Could you mentor your grandchildren’s career?

01/07/2006

A former teacher who now works as a part time education and careers consultant is calling on grandparents to put their life skills to good use by helping put their grandchildren on the road to the right career or college course for them.

 

Children face a bewildering array of choices as they reach vital stages of their school life and, says Ros Lucas, grandparents can play a crucial role at this time.

 

“One evening while I was playing table tennis at my over 50s club, I was being asked questions by friends about their teenage grandchildren – what information was out there, and how they could help.

It struck me that many Mature Times readers will have a great deal of knowledge and experience of the world of work that would be useful to their grandchildren.

 

“The Government has put various funding initiatives into place over the past few years to make sure that all youngsters are aware of the different qualification routes that will enable them to pursue their studies to degree level.

 

Regular visits to university and visits from student ambassadors or mentors from universities are now seen in the classroom, providing support at special events in the majority of Secondary Schools.”

 

But, says Ros, grandparents can help youngsters by doing some of the groundwork on their behalf – looking into their options, finding out information that would guide their decisions, providing them with support and acting as a sounding board.

 

“If they have access to the web – either in their homes or in the library - they can find out the best sites on the internet to provide information on careers,” says Ros. “Libraries are also a great source of information on courses at local colleges, and will tell you who is the local provider of Careers Information and Guidance.”

 

Not all children will want to go down the route of sixth form and University and here too a helping hand can be provided. “Ask your grandchildren,” says Ros:  “Do they know that a Degree can be started in a College of Further Education? Or that you can start a Foundation Degree while you are at work? Do they know about local apprenticeships for 16 - 19 year olds in their area, and which occupations now offer Apprenticeships? Or which occupations pay £14,000 for A Level students with the right skills?”

 

Before choosing a college course, youngsters are encouraged to visit colleges – again, grandparents can help by accompanying them.

 

For those children, concludes Ros, whose parents may not have the time to provide a lot of assistance on doing research, grandparents – who often have the time as well as the patience, knowledge of the workplace and research skills - can play a key role at a critical time.