Child going to college,money??

[joosie]

I think a big part of college life and the transition from school to college is about the social life and forming new friendships,hobbies/interests etc.

I want him to be on an equal footing with his peers though and be able to join in activities and social events,especially as he is doing music as one of his subjects which is based a lot on perfoming at local venues,and Im guessing most on the course will be musically inclined and go to gigs etc in their spare time.

Just really want him to be able to embrace college life and make the most of it,rather than having to make do and scrimp all the time.

I understand, my parents felt the same about me, but it is possible to do both I worked my way through uni as well (I had 3/4 part-time jobs at any one time, making my 2 during college seem very tame, lol) and in those 5 years of post-school education I was scrimping & saving all the time - never once had a moment I wasn't skint. I did plenty of socialising though... I was in student clubs and wrote for student media, I did voluntary work and youth projects, I hung out with friends, I had horsy stuff going on, etc - fitting that stuff in around studying and work was very difficult, but possible, because my heart was in it.

I wasn't suggesting your son shouldn't have a social life at all, that would be very unhealthy! Just that if you are a student who is tight on money then you have to be (a) more picky about what your social life entails and (b) be willing to go without if necessary. Some types of social activity cost more than others! My clubs, volunteering etc were very social activities but they were also free - if I were someone who liked going for nights on the town I think I may have had a problem!

 

[Tina2011]

Forget this and get out on your horse/pony. Kids are a nighmare and so is life lol:smile:

 

[Wally]

I worked through medical school! Which was a damn sight more than 9-4.....
Pub work in the evening during term time and stuffing envelopes/office dogsbody in the holidays.

But at least back then, jobs were easy to find to people who wanted/needed extra income.

Hope it works out Devonlass.

I am not talking University I am talking A levels here not medical school. I'd expect any Uni student to have some kind of job. A level student cannot get bar work at 17.

They finished at 4, then had their dinner at 5, 6-8 was compulsory study period over seen by house parents. 10pm was curfew and if they were not signed back in digs by 10 the police went and picked them up! wich gave them 2 hours to do any socoalising, housekeeping washing etc. This was not Uni.

 

[devonlass]

Thanks again for all the replies folks,thay are all very helpful.I am probably over reacting and worrying before I need to,:redface:but wasn't expecting there to be no financial help at all available,and was a bit of a shock.

I am not talking University I am talking A levels here not medical school. I'd expect any Uni student to have some kind of job. A level student cannot get bar work at 17.

I think the limitations people at college face due to their age is a big part of the problem,and I think maybe it's more of a problem now even compared to just a few years ago when many people posting here were working whilst studying??

I was ringing around a few places on behalf of my young sharer last week for a work experience place,and lot's of them said they don't or can't take anyone under the age of 18 for insurance purposes.I am assuming it's much the same with actually employing them.

Only jobs I know of local to me that under 18's get is waiting in pub/restaurant,which my son can't do due to food allergies.Even those though are getting more scarce and I think fairly soon they will take on over 18's where possible.
Apart from the liability over 18's are far more useful in restaurant/pub and retail as can serve alcohol and cigarettes unsupervised.

So many people looking for jobs as well at the moment so a lot more choice for employers,they are obviously going to choose the most useful and least risk to them,which is probably not going to be 16 yr olds TBH.

Hopefully employment is still a viable solution,but I think like Wally said it's not always as easy as when you're an older student.

 

[popularfurball]

Local shops I found are grateful for that age - as they want to work weekends - full time staff usually rather have weekends off I used to work in a local stationers/card shop - I got it because I asks and gave a cv - never advertised.

 

[Wally]

Local shops I found are grateful for that age - as they want to work weekends

the kids were kicked out at weekends, unless boats or planes were cancelled.

 

[Tina2011]

Big supermarkets take people from 16 even on the check outs. If alcohol goes through they press their buzzer and put bottle in the air. Supervisor then ok's.

