Samboy1004
Well-Known Member
Hi does anyone know if u can do the bhs stages at collage part time for free when u r on benifets I am a single mum of 28 wanting to do my stages to get a job when I have finished please could anyone help ????
Collage and benifets
- Thread starter Samboy1004
- Start date
FubsyMog
Well-Known Member
Your best bet would probably be to contact the college you are interested in attending directly to ask them what options there are. Some have their own internal funding available that you can apply for to help with finances even if there is no national scheme for reduced fees on a particular course.
IME, there is normally some concession for low-income students, though it is unlikely to be free.
IME, there is normally some concession for low-income students, though it is unlikely to be free.
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
Sorry to be pedantic, but do you mean "college" and "benefits".......... both words which you will need to know how to spell correctly in the very near future!!!
I expect to be shot down on here for picking this up, but in all seriousness these are issues which can easily be tackled once a person is at college, perhaps by some extra help with stuff like literacy & spelling. It will make a difference for any essay-writing etc and will be essential for writing letters for interviews etc.
Sorry, am not wishing to pounce on OP, just merely offering a help up. College is a good place to get this sort of thing sorted out.
I expect to be shot down on here for picking this up, but in all seriousness these are issues which can easily be tackled once a person is at college, perhaps by some extra help with stuff like literacy & spelling. It will make a difference for any essay-writing etc and will be essential for writing letters for interviews etc.
Sorry, am not wishing to pounce on OP, just merely offering a help up. College is a good place to get this sort of thing sorted out.
RutlandH2O
Well-Known Member
OP, MiJods makes a very good point. Please don't take offence. Literacy and spelling are key to furthering your experiences in college and life.
Gypley
Well-Known Member
Wasn't going to comment specifically for the reasons you have picked up on. And whilst every part of me wanted the world to swallow me up by reading your reply, Jods, I have to say I agree ��
FubsyMog
Well-Known Member
Yes, I agree with the above posters - avoided saying so in my first post though for fear of appearing rude or pedantic...
OP, there various literacy (and numeracy) courses which are run at many colleges. I think they are called Key Skills (though the name may have changed) and many people take them alongside their 'main' course of study. I went to a FE college to do a Diploma in Art & Design and quite a few people in my class took these courses as they did not have a suitable GSCE/O'Level qualification that they would need to apply for jobs. I believe that these courses are free if you meet certain criteria - again, best to contact the specific colleges you are interested in attending to ask.
OP, there various literacy (and numeracy) courses which are run at many colleges. I think they are called Key Skills (though the name may have changed) and many people take them alongside their 'main' course of study. I went to a FE college to do a Diploma in Art & Design and quite a few people in my class took these courses as they did not have a suitable GSCE/O'Level qualification that they would need to apply for jobs. I believe that these courses are free if you meet certain criteria - again, best to contact the specific colleges you are interested in attending to ask.
HaffiesRock
Well-Known Member
I completely agree with everything that has been said.
I would go and visit your local college and discuss your options.
Can I ask what it is that makes you want to do your BHS stages and what kind of job you are looking for?
I would go and visit your local college and discuss your options.
Can I ask what it is that makes you want to do your BHS stages and what kind of job you are looking for?
slumdog
Well-Known Member
Probably. When I went to see a career advisor not long after I had my youngest son I was entitled to no help in paying the fees even though my other half had just set up as self employed and I only worked 10 hours a week, so we were (very!) low income but working. She told me I'd be better off as a single parent on benefits.
AmyMay
Situation normal
You will be entitled to some support yes. Best thing to do is to get in touch with your local council to find out what exactly.
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
All colleges have to offer basic literacy and numeracy courses as part of their vocational training. There is funding available for this, if you meet the criteria, so that may well be the best place to start.
good luck, OP
good luck, OP
Gypley
Well-Known Member
Spelling aside though, I would have a think about where you want your stages to take you, as IME they will lead to yard/groom work which can be long hours for little money. Being a single mum you may need to weigh it up with child care costs etc. I don't want to burst your bubble, but may be something to consider, if you haven't already.
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
Further to my (earlier) reply....... one place to start would be OP's local careers advice service, don't know what they're called these days, is it "Connexions"??? - but it might be a good source of information and give OP some choices.
Agree with what "Gypley" has said re. prospects within yard/groom work if going the BHS stages route. Something to think about might be having a second string, i.e. (sorry if I appear old fashioned here) but I can remember the day when any young "gal" wanting to "go into horses" HAD to do a year of secretarial studies first!!!! So as to give a second, and reasonably paid, career choice should the horsey thing either not work out or not be economic. "Gypley" makes a good point in that equine-related employment tends not to be exactly well-paid, unfortunately.
This is just a suggestion to OP, and please don't think I'm being patronising here. But can I suggest this as a course of action:
Firstly, explore the avenues re. basic skills, literacy etc. and get this done as a FIRST priority. I think I'm right in saying that if you do a lot of these sort of courses they will give you a Certificate and/or NVQ competency which you can then use to access further education opportunities. I don't know if any colleges still run the "Access to Learning" courses???? They were useful in that they gave the student an introduction to their chosen field of study without needing to be too specific, and also helped with study skills etc. To get some basic skills under your belt would give you a great deal more confidence when filling in application forms, writing interview letters/CV's etc, and would also help you get computer-literate as this is something you will certainly need for the future! So just doing this would be a first step and would give you confidence and empower you to take choices.
