Returning to college?

My lone-parent advisor says the same. She reckons she could possibly say that of two lone-parents that she sees - one is a dad and one a mum. Personally I feel it's the media who draws attention to the 'easy targets'.

I hope they move quickly on this for you.

Hey,

I am not sure if this post is still up and running but I thought I would share my experiences.

I have just completed Access to HE course with the local college, passing with the higest number of credits... and I have to entirely agree with the awful lack of funding avaliable.
After leaving work to return to education, in order to secure a decent future for my 2 year old daughter, I am pretty disgusted at the Governments lack of help and have been lobbying ever since.
I had to go on income support after re -entering education and becuase of this I was only permitted £20 maintainence a month, I had previously been getting the full amount when working as there are no limits....it seems education means little when single parents are undertaking it! They also refused to fund my travel and I could not apply to the college fund as then my income support and housing benefit would be reduced accordingly resulting in myself and daughter becoming worse off.......And in addition, have had continous problems with childcare over the summer hols, as the college wont fund it, the uni wont fund it until sept and the nursery wont hold her place open!!Not to mention the £800 deposit required by the nursery which the Government will not fund..I had to take out a social fund loan to pay for this....more debt!
I am now awaiting a responce from the dept of BIS(Gov) , as to why I am being held back from uni becuase of lack of funding....
I even had my complaint to the Government 'put in the junkmail' by an MP as she did not deal with the student area.... They really just don't care but times have to change .
Having said that, and despite the endless problems, I would advise anyone to return to education....do an Access diploma (1 year course-15hrs per wk on campus) because it has changed my life. I m off to stydy Law at uni in Sept , with plans to become a barrister (I left school at 16 with no qualifications, so if i can do this, anyone can) and all these barriers that have been put up because of my social status, have only made me more determined to succeed and continue to lobby the government to change their abissmal treatment of single parents returning to education. And the more of us that try , the more likely they are to change......It was the best move of the my life and I know that both my daughters future and mine , in the long term will benefit hugely...so if any of you are thinking of it, I say just do it and it will be the best thing you can do, for yourself and your family.