Job Clubs for Parents

Places where parents cluster for parenting matters - schools, nurseries, Sure Start, etc may be the kind of places at which facilitators might either offer typical services that job club members need or recruit new members.

The book "Working mothers - An essential guide" (see Book review) does not give details of the importance of the role of job clubs to mothers and fathers who want to return to work or work for the first-time.

Of course, if niche job clubs are created for say mothers, bankers, surveyors etc, wanting to work it could be argued that the unique worth of an all-comers job club might be lost. An essential feature of many, if not all job clubs, is the members' diversity of experience, age range and knowledge and skills which can be utilised for the mutual benefit of members. This might be absent in a niche club.

Starting a Business No 1 HMRC and Taxation

Business and tax go together so the start-upper needs to know the exemptions, reliefs and concessions which may be available. As a start members of the Job Club might attend a few HMRC courses.  Our Job Club has taken the opportunity to attend a HM Revenue and Customs event on starting a business. The emphasis on VAT and income taxes was expected from the programme but other subjects included:

• online VAT returns (computer demonstrated) and other online services;
• Health and Safety (from the HSE); and,
• 10 tips for success from a Business Link representative.

Members of Job Clubs in attendence had a good opportunity to discuss issues with the staff of HMRC and HSE - both groups were very informative. The "course" included opportunities:

• to brush up knowledge on tax and other business related topics;
• to network with the presenters and other attendees;
• to collect detailed Notices, information leaflets; and,
• prospectively, to update the CV and covering letter!

We were told that the course was a taster; more detailed courses on taxation matters are available in Kent (and elsewhere no doubt).
Members who missed today will find the programme very useful.