Am I missing something?

JimmyTheWig

Have you thought about evening / weekend work? I.e. so your OH can have the children? I know that's not ideal as it will seriously eat in to your time together, but it might work.

Have you thought about registering as a childminder? I know you want some time away from the children, but it might answer money problems for a while.

mum26

It is difficult. I have a friend who set herself up as a photographer specialising in children / family shoots. She is really good and seems very popular, would that be something you could look into doing? With your experience as a mum and as a mum with an autistic child you might appeal to a lot of people, especially with shoots at places like Venture beign so expensive. Our school also has a photographer come in and do 15 minute shoots, usually organised by the PTA, on a weekend in the school hall, white background, then you can buy prints or a cd with the images.

alfiemama

Thanks mum26, yes that would be of interest. I bet she had to pay quite a bit out initially on kit and marketing though.

I quite fancy the idea of going back to college/uni. Therefore, enabling something for me (meeting people and learning) and something for little one (nursery).
I have absolutely no idea about the funding side of things or the courses I could do. I don't want to do an evening course rather a day one.
Has anyone got any ideas? Would they fund childcare if I am on receipt of carers, tax credits and housing benefit? Is it only set courses which you can get free?
Any help very much appreciated.

JimmyTheWig

Have you been to your local Children's Centre? Ours often runs courses (or certainly used to a few years ago) for parents with free childcare on site.
Things like numeracy, literacy, IT skills, money management as well as parenting type stuff like helping to help your child learn to read, healthy eating / cooking, baby massage.
Possibly not as challenging as you are looking for, if you're talking university, but usually free, local, convenient and with childcare. It's also a place to meet other people, and some of the tutors may have ideas about which external courses would suit you and what you could do about funding.

Deedee2311

The DWP will pay up to 70% of child care costs on top of working tax credits. Good luck getting back into work - it's not easy but it is worth it!

SandC

Why are you restricting yourself to jobs of 16 hours? Working a bit more will give you more money won't it?

Agree with the evening work idea though - waiting on or bar work or evening supermarket work are all very sociable as well as giving some independence.

alfiemama

SandC, I can only earn £100 a week due to carers.
Evening would be a last resort really, as its hard with the kids as night, just my son (the one with autism) has lots of strange rituals. Wouldn't be fair on hubby to come home from long day and sort.

Jimmy, I've checked out the children's centre, only class is on England as a second language ESOL. Good idea though.

Thanks Dee. Do I put myself on that entitled to as working? As they class carers as work?

JimmyTheWig

SandC wrote: »

Why are you restricting yourself to jobs of 16 hours? Working a bit more will give you more money won't it?

Not if they are paying out more in childcare than she earns. If that is the case then she'll be worse off the more hours she does.

Charityworker

No your not missing anything. I work full time and my husband works part time and we are £1 a week worse off than if we didn't work. I know £1 isnt a lot but we should be better off not worse. On top of that we are both really tired all the time and have no time for a decent life. Universal Credit is only going to make things worse.

princessdon

For most FE colleges (can depend on the course) if you are in receipt of HB it will be free.

They will also have a budget for childcare - Ie free. How much is left at this stage in the year and how they allocate it is down to them.

Ring them and ask - also ask for a guidance interview if you don't know what you want to do.