sparkysmum Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 After I had the children I gave up my "proper job" in social housing to be at home for the children. I had no affordable childcare & couldn't make emergency arrangements when they were ill. . I stayed at home for about 9 years until Hazie was 5. At this point I decided to retrain & did some "supply" classroom assistant work in local schools. Although the pay is dreadful it helped with Christmas & suchlike & I carried on like this until now. The council I work for is making real savage cuts in all budgetary areas & my job has gone. I have been offered another in a primary school 21 miles away & I guess I'll have to take it but I do so with heavy heart My pay will really only cover petrol & wear & tear on the car. I need to work for economic reasons otherwise I would do something else altogether. If you have any ideas for alternative ways of earning a crust ( has to be legal & ethically ok ) I'd love to hear from you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 oh no ((((((hugs)))))) 21 miles is crazy what about doing some "babysitting type service"? the only other thing I can think is bodyshop at home? or Avon? or Vie at home? if you are interested in something like that? cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I haven't any suggestions - sorry! Just wanted to say how sorry I was that you are being treated like this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Alli, I'm so sorry to hear that, what awful news . Is there any chance of going back to your original career in some form or other? Any jobs going at the Uni? A friend of mine joined an agency where she helps elderly folk in their own homes for a couple of hours - anything like that in Dunblane/Bridge of Allan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 Thanks Cathy, jlo & Vicki. Bodyshop at home........sounds interesting.... but not if you have to do these party things.....not good at these I also do some work with Crossroads providing respite care for carers and I shouldn't complain but I need to do something more cerebral I would love to go back to working in social housing but there are few opportunities and I still have no reliable childcare. I'm not even sure how seriously an employer would consider me after a 17yr break. Thanks again for your replies Alli xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I'm so sorry. O work in Primary Ed. I'm a Communication Support Worker, but have done all the variations of Classroom support.....the money sucks, but worked out ok because of the children....my school has no money, and we have NO resources. I'm frightened for my own job, as our own Council is making savage cuts. I am so sorry....i can't think of anything, except just scouring all the jobsites, and fingers crossed x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyChickenLover- Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I'm very sorry to hear that ((hugs)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Sorry to hear your news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I'm so sorry to hear your news...would you qualify for financial assistance now for an OU course to give you the opportunity to retrain for something else, whilst perhaps running something more mundane alongside it?.....21 miles isn't a great distance to travel to work down here, but that's allowing for good roads, and mostly gentle weather, and you are not so blessed with those things right up north....hopefully something better will present itself to you soon....xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 No advice at the moment, just wanted to say I'm sorry for the dreadful position you're in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 Sadie, thank you for this great idea. I had to leave uni half way through a degree because we needed the money. I have always dreamed of finishing. I didn't know you could get financial assistance to study via OU. It has always seemed prohibitively expensive. I will def follow this up. Allixx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I'm so sorry you have lost your position, I work for a local authority too and we have just been though a restructure with several of my colleagues losing their jobs, I was lucky in that I kept a position but was demoted to a lower grade job. I can understand how you feel as the need for your old post is still there just not enough funding for it. Have you thought about doing book-keeping work for small local businesses, this is often something you can do from home. I have done this sort of work in addition to my day job for the last 20 odd years and most of it I can do at home. It is fairly simple, I started by taking on my brothers accounts for his business and taught myself, following what his previous book keeper had done & his accountant was pretty helpful when I had any queries. I then took a RSA book keeping qualification. Once I was a bit more qualified and knowledgable I was able to take on other small businesses. My friend who has just been made redundant is looking into Proof reading as a job she can do from home, but I'm not sure if you need a qualification for this. Don't sell yourself short in your initial career, you may have had a 17 year break but you have gained valuable life experience and many other life qualifications in those 17 years. Wishing you lots of luck in which ever path you choose to follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 So sorry to hear your news. It must be very worrying for you. You've had some great advice already, and I'm afraid I have nothing to add but my sympathy. *hugs* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I'll echo the above post. I hope something turns up for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Sorry to hear your bad news, I hope you can get something else sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Palmer Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Sorry to hear about your job. I worked as a learning support assistant for 7 years and it's not the easiest of jobs or most well paid of jobs and can seem thankless at times, so having to travel 20 miles on top makes it even harder. There are some good suggestions here, but have you thought of working as supply in a children's nursery (even temporarily)? I work full time in one, but we have a lot of supply that cover lunches, half days, illness etc. We have a number of mums with young children and they tend to work during the school day (9-3). When the rotas are being done the week before, supply are asked 'what days can you do next week?' and it's all worked out from there. I'm sure other nurseries must do similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 Thanks Sam. In addition to everything else I am a qualified Nursery Nurse, this was part of my retraining all these years ago. I could probably do supply through my own local authority but I much prefer working with 5 - 14yrs. I know I could fall back on it if need be. Thanks again Alli xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I had to get a job when my ex left me, I rang a call centre where a friend works and asked if they had vacancies and got an interview. I got the job age 49 and after 18 years as a stay at home Mum I love it - I work evenings and weekends so get all day with the girls I am a call handler for Herts out of hours gp service, why don't you ring your local provider and see if they have anthing going (get the out of hours number from your gp) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 So sorry to read this OP, I hope something turns up soon. As usual lots of great, helpful suggestions from fellow Omleteers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Get your union involved. In Suffolk all teaching and non teaching staff in middle schools are in a redundancy situation. They cannot offer you a post 21 miles away and expect you to take it. Our unions have stated quite clearly that all offers have to be either in a 3 mile radius of where we currently work and be of commensurate hours and pay or nearer to where we live. This is not a viable offer for you and I am sure that your union could help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Finding a job on your own can be very hard work, and employers don't have a clue what sort of person you are when you apply. I ended up signing with an agency and I am currently on my third temporary job with them - the first was offered for a week and I was there 3 months, the second was for 10 days, and this last one was for just 3 days but I have been there for nearly 7 months now. I'm still looking for permanent work but there is very little out there at the moment. It's worth giving it a go, even if it's just for the short term until something else turns up. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisonFamily Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Have you ever thought of childminding... You could look after any age children, it sounds as if you have more than enough qualifications, and if you cannot find decent childcare I am sure you are not the only one... I childmind and love it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Really sorry to hear your news, its so difficult at the moment, my daughter may lose her job in a childrens centre due to cuts as well. Hope you manage to find something. Lots of hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 Thank you all for your kindness & replies. I often think we Omleteers could change the world if we harnessed our collective knowledge & determination Janty, I'm not a union member If only I was. I shall certainly be looking at this soon. Re childminding, I can just imagine an inspectors face when confronted with 2 barking dogs and (on a bad day) grass covered in chicken poo I think I'm going to take the job in Strathyre and hope that something else comes up before too long. At the same time I will contact the OU to see if I could maybe finish my degree by this route. If financial assistance could be arranged that would be fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Really sorry to hear this - it's not great news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
