School crossing guide Annemarie Clark used to dread going to work. Now she doesn’t …thanks to Outlook. Her previous job in a clothes shop left her feeling stressed, disorganised and as if she was missing out on precious time with her two children. She wanted work to fit in with her family life, but she felt it was her home life that was being squeezed in around work. Unhappy with the situation, Annemarie left her retail job and didn’t know what to do next. Then one day she spotted an article that gave her some inspiration. Sitting in her home in Carricknowe, Annemarie told Outlook what led her to her new career as a school crossing guide. [IMG1] She said: “I didn’t want to go back to working in a shop because the days were long and I had to work weekends so I was missing out on time with my children. “The school holidays were the worst because I would have to find childcare or try to get the kids into a holiday programme. “I was at my friend’s house flicking through her copy of Outlook when I saw an article about school crossing guides. “I’d been out of work for a while and missed having an income so I thought it could be an opportunity for me.” Annemarie contacted the school crossing guide team for an application and was later invited for an interview. Her friendly personality shone through and, after her references and Disclosure Scotland checks were approved, she was offered a school crossing guide position at Carricknowe Primary School. “ I was really nervous on my first day, but it was great because someone comes out with you. Before you know it you have the confidence to stand in the middle of the road and stop the traffic. “So far, I’ve found the drivers and pedestrians really co-operative and the children are happy to listen to you. “ You meet so many people in a day and you have the regulars who like to stop for a chat.” More than half of Edinburgh’s young people walk to school, making the job of school crossing guides very important. They are instantly recognisable and approachable figures in the community. They take the difficult decisions away from drivers and pedestrians by deciding when it’s safe for the cars to stop and for people to cross the road. Along with helping local children get to school safely, Annemarie enjoys the flexibility of the job. She added: “My crossing place is a ten minute walk from home. So once my morning shift finishes I can go back and get on with things there. “It feels like I have the day to myself apart from a few hours when I’m out doing something I really enjoy.” Being a school crossing guide is a great option for people who have young families or time to spare during the day because working during school hours fits in with family life. Annemarie can wholeheartedly agree with this, saying: “I have the same hours and holidays so I don’t ever have to think about childcare and I get to spend lots of time with my children. “ Being a school crossing guide fits in so well with family life. “I couldn’t ask for a better job.”
AND IT COULD BE YOU TOO... - Would you like to make a difference in your community?
- Would you like to be trained in a new career?
- Would you like to earn some extra money?
- Would you like a job that fits around family life?
If you have answered yes to all of the above, you should be considering a career as a school crossing guide. 56 per cent of pupils walk to school and we need a team of reliable and responsible people like you to help make their journey a safe one. In return for your commitment and hard work, you will receive:
- a competitive hourly rate
- travel expenses
- full training
- 52-weeks-a-year pay
- flexible working days
Positions are available throughout the city, in particular for Bruntsfield, Craiglockhart, James Gillespie’s, Broughton and Sciennes.
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