‘I was motivated by money –but I love working with kids’

Soulla Robinson has taken up a new part-time job at the age of 63. One of a growing number of people whose plans to retire have been put on hold, two months ago she started work as a “grand-­nanny”.

She now looks after children aged three, six and eight for three afternoons a week from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. For this she gets £12.50 per hour, working out after tax as just over £100 a week for three hours a day, three days a week.

She got the job via GrandNanny.co.uk, an agency which matches families with people over 50 who have had their own children and are seeking part-time work.

The grand-nannies – and the ­occasional grand-daddy – earn £11.50 an hour if they work outside London, or £12.50 if they are based in the capital. The agency charges families an extra £2 as its fee and a one-off set up fee of £285 for the family.

Soulla lives in north London with her husband and two grown-up children, aged 24 and 27.

She said: “Money was a key factor. These are very worrying times and it’s helped to have some extra money coming in. I’ve felt the effects of energy bills and food prices going up. I do worry my finances are dwindling as I’m paying more for everyday essentials.”

She had worked as a civil servant, and in broadcasting and publishing – but had to quit her job after her mum had a stroke.

“At the time, both my children were under five, and mum had been helping me look after them. Between 2002 until my mum died in 2013, I was the caregiver for both mum and my young children.”

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Older jobseekers

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that nearly 760,000 people aged between 50 and 64 are seeking employment. These are people who would usually be starting their life after work, or taking early retirement, but are returning to the workforce to earn extra cash as inflation hits double-digit figures.

Romi Savova, chief executive at PensionBee, a pension platform, said: “Extensive market volatility – and its impact on pension balances – has left many older workers worrying if they have enough saved to cover their retirement ambitions”.

Soulla has a small private pot from her time in broadcasting, along with around £20,000 in a self-invested personal pension (Sipp). She is not yet drawing a pension. “I will get the state pension before long, too, though I worry about the gaps in my record.”

To receive the full amount of £185.15 per week, someone will need to have paid national insurance contributions for at least 35 years.

Soulla said: “I’m concerned about being able to retire comfortably. My parents ran a restaurant and mum worked until she was well into her seventies. She just loved people and being active. The moment she stopped, she had a lot of health problems. Working keeps you healthy.”

Christopher Brooks, head of policy at AgeUK, said: “We saw many older workers leave the labour market during the pandemic, but lots are now going back due to the cost of living crisis. While money is a big driver, some also want to be part of a workplace and contributing to the community once again.”

Soulla added: “Part of my reason for getting this job has been financial, but I was also motivated by my love of children, having free time, and wanting to work. Emotionally, I am happy because I can see the little ones learning and growing.”

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