Whatever your employment situation, separation and/or divorce can have a huge impact on your life. Have a look at how to turn a catastrophe into an opportunity.
After my first divorce, aged 27yrs, I had been a full-time mum for 4 years. I quickly realised that if I was to improve our standard of living, I was going to have to return to work. The prospect looked pretty bleak, I sat down and worked out a minimum salary I would need to earn in order to make it viable and then measured that against my skills to date. It didn't look good. The first thing I did was to contact an agency to help me look for office work - I had never worked in an office in my life and had no formal secretarial training. Not to be deterred, I took a (slow) typing test and waited. I went along to the first interview and talked them into giving me a trial. After 3 years doing that job, I realised I wanted more. So I gave up my job and went back to full-time education for 4 years. Of course it was extremely trying - I juggled children with studies, but I emerged with a good degree and a teaching certificate. It was my childhood ambition.
Change can make us reflect on our working life
Divorce and separation bring both trauma and opportunity. In terms of trauma, there is a growing community of support in the UK. However, and perhaps ironically, there appears to be a distinct lack of guidance around the opportunities created by such a major change in life. Our working life is one such area that can present as an opportunity for change. On the one hand, some may feel that a separation or divorce proceedings are as much as they can cope with. On the other, this may be exactly the right time to get out of that 'dead-end' job and return to training, education or just take a new career direction; (early) retirement may also be an option.
Whichever situation you may now find yourself in, we hope we can provide some pointers and food for thought in this section from looking for a job, starting up a new business, searching out grants for this or for studying. What did you always dream of doing? What are you good at? get out your last CV or draw up a new one. There's a lot of free help out there plus financial support.
Work and training
What are your skills, talents and experiences? Which of them could be transferred? What is your availability? Would you prefer employment or self-employment? The possibilities are numerous and exciting. Do you need to earn money quickly or do you have time to retrain?
Returning to work
For women returning to work, often they are in a situation where they gave up their career to start a family and don't know how to return after a significant break. Skills can become out-dated and technology moves on. Confidence can take a nose-dive. This can, though, be an opportunity to work freelance, enabling parents to work around children. Try contacting agencies who speacialise in your field, or why not contact companies directly? Many smaller employment fields (shops, offices) offer part-time, flexible or job-share working opportunities.
Main earner?
Solo parenting suddenly changes your earning status and you become the main earner for the family. Obviously you will have to consider your options carefully but it is still a good time to take stock of the past and plan ahead. Think about investing in your own future. If you feel that you would like a fresh start and would like to train for something new, then the opportunities will be more varied. It may of course take longer to start actually earning any money if this route is chosen. Opportunities may include NVQ training, but this may well involve work experience as well as taking time out to do course work. Training yourself will be a good investment for your future but you will need to be patient. It will take time. Visit your local College of Technology to find out which courses are available - first and foremost choose something that interests you.
A good place to start your research is Gingerbread
They really do look out for you and produce excellent publications which deal with most of your questions. If you are considering going back to work, check out these leaflets from Gingerbread:
The New Deal for Lone Parents - your questions answered
Introduction to the new Tax Credits
Back to Work checklist
Financial support if you return to work
Finding and paying for childcare
Help with your rent if you start work
Help with your council tax if you start work
They also have a leaflet about renting out your spare room to raise cash.
The list of factsheets can be found at Gingerbread's website or ring their Advice Line on 0800 018 4318,
Mon-Fri 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm
Learn Direct - What is this?
At learndirect you can find: hundreds of specially created online courses in computers, office skills and self development, designed so that you can learn at a time, place and pace to suit your needs. information on their network of over 2000 learndirect centres to help you with your local learning needs impartial information and advice on over 600,000 courses from providers throughout the UK courses and services designed to help you, your business or your employees.
This is a national information, advice and guidance service that supports adults in making appropriate decisions on the full range of learning and work opportunities.
The service is: Free, confidential and impartial. Call 0800 100 900
BBC Learning
For a full list of course subject visit theCourse search page.
Looking for a course? BBC Learning help you find some in your area.
Learning Zone
Discover what you can learn on BBC 2's unique record and play service.
Return to Learning
So you want to join the growing community of adult learners, but where do you start? This is your step-by-step guide to returning to learning, here to give you all the answers you're looking for and all the advice and encouragement you need to start on a learning journey that could change your life.
Government site for adults returning to learning
We provide links where available.
It's easier than ever to return to learning with these ideas about what, where and how to study, plus advice about the financial help available:
The Open University
The Open University admitted its first students in 1971. It is the UK's largest university, with over 200,000 students and customers. The OU's undergraduate level courses do not require any entry qualifications. Over a third of people starting these courses have qualifications below conventional university entry requirements. Despite this, around 70% of OU students successfully complete their courses each year. Two thirds of students are aged between 25 and 44. Nearly all OU students are part-time and about 70% of undergraduate students remain in full-time employment throughout their studies. More than 150,000 OU students are on-line.
Women's resource centre
The WRC is a coordinating and support organisation for voluntary and community projects that work for and with women. WRC is a national organisation with a London focus, providing information, training, development support, networking opportunities and policy consultation within the non-profit sector.
