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I knew quite a few NVQ students at the place I worked whilst at college.
I don't have the asme amount of time as A-Level students. I was an A-Level student 2005/2006.
Most 6th form students live at home so don't pay rent, bills or for food.
It's a million times more difficult for people who live in their own place and I imagine they would be the ones more likely (or at least with more need to) commit benefit fraud. Because they would be unable to continue with their studies without the extra money.
Your telling me they all only work Fridays?
There's plenty of jobs you could take to fit in around your course, especially in the evenings. My best mates work evenings, where as I work at weekends and any extra hours in the week, it just depends what free time you're willing to sacrifice. But all 3 of us work, and hold down our course, our revision/coursework, and a pretty decent social life, so I'm sorry, but I side with Stacey here, it is possible.
Thats why things like waitressing, and working in call centres are useful. (the jobs my friends do). The hours for both are flexable and avalible in evenings. Whereas I prefer to have my evenings free so I work daytimes in a shop. It's just about being detirmined.
At last, someone who gets it. Of course, bending benefit rules is not ideal, but its the only option some people have. Which is why colleges and jobcentres often collude with it.
I think that might be your problem - you have high expectations. It's not about having a 'decent' job, it's about having a job full stop.
My sister does 4 full A levels, and gets an EMA. She also works till 2am on thursday and friday in a bar in order to get some money to go out on. It is doable.
I lived with someone in my final year of uni who got no support whatsoever from her parents - so as well as doing an intensive course (accounting with law), she worked about 25 hours a week. She got a good degree (2.1) and paid her own way throughout uni. It does sound to me like excuses are being made.
It's not ideal if you need to work on top of college but it's perfectly doable.
And don't try and tell me that the above work load was less than an NVQ.
i was a degree student and still managed to work 18 hours a week
But how many hours did you have to be in uni for?
I don't. It is actually impossible to find a decent job with decent working hours. (I'm not the only one who has said that either - my dad had exactly the same problem a few years ago)
I also do Key Skills and a GCSE. I also have to do a work placement 2 days a week - that takes up about 17 hours a week
And all course require different amounts of coursework and theory to learn.
I take it you live in Plymouth then and do know how hard it is to find a job?:yeees:
And I haven't just had to do an NVQ this year either - I've also done First Aid & Food Hygiene certificates.
Don't see why people are getting at Sofie or anyone else.
Let's be honest, it's quite rubbish working when you are 16 or 17. Isn't the minimum wage something ridiculous like £3 an hour? And usually the only sort of job you can get is a dead-end, tedious one where you get treated badly...(this is going from my own and friends experiences).
i was in most days 8/9-4/5
started my shifts at 6
i also had to do all the shopping and most of the housework as i am kinda my mum's carer
my point is, if you NEED the money, and can work, you should! my situation was hard, i was tired, but it IS do-able in most cases...
i can see where ya coming from katchika but the girl in question obviously needed the money, but could most probably could have got it bworking rather than claiming a benefit she wasnt entitled to
i'm not preaching, and of course people's situations are different
Im going to jump in as i live in Plymouth and i can say it is bloody hard trying to find work down here. Although i can't say anything about it being hard to find PT work such as bar staff etc...... everything else im going for is a nightmare.
Sofie what sort of hours on what days do you have free if you were to work?
Only a Saturday and Sunday.
If money is tight, there should be plenty of bar staff work around on Friday and Saturday nights, surely even working in a shop in the City Centre during the day
I don't get how students not working is going to have an effect on you and your life other than the 'it's unfair' arguement.
Exactly.
Not everyone has an easy life, not everyone can save money.
OK, I didn't realise you were so young. However, there are 16 year olds who don't have parents who support them.
Fairynuff
i didnt say it did effect my life, i was giving an opinion as have a lot of people in this topic!
BUT
students who are capable of working, but dont and claim a benefit fraudulantly are wrong and are commiting a crime. end of.
nowhere have i said ALL students should work, if you can get by without it, great...but the girl in question obviously couldnt get by without it so should have worked!