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Teenage parents to receive £5,000 if return to college
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Teenage parents, between 16- and 19-years-old, wanting to return to college to undertake a full-time course will receive £5,000 per child. This money will be paid directly to the child minder; if the parents of the parents look after the child, then the mother or father of the child won't get anything. Do you think that this £5,000 offer is good or bad and why?
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The whole country is upside down. The governement end up trying to solve problems when they should be prevented in the first place.
It could be argued that they *are* trying to sort their lives out now by wanting to go back to education, but although mistakes happen, they should be responsible enough not to get pregnant so young if they still want to go to school/get a job.
Sociology at college used to get hectic when we debated what the government does and believes regarding money&education....
Pregnancies happen. Yes some by mistake but should they be punished for the rest of their lives?
What about people who have got pregnant through other means (say rape) and don't believe in abortion, etc... and have had the kid. Should they be refused the opportunity?
Gotta say i agree with you Ninja.
How about this. We don't give them the cash. They don't get qualifications. They don't get a high enough paying job. You continue to pay for there dole/child benifit/income support for the rest of their lives.
I welcome this. I think it gives people a way out of what they maybe see as a dark hole.
How about this scenario. You have a kid. You lose your job. You want to go back to Uni for more qualifications. You can't afford it cause of childminders fees. Do you knock back a 5G handout?
And of coursesaving the cost of being onthe dole ...
The problem here is that if you don't give them anything and they take benefits and sit at home all day diong sweet FA they get called all sorts of names.
If you offer them some money to pay for child support whilst they get an education they get called all sorts of names.
They're scum if they do and they're scum if they don't.
I think this is a good idea and a positive step. As long as these people are monitored to make sure that they are spending the money correctly and are actually going to school or college then I applaud these efforts.
Rather than paying for childcare for them, wouldn't it be more practical to set up creches and day nurseries, so the parents can carry on with education if they want to, while still knowing that their child is being looked after. I just finished school, and a girl in my form who just had a baby didn't have to think twice about carrying on to college; the college she is going to has a creche, as mature students go there as well as 16 and 17 year olds. Surely in the long term, this would be a cheaper and more effective option?
I could've missed the point entirely, like I say I'm not going to pretend I understand the politics behind it, but I don't think teenage parents should feel pressured to go to college, if they wouldn't otherwise, just so they get extra benefits. Childcare facilities in college should be taken as standard in my opinion. Teenage parents should have exactly the same opportunities, choices and treatment as other teenagers in regard to going into further education.
I think it's an entirely wrong idea.
Or some kind of childcare vouchers, which can be redeemed by the carer.
As long as there is some way of making sure that money is spent on childcare, and nothing else, then it's a good idea.
our local primary school has to get rid of teachers because of lack of funding these children are our future and they are going to suffer from this. that money could be used for 'better' things, used for education to prevent it, i am working to set up a brook advisory clinic in our area, an advice center yet ther is no funding, yes because teenagers are using it to sort out their problems, if you gave them the opportunity again would they work to sort it out? these things need to be taken into account, this money could be spent on hospitals, health, education.
On the other hand, by giving them money least they can't go on shows like trisha and say they never had the chance and it will help them long run.
I think you're being too stereotypical here. You're classing every pregnant teen as someone who doesnt pay their own way and what not. And i find the way you write 'they get up the duff' quite offensive, its not particularly politically correct now is it?
I had my daughter the day before my 16th birthday, and i stayed in college, finished my exams, and worked my ass off, and i have NEVER taken a penny off the social or out of 'your taxes'. I work three jobs at the moment, am completing a diploma in acting, and still make sure I have time with my daughter and my partner, and Im only 18.
Yes, you're right, there are girls who are careless, there are guys who are even more so, and no its not always fair, but there are people out there who find themsleves in awful situations, and through absolutely no fault of their own.
I come from a good family with good finances and a stable and rewarding background. My mum would help me out in a flash if she could, but i wont let my mum help me out unless im desperate, because I take responsibility for my life and my daughter and I do every damn thing I can to support us both. My mum goes to work, she's only 43, she has a great career, and so Jaz stays with a childminder, who I pay for.
I had to make the awful decision 3 weeks ago to have a termination because I fell pregnant again, however this was a wanted prgenancy with my partner. Unfortunately things didnt go to plan with his career and there was no way we could support us all. It was devasting because I really wanted that child, and I still do now, and it hurts me so much to think of what i've done, and i feel extremely guilty and a number of other emotions for it, however, I know that for my own sake, as well as those around me and that baby's, it wouldnt have been fair on those concerend for another child to be born. And so I paid, (yes dont worry i didnt take it from the NHS) a lot of money to regretably terminate that pregnancy.
However this doesnt change the fact that i already have a child to look after, All it does is show to you that some of us 'pregnant teens' do have brains and the capability of making the right decision, however there are girls out there who obviously dont, for whatever reason. And dont forget it takes two to tango.
Basically all im trying to say is that society is far to quick to judge you when you are a young parent, or a pregnant teen, and no one other than yourself knows your true circumstances. People need to take a step back sometimes and accept that there are people out there who are genuine, and maybe need the help they are offered very badly, and yes, there are people who are bullshitting and take the money whilst sitting on their backsides and who simply dont care, but just because of those few people, it shouldn't tarnish the rest of us who have to walk around with this unwanted and unneccessary stigma.