How am I supposed to afford college at 30 with 2 children?

skint-mum-of-two

Hi

I'm desperate to go back to education to do an acess course but don't know how I'm supposed to afford it. I have 2 children, 1 at school and 1 that will need to go into childcare. I'm 30 years old and my husband is a police officer so earns 35,000.00 and everywhere I look it says I'm not entitled to any help with course or childcare fees. My husband does earn a good wage but we are not left with any spare money at the end of the month and sometimes some bills don't even get paid.

Has anyone got any information that would help me to get back into college please? I'm desperate!

Thank you.

dseventy

Can you not wait until your 2nd child is in school and work around that?

D70

princessdon

Do you have a "full level 2 qualification"?

If so then under "current rules" you are entitled to the course free and the childcare can be subsidised if you can show a low income once essentials (rent, bills, childcare)

BUT

This is due to change in August, so I fear you have missed the boat, which is a huge shame, and no I don't know of anyone who can help fund you. ring your local FE college - *some* and I only have heard of 2 (at the moment) are starting the HEFD in June! Ie you enrol and do your "toolbox" module, which means that technically you are starting this academic year and subject to the "level jumping - first time" funding.

skint-mum-of-two

I've thought about waiting but he won't be starting school until 2015 and then I will need to do an Acess course (1 year) then the part time social work degree (6 years) so I won't qualify until I'm 41!!!!

SueC_2

Taking your question at face value, why do you feel you are supposed to afford this, and is that perhaps something you should address?

princessdon

You can also consider working to get more money to pay if this is something that you really want to do.

LittleVoice

skint-mum-of-two wrote: »

Hi

I'm desperate to go back to education to do an acess course but don't know how I'm supposed to afford it. I have 2 children, 1 at school and 1 that will need to go into childcare. I'm 30 years old and my husband is a police officer so earns 35,000.00 and everywhere I look it says I'm not entitled to any help with course or childcare fees. My husband does earn a good wage but we are not left with any spare money at the end of the month and sometimes some bills don't even get paid.

Has anyone got any information that would help me to get back into college please? I'm desperate!

Thank you.

Have you looked at the Debt-Free Wannabe section of the site?

saterkey

I looked at social work and the nhs degrees a while back and could get funding for both of these, government grants etc. But if it really something you want to do, look at Open University do it in stages, get a job and save up, borrow some money, you will find a way.

duchy

If you take the OU route-you wouldn't need to do the Access course first.

Northerness

If Social Work is your dream, go for it. As Saterkey says, you'll find a way.

If money and financial stability is more important, than think about an alternative career - one where you don't need to study for so many years. HR Managers, PR professionals and Market Researchers are three areas of professions that are rapidly growing. You could do a CIPD/CHRP Certificate in HR Practice in 9months and gain further qualifications on the job.

Dunroamin

You can only do social work with the OU if you're sponsored but many people offer an OU introductory unit as an entry qualification instead of an Access course (making sure you have GCSE English and Maths as well.)