THEN, you could perhaps consider going to a few open days at colleges and chat to the staff and students, and start thinking about what sort of things you would like to do. Give yourself time, don't be in a hurry, and maybe use this next academic year to say do some qualifications and get those under your belt. You may find you excel in some things but not in others, and that will help you when you finally make choices re. college etc.
Just to say: well done OP! For realising that you're perhaps stuck in a rut and need/want to change things about your life. I think to be a single parent and to be even able to think about going to college and all that involves, deserves a jolly Well Done!
Agree with what "Gypley" has said re. prospects within yard/groom work if going the BHS stages route. Something to think about might be having a second string, i.e. (sorry if I appear old fashioned here) but I can remember the day when any young "gal" wanting to "go into horses" HAD to do a year of secretarial studies first!!!! So as to give a second, and reasonably paid, career choice should the horsey thing either not work out or not be economic. "Gypley" makes a good point in that equine-related employment tends not to be exactly well-paid, unfortunately.
This is just a suggestion to OP, and please don't think I'm being patronising here. But can I suggest this as a course of action:
Firstly, explore the avenues re. basic skills, literacy etc. and get this done as a FIRST priority. I think I'm right in saying that if you do a lot of these sort of courses they will give you a Certificate and/or NVQ competency which you can then use to access further education opportunities. I don't know if any colleges still run the "Access to Learning" courses???? They were useful in that they gave the student an introduction to their chosen field of study without needing to be too specific, and also helped with study skills etc. To get some basic skills under your belt would give you a great deal more confidence when filling in application forms, writing interview letters/CV's etc, and would also help you get computer-literate as this is something you will certainly need for the future! So just doing this would be a first step and would give you confidence and empower you to take choices.
THEN, you could perhaps consider going to a few open days at colleges and chat to the staff and students, and start thinking about what sort of things you would like to do. Give yourself time, don't be in a hurry, and maybe use this next academic year to say do some qualifications and get those under your belt. You may find you excel in some things but not in others, and that will help you when you finally make choices re. college etc.
Just to say: well done OP! For realising that you're perhaps stuck in a rut and need/want to change things about your life. I think to be a single parent and to be even able to think about going to college and all that involves, deserves a jolly Well Done!
pippixox
Well-Known Member
i have spell check, without it my spelling is terrible! what groom needs to spell to be honest?! it is good to get qualifications and many councils offer discounts on college courses. but if you want your BHS stages simply to be a groom i think personally it is a waste of time, takes a while and unlikely to increase your groom wages by anything either. at my old yard 2 single mums worked there, the kids had breakfast in the office while they turned out, then they dropped them and school, worked until school pick up and then kids did home work in the office or safe jobs around the yard while mums brought horses in. so groom jobs can work on flexible yards for people with children!
TelH
Well-Known Member
Suppose there is a vacancy for a groom that requires a written application and cv. If the OP applies for it in a similar way to how she has written her post she is hardly going to create a good first impression. That's why, imo, basic literacy skills should be an essential for any job.
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
Yes, well said. Someone else has said what I've been trying to say........ but much better than I did and far more concisely. Thank you.
Personally, if someone applied to me to be a groom say, I'd certainly expect an acceptable standard of English and spelling. In some yards you'd have to write stuff on the white-board and/or fill in competition entry forms etc etc, plus be able to read and understand veterinary reports/instructions; there are all sorts of situations in which a command of the language is required.
blitznbobs
Well-Known Member
What benefits are you on? It really depends on which ones you get to whether you can study or not and how much study you can do also.
Holly Hocks
Well-Known Member
I agree with everything that has been said, particularly by TelH. I would forget doing the BHS stages and just do some literacy courses which will then improve your prospects for any job, should you decide that working in the equine industry isn't what you want to do for the rest of your life. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. I admire the fact that you are thinking of doing a course at college with a view to returning to work.
Moomin1
Well-Known Member
I seriously would enroll on a literacy course asap. Whatever job you are going for, basic spelling and grammar are the first things people will look at.
Jericho
Well-Known Member
A basic level of literacy plus the drive to improve and want to do things correctly eg spelling forms the cornerstone of any job, task, vocation. Well worth tackling this first.
Jaycee
Well-Known Member
Agree with other comments with regards to literacy, unfortunately it seems though that in this day and age it is not something that is corrected at schools to any degree.
On another note I am a single parent studying for an HND part-time. As I too am on benefits I am entitled to a tuition fees loan to be paid back when I am earning above a certain amount. The best thing to do is to contact your local college who will be able to advise you as to what help is available to you. Good luck, it's hard going but well worth it!
On another note I am a single parent studying for an HND part-time. As I too am on benefits I am entitled to a tuition fees loan to be paid back when I am earning above a certain amount. The best thing to do is to contact your local college who will be able to advise you as to what help is available to you. Good luck, it's hard going but well worth it!