There is lots of shelf packing, days and nights. It is not bad money and most of them offer staff discount which can be used by employee plus one other. I saved tons on my shopping bills when my boy did it at least £10-£20 per week and more at christmas and easter. There is usually overtime available as well during holidays (which are long). These days employers rarely advertise. You have to go round everywhere asking and putting CV's in then keep asking and chasing. There is also alot of word and mouth stuff. I got my son his job through the horses. A friend was a manager and he was in, in know time. Then he got his mate in and they used to cover each others shifts when necessary. Happy days:smile:

Its a trying time for you, but it works out:smile:

 

[devonlass]

Local shops I found are grateful for that age - as they want to work weekends - full time staff usually rather have weekends off I used to work in a local stationers/card shop - I got it because I asks and gave a cv - never advertised.

Everthing crossed you are right,although we only have one local shop which is a tesco express (have other shops but are hairdressers and estate agents,no scope for employment there).Be great if we had an old fashioned newsagent or card shop like you describe,but sadly not in my village,or anywhere nearby that I can think of.
Have family who work in local Tesco though so *would* have a very good chance of getting him in there,but no need for staff at present and again have so much response when have a vacancy that unlikely they would choose someone under 18 if don't need to.
The cigarette and alcohol laws (bear in mind at weekends every other sale can be alcohol,IME of working retail anyway),mean that a supervisor/team leader has to leave what they're doing elsewhere in the shop and witness the sale,which when busy can be quite time consuming.In small shops there are not jobs specifically for shlef stackers etc,everyone has to be able to do all jobs.
I will keep asking of course,I get on pretty well with most of the staff in there and sure they will help me out if they can,but it's just so much easier for them to employ someone who can work unsupervised.Before when job market was better they would have taken them on if was all they could get,but now is so many people looking for work employers can take their pick.

There is lots of shelf packing, days and nights. It is not bad money and most of them offer staff discount which can be used by employee plus one other. I saved tons on my shopping bills when my boy did it at least £10-£20 per week and more at christmas and easter. There is usually overtime available as well during holidays (which are long). :smile:

I know lot's of youngsters who used to get work at the out of town superstore a few miles away,but again tended to be the over 18's and Uni students rather than 16 yr olds,but have already asked someone who works there to ask around for me just in case are still happy to take on the younger ones.

Main issue with that is being out of town it's not on a direct bus route and despite being only about 4 miles away it takes 2 buses and about 1hr 20 mins to get there,very annoying:banghead:.Can't cycle as dual carriageway for a lot of it and not happy about that,especially at night.

I am sounding very negative aren't I lol,is just have been wracking my brains and our location keeps coming up as a stumbling block job wise.Lovely place to live in many ways but ease of access isn't one of them.Have regular public transport links but not to the right places from a work POV.Always something,never mind will keep thinking must be something out there!!

Where I work is dead easy to get to from here,but we definitely don't take on under 18's,so can't even help him there,and his dad my partner doesn't have enough work for himself let alone anyone else so that not an option either.

Time to go tap up random friends and relatives maybe:wink::tongue:

 

[laceyfreckle]

Personally and it's not meant to be a dig at all but he will get a lot more response if he looks for jobs himself.

Even ask for casual work. Here there is fruit packing and picking and builders are always needing labourers of school age for fetching, carrying and mixing.

I live at the seaside (I think you do too but a different one!) and there is always summer seasonal work.

How about casual babysitting? or gardening?

If he asks around himself people are less likely to say no. If a parent asks for him then it is percieved he either doesn't really want the job or needs his parents to get one for him as he isn't able enough. (I know thats not the case but just saying what a employer might think.).

On another note i had a thought - i don't know if it is anymore but do you get tax credits? If so then i think they stop at 16 BUT if the child is in full time education then it carries on til 18.


Wally - I assume your son went to a private resedential school? When i did A-levels (which was only in 1998) I did 4 a-levels (but did drop to 3) and definitely didn't go into college all day every day although it was classed as full time. I got good grades too (not outstanding but good for my ability)

 

[Tina2011]

We live in a small village. No shops at all except garage. The town is about 4 miles. I did a lot of 'Taxiing' lol.

