| Author | Message | ||
     Supergabs New Here Username: Supergabs Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2010 Posted From: 86.18.85.134 |
Hi Everyone. I've just had a bit of a life changing event which has left me in a financial pickle. I work part time (22.5 hours) and am not eligible for any benefits. There are definitely no more hours available at work and, in any case, my OH is looking for work too and I need to be at home on the days he will be working. Please don't scoff, but we have four gorgeous but "special needs" dogs (we volunteer for a rescue) and it's not feasible to leave all of them alone while we both go out to work hence the bright idea of earning money from home. I've had a look out there at the usual, obvious scammy adverts and was panicking until I found this forum. I love doing the admin for the charity. I maintain the website, produce the newsletter using Publisher, apply for grants, reply to emails, write the Annual Report for the Charity Commission, run the eBay shop etc. and I'm hoping these skills will help me find some paid home work. I am self taught, which I'm sensing will be a problem as there must be many, many gaps in my knowledge but I'm looking into flexible learning to gain IT/admin qualifications similar to the old ECDL, which I'm hoping will fill in the gaps. Can anyone suggest anything I might be able to do in the meantime to earn some income from home? Thanks. Gaby  | ||
| Manfriday Senior Member Username: Manfriday Post Number: 1040 Registered: 05-2002 Posted From: 195.188.152.14  |
SG I sometimes think that the folk that run this country (into the ground) do not deserve it's citizens. You sound like a reall get up and go kind of person. I suspect that you will find something, but I regret that in the current financial climate I doubt it will be easy.. When investigating the market (Knocking doors, telephoning) do not say "I am self taught". Just tell them (for example) you are the senior administrator for a well known charity. That you are responsible for ABC and Responsible to (The CEO or whatever) Responsible for and Responsible To is a good key phrase when explaining what you are about. I think the general advice from this forum if looking for work on line you should google the key word 'Freelance' i regret this is only general advice I am sure someone will come up with an idea that is more specific in the meantime hope this helps MF | ||
| Millysoo Forum Specialist Username: Millysoo Post Number: 2965 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 90.213.136.222 |
Have a look at companies online like Salviafundraising. OK they are large and well established and 'high end', but there's loads of information there about professional associations etc for fundraisers, and also some very educational prices - these people charge some very real cash for their understanding of the grant funding application process, with (like a solicitor I guess) no guarantee of a successful outcome. Even charities are tightening their belts in the recession and tin rattlers are having reduced success, so elusive grant funding is becoming a more attractive proposal to people who have hidden away from the idea of 'all that paperwork'. Why not approach your local small charities and struggling 'charitable organisations' and offer to take them through the grants application process for a commission? You have to be a better bet than one of their existing volunteers learning the process from scratch. The library pinboard is probably as good a place to start as any. You'd be doing what you love and are good at, locally. Only a thought. | ||
| Kenweston Forum Specialist Username: Kenweston Post Number: 3148 Registered: 10-2002 Posted From: 86.180.211.51  |
Being on the management committee of our local community centre I can say with absolute certainty that obtaining grants is also getting more difficult. To get anywhere at all you need to have something which will draw attention to your funding bid and which will keep it in the forefront of the minds of those offering funding. We are fortunate in having at our disp[osal an expert in this field, who knows what is likely to create that image which funders are looking for, but we still have to see if it will work. Good luck,but don't hold your breath! | ||
| Thimble New Here Username: Thimble Post Number: 5 Registered: 07-2010 Posted From: 81.155.30.137 |
hi gaby everyone freelance needs a website.I have started one cost me £10 a month,i can change it etc.Maybe you could offer your serves to freelance people who dont have a clue or the time to make their own websites and charge a monthly fee,it maybe not much money to begin with but it will take time to build a client list,just an idea? Good luck Thimble x | ||
| Supergabs New Here Username: Supergabs Post Number: 4 Registered: 07-2010 Posted From: 86.18.85.134  |
