Lone parent/IS changes to JSA

looby75

kingfisherblue wrote: »

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looby75, can your lone parent advisor help you find childcare? If not, does your council have a Family Information Service? Ours does, and one part of their role os to help you find suitable childcare, including childminders. maybe this would be an avenue to explore?

The lone parent advisor is as frustrated at the childcare problem as all the parents are there is a chronic lack of childcare round here, which has been made worse by the fact that since new ofsted rules came in a lot of childminders in the area have given up childminding.

The council do have a list of childcare in the area, but it's always out of date, one of the childminders on the list did used to look after my son (I briefly went to college 6 months after ex left) but had to stop to become a carer to her husband....she's repeatedly told the council she's no longer a childminder but they still keep putting her on the list! :wall:

The nearest childcare with places is a 20 min bus ride away....and they said they couldn't take ds to school only pick him up as it was too far away from his school in rush hour traffic, which would mean any job I took couldn't start until after 9am....probably closer to 10 because of our abysmal bus service.

I apply for just about any job I'm physically able to do (I have back/leg problems I can't even walk to the local shop at the end of street at the moment which makes things even worse ) and that has anything like remotely flexible hours but so far no joy

kingfisherblue

Looby, if you have physical problems, are you more likely to be moved over to ESA than JSA?

looby75

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Looby, if you have physical problems, are you more likely to be moved over to ESA than JSA?

not according to the LPA, she says that my problems aren't bad enough to go onto ESA, and tbh she's right. If I can get a job where I can sit down and stand up when I need to I'll be fine.....though getting to work will be interesting when I'm in the state I'm in at the moment lol

(had a really bad fall a couple of weeks ago which aggravated an old injury on my left knee and sprained my right one so walking is very painful and difficult at the moment)

missmontana

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Missmontana, could you get supermarket work in shifts that complement your ex's hours? Just a thought, and I know it isn't the most exciting of jobs, but twenty minutes drive isn't too bad and you might be able to work days one week and evenings the next, with your ex looking after the children when he is on an early shift.

Its not that easy, he's a copper so has ever changing shift patterns and also does overtime.

AnxiousMum

Miss Montana - sorry - didn't realise you had answered my questions 'cos they're within the quote!

If the ex is only 20 mins. drive away - that's really not a big deal. Does his shift pattern mean that he gets consecutive days off? (our full timers used to work shifts like two 12 hour days, 24 hours off, 2 12 hour nights, then four days off).

Is there a local college close by that you could look into doing a hairdressing course? In reality - it's a perfect job for an 'at home' mum - as once you are qualified, you could do what our local hairdresser does (and we have to book her well in advance due to how much in demand she is) - as she comes to your home. I love it - as the kids can carry on being kids while waiting on their turn and not have to sit in the salon waiting for their turn. We get to wash the kids hair, she does a wet cut on them - versus a spray down in the salon. It's certainly something that you could set your own hours, work more when needing more money (Christmas, back to school time etc.) - which funnily enough, would happen to be times when you would have a busier client schedule as well.

Another avenue you could look at - a friend does this back home (she was a single mum at the time trying anything to earn a living) - she has a mobile hairdressing service, but services ONLY hospitals! Some of it is funded by the cancer association - she goes in and does make up sessions with chemo patients who are suffering the loss of their hair - does make up, and 'head dress' sessions with them This led to her own line of head scarves which she quite simply makes and sells onto the patients. They have to buy them somewhere -why not from the woman helping them feel better about themselves right from the outset? She also does hair in seniors residences - little old ladies LOVE to get their hair done.
She has no rent on premises to pay - so her overheads are low. Obviously she has days where she is at certain places, so all appts. are booked in the one day.
Just a thought....

missmontana

AM, I really don't want to have to rely on the ex to look after my son, he has always done the hours and yes has consecutive days off, but up till now he still only see's the child once a month, so a few nights a week i really don't see happening! Plus he planning on starting a family of his own in the next year.