 

[pinkheather]

It is difficult nowadays and money for a lot of people is tight. Sometimes you kind of just have to let it work itself out. Its so much different from when i started work in the 60s most boys couldnt wait to get out of school and start earning and it was only the really clever or those who had money who went on to further eduction. There is so much more choice now but in many ways it is less as there are not the jobs to get, there are guys working with me as labourers with degrees its bonkers. Sometimes i think the system has given false hopes to our youngsters and its is not necessarily education that gets you on but application. Most of the guys i was at school with were like me they could hardly write there name but they are all working for themselves now. It is tough, my daughter went to Australia and New Zealand we miss her but i hope she stays their as she has a better life and more opportunities down under and if you are willing to work hard they seem to appreciate that. I am sure it will come good again though, but its all right for me my working days are coming to an end and i will have to hand over to the young as there backs are strong and mine is getting weak. Ho hum i dont really like being old, my head thinks i am still young but my bloody body lets me down. Just take it as it comes and dont think to far ahead is the motto at the moment.

 

[Melrose]

I have only really just left college (well a year or two ago) and I did get EMA (I went South Devon College) and that covered my bus travel. A weekly bus ticket is £16 a week. However, if you miss just ONE lesson you don't get your EMA for that week, even if you turn up late! And as I did nearly every week, I never got it, and my mum couldn't fund to pay for my college bus fair, so I had a Sunday job which paid for me to support my college bus money, and a bit extra for grub.

This was the only way I managed to do it otherwise it's pretty much impossible!

 

[devonlass]

Personally and it's not meant to be a dig at all but he will get a lot more response if he looks for jobs himself.

definitely didn't go into college all day every day although it was classed as full time.

Sorry probably didn't make that very clear,I don't intend to actually do it for him,more just ask around and see if there are any possibilites that he can then follow up.I will ask for him at the local Tesco,but simply as have close family who work there and they won't think any less of him if I ask or he does,just that I see them more often!!

I *think* the courses he will be doing (assuming he get's the grades he's expecting),are going to be quite time consuming and pretty certain it will involve going in every day,and for most of the day as far as I am aware.

We live in a small village. No shops at all except garage. The town is about 4 miles. I did a lot of 'Taxiing' lol.

The problem is I don't drive,which is a PITA and something I keep saying I will sort out,but never have the time or money!!

Sometimes i think the system has given false hopes to our youngsters and its is not necessarily education that gets you on but application.
Ho hum i dont really like being old, my head thinks i am still young but my bloody body lets me down.

I quite agree that education isn't always a guaranteed path to the right job or career,and sometimes there are better way's to get on in life.Is mainly that my son has not a clue what he wants to do,and is quite keen to persue his studies so I figure he may as well do that as sit around hoping a job materialises.Although education can be achieved in later life (I have done A levels and level 2 and 3 NVQ's as an adult),IME it is easier to do straight out of school when have no ties and responsibilities,so again if he's keen it may be as well if he does it now,has got it for life then,well hopefully if he does well of course!!

I have decided the best way to deal with getting old is to simply not admit to it.Nothing wrong with living in denial:tongue:

I have only really just left college (well a year or two ago) and I did get EMA (I went South Devon College) and that covered my bus travel.

This was the only way I managed to do it otherwise it's pretty much impossible!

Thank you for that,although exactly what I was worried about it is good to hear from someone who has been in the same boat recently,and in sort of the same area as well.

Sadly EMA no longer exists in England,so that's not an option,but hopefully like you my son can get a job even for just a few hours a week.

I will hopefully be able to fund his bus fare ok,is more so he can have some money in his pocket for things he wants/needs.

Thanks again folks for the support:smile:

 

[laceyfreckle]

Sorry probably didn't make that very clear,I don't intend to actually do it for him,more just ask around and see if there are any possibilites that he can then follow up.I will ask for him at the local Tesco,but simply as have close family who work there and they won't think any less of him if I ask or he does,just that I see them more often!!

:

Ah well that's different then :giggle::wink:

Just had visions of you going job hunting while 16yr old son sits at home going.....but i'm a student!! :ninja::giggle::giggle:

Anyway - I assume you do get child tax credits (going by what you said your income was.

I found this for you - you can claim for tax credits as long as in f/t education until your son is 20. I know it's not a lot but it might help some?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/keep-up-to-date/changes-affect/family-change/child-16.htm#1