing I do know is once up and running contact large corporate businesses. One I used to work at offered a free massage to all full time members of staff once a month. This was held in a room within the company paid by the company for their staff to a self employed person. So this would generate a few days full time work per week for definite just from one company.