work experience with animals aged 16

Feyfangirl

I completed my animal care placement on a farm called Larkrise Community farm in Trowbridge, are there any farms like this near you? http://www.larkrisefarm.org.uk/

loubel

If there are any small home-based animal rescues or small animal breeders near you she could offer to clean cages, wash bowls & bottles etc.

dickydonkin

rs65 wrote: »

What type of insurance are you talking about? I can't think why age would be a problem.

I agree and I suspect that 'insurance requirements' was a lazy answer.

In 2013, the 'government' outlined plans to make it easy for employers to employ work experience students

The HSE also has issued guidance making it clear that if risks in the workplace have already been assessed with a young person in mind, a business does not have to repeat the process for each and every student.

My take on this is that employers don't want the extra work of 'modifying' a risk assessment that SHOULD already exist for their adult workers.

And to add, the Association of British Insurers reassured employers that they do not have to take out special insurance policies to cover students on work experience as the insurance industry will will treat them as 'employees' for the purpose of insurance against bodily injury.

They also confirmed that simply giving work experience opportunities to students will not in itself impact on insurance premiums.

It's a shame that a young person who wants to work in a specific field is not given the opportunity because of a lazy employer who seemingly cannot be bothered to make the effort.

Energize

Riding schools and livery yards will take under 18's, it's not unusual to see teenagers doing paid work at such places actually dealing with the animals.

DomRavioli

rs65 wrote: »

What type of insurance are you talking about? I can't think why age would be a problem.

Liability insurance.

Most standard policies don't cover under 18s who are either working or volunteering unless named on a policy; so if there was any damages to either a person, animal or property, then either the person employing or providing the placement, or the person employed or volunteering would be liable for potentially large sums of compensation.

Which is usually too much of a risk, or too expensive to add someone; it really is that simple.

There are places which have specialist provision, mainly charities or those which take on large numbers of under 18s in all fields. My not-for-profit takes a lot of volunteers to get experience in youth work.

Kate_fixing_it

Thanks everyone for taking the time to offer your help. She's ploughing ahead with hounding everyone and everywhere. No luck yet but sooner or later it'll happen. She's 17 in 8 weeks time so that'll help a little.

She picked up her GCSEs today and despite the negativity in the media (and both our nerves) we're delighted! She got 3 Bs, 6 As and 2 A*s (in maths and science) so in regard to qualifications she's on track.

After asking around a friend of mine has a relative that is a qualified vet and has offered his help and support too.

We're both incredibly grateful for the advice here and I'll keep you posted if she has some luck - you never know if someone is a lurker and looking for the exact same advice.

Kate x

Newlyboughthouse

Hi - I got shadowing experience easy peasy at my local vet surgery - maybe word it as shadowing rather than work experience. I also volunteered at my local Animal Rescue Shelter from 15 and volunteered as a dog walker for the Cinnamon Trust (same age) with no problems at all.

I'm 27 now but not aware of any tightening of the rules since then.

oystercatcher

It might be worth seeing if there are any 'care farms' or open farms in your area who take interns. My son has done this and he certainly worked with people who were under 18. Your daughter might be able to live and work at the farm for a couple of weeks in school holidays.

Our vets also regularly has youngsters sitting in and observing or helping on reception.

Kate_fixing_it

Hi all and thanks again for all your help.

Just thought I'd update. We're still no further in getting that first elusive placement however, uni open days have begun. We've seen Nottingham (which is now first choice) and Bristol so far and we've booked places at Liverpool, Surrey and London over the next 6 weeks.

The open day has lit a fire in her like I've never seen! Nottingham offered a few tasters of the practicals and she adored it, threw herself in and can't wait to do more. Fortunately it was only a 60 minute drive home or she may have deafened me with her excited chatter all the way back

We also got some great insight from current students on what they did and how they got the placements so we're waiting on more callbacks.

She's taken to A-levels like a duck to water and is getting stuck into extra-curricular activities to support her application. Just this pesky work - experience to break into but her confidence has soared.

She has read all your responses and we're both incredibly grateful for your help.

Thank you again so much,

Kate x