Thanks everyone.  I'm not an expert in any of the admin tasks I do. Our charity is very small and the grant applications are just a case of filling in forms. I maintain the website but wouldn't have a clue how to set one up. I think, until I have my admin qualifications, I would be more comfortable doing something simpler and more mundane. Envelope stuffing, very simple assembly work - that kind of thing. When I'm qualified I'll look into VA type stuff which, I'm guessing, will bring in a bit more money. How do I find legitimate, fairly uncomplicated work to tide me over? | ||
| Millysoo Forum Specialist Username: Millysoo Post Number: 2968 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 90.209.9.253 |
Um, .. you don't. Not on the web, anyway. Piecework would be handed out by factories local to you, because the point is for this to be economically beneficial to the company. Don't trust anything of that nature where you have to send money for details, or where they say it doesn't matter where you live. Postage costs a bomb these days and its far more expensive to pack and safely return a delicate balsa wood lampshade (! oh yes, paid £10 to learn the hard way back in my idiot days!) than it is to send the basic wood strips and wire out in a flat envelope. Envelope stuffing - they have machines for that. If you see any adverts for that kind of work, generally you get paid for stuffing some punter's money into an envelope and sending it all to the 'company', but not for the advertising, closing the sale, standing as pretend retailer/legal buckstop etc etc etc. Sorry. Don't knock your skills. Grant applications ARE just a case of filling in forms, provided you can read forms, can tolerate boxes, don't go into meltdown when you are asked to categorise needs and amounts or commit to projects, and provided you know how to read funding criteria and how to find the people with the money in the first place. Everything in this world is as easy as falling off a log once you know how. Please value the fact that you know these things when so many others don't. Fair exchange is no robbery! | ||
| B2bscott Forum Specialist Username: B2bscott Post Number: 439 Registered: 10-2000 Posted From: 71.126.59.77  |
ENVELOPE STUFFING??? Bite your tongue!!! I just googled Freelance Data Entry Work (pays well, no brain strain) and my search returned a first page that has some great possibilities for you. Forget about the "sponsored links" and concentrate on the web search returns. If - or when - you become totally muddled, please shoot me a PM and we will get you "unmuddled" as fast as possible. Sound good? Julie | ||
| Supergabs New Here Username: Supergabs Post Number: 5 Registered: 07-2010 Posted From: 86.18.85.134 |
Thanks Julie. I'll be checking these out later this morning. I'm hoping I'll be able to restrict this work, if I get it, to two days a week so I still get a 2 day break. Now I'm wondering how the whole tax and national insurance thing would work for an additional income and if the extra hours would count towards Working Tax Credit. Someone in the household has to work 30 hours in order to claim. I work 22.5 so am not entitled at present. Any ideas anybody?  | ||
| Manfriday Senior Member Username: Manfriday Post Number: 1044 Registered: 05-2002 Posted From: 195.188.152.14 |
SG Hi I haven't a scooby doo about tax credits but I do know we have just had a change of government and five gets you ten the tax credit system is in for some massive changes. So my advice is check it out with the experts to wit Inland Revenue MF | ||
| B2bscott Forum Specialist Username: B2bscott Post Number: 440 Registered: 10-2000 Posted From: 71.126.59.77 |
You took the words right out of my brain! I dropped by to say specifically that - because the US is experiencing much the same predicament. Mel, does Inland Revenue maintain a website? Since Supergabs would only need to maintain 7.5 hours each week and, seemingly no specific money amount, it seems doable with "flexible scheduling" unless the PRESENT rules say otherwise. Am I right? Julie | ||
| Manfriday Senior Member Username: Manfriday Post Number: 1045 Registered: 05-2002 Posted From: 195.188.152.14 |
Julie Hi They do...strictly speaking they are now HM Customs and Revenue...The merged two govt depts together (To save money) They never learn do they? The URL is http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/index.htm Mel | ||
| B2bscott Forum Specialist Username: B2bscott Post Number: 441 Registered: 10-2000 Posted From: 72.74.117.222 |
Supergabs, There you have it. Their website should give you a good overview as well as some specifics to answer your question. Mel has supplied the URL (thanks!) for you. Now I know why I couldn't find "Inland Revenue UK" - Oh well .... I hope between the two of us, we have given you a useful path to follow. Julie |