There are colleges that do the hairdressing, courses take about a year but I don't have transport so not sure how mobile I could be!

My friend is doing a make up course in a couple of weeks so I am going to ask at the JCP if they would fund it, costs nearly £200, this would be more my kind of thing!

kingfisherblue

Sorry to hear about your fall, looby - hope it isn't too painful!

missmontana, fair enough.

Anxiousmum, hairdressing is a good idea (if people can cut straight - I'd have to keep cutting until there was nothing left :rotfl:. I didn't manage to control my daughter's fringe when she was little and she ended up with a tuft instead ). It's made me think about another possibility. In my area, there are a growing number of holistic therapists. they offer massage (Swedish, Thai and aromatherapy), reiki, reflexology, Hopi ear candle therapy, holistic facials, etc. Obviously anybody considering this would need to attend college to gain qualifications, but it could then be fitted around childcare/school hours.

I know a few holistic therapists. Some work for the local Carer's Centre, from 10am-2pm (but I don't know how much they get paid there, as carer's reccevie the service for free). Most also have private practice. Charges are about £20-£30 an hour in private practice, and expenses such as towels, washing, oils, creams, etc can have tax claimed back.

I don't think it would be a suitable job for looby though - she would probably benefit from the massage rather than from giving a treatment

kingfisherblue

Missmontana, there might be places in your area that help with funding for courses (apart from JC+). I don't know what they are called, but in my area Starting Point can help to fund courses and can also sometimes fund equipment for anybody starting their own business. If you have a local Chamber of Commerce, they might also be able to help - ours has appointemnts in the local community centres for people who want to start their own business and can provide details on funding.

I've just checked Starting Point and it is listed on the cahmber website, so it appears to be something to do with them. On Google, there were several towns listed, thoguh, not just the one where I live.

AnxiousMum

missmontana wrote: »

AM, I really don't want to have to rely on the ex to look after my son, he has always done the hours and yes has consecutive days off, but up till now he still only see's the child once a month, so a few nights a week i really don't see happening! Plus he planning on starting a family of his own in the next year.

There are colleges that do the hairdressing, courses take about a year but I don't have transport so not sure how mobile I could be!

My friend is doing a make up course in a couple of weeks so I am going to ask at the JCP if they would fund it, costs nearly £200, this would be more my kind of thing!

Re the ex - never ceases to amaze me that they ignore the family they have, yet go on to have another! Go figure.......

The make up course could be a great start for you - think about it - end of year school proms coming up, - see if you can maybe get a couple of girls from local high school and 'practice' on them - take photos! Use those photographs in your marketing material. Make sure you send marketing material out to the local high schools and try and get some prom business. Get in touch with local hair salons as well, limo drivers, dress shops where they would buy dresses......really believe in yourself and though it might take some time, you will get there if you put your passion into it. Once you have some experience, there's weddings etc. as well. Alot of that type of work is personality as well - always being bubbly and personable even when you've had a totally cr*p day yourself.

missmontana

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Re the ex - never ceases to amaze me that they ignore the family they have, yet go on to have another! Go figure.......

The make up course could be a great start for you - think about it - end of year school proms coming up, - see if you can maybe get a couple of girls from local high school and 'practice' on them - take photos! Use those photographs in your marketing material. Make sure you send marketing material out to the local high schools and try and get some prom business. Get in touch with local hair salons as well, limo drivers, dress shops where they would buy dresses......really believe in yourself and though it might take some time, you will get there if you put your passion into it. Once you have some experience, there's weddings etc. as well. Alot of that type of work is personality as well - always being bubbly and personable even when you've had a totally cr*p day yourself.

I'll be quite happy when he has his own family, then he might realise how much hard work is involved raising a child!

My friend is a beauty therapist and currently works out of her own salon, we were only talking about proms the other day, so I can always shadow her and help out then I will have a bit of experience.
Might struggle a bit with the personality thing tho... just have to up the meds!!! :rotfl: