Kids or no kids, ÂŁ10ph for a 'mate' is rather a tall order - remember work is in short supply and career changees with a technical certificate but no experience are plentiful - you only have to look at how many people there are on this forum offering to work for free to see that.
I had to leave my office job to work in a restaurant because they wouldn't let me have time off for college, then I managed to get work as a 'mate' for ÂŁ7.50ph, but that was before the credit crunch - now every man and his dog wants to become an electrician.
Put yourself in an employer's shoes - would you employ some 17 year old kid for cheap who you can train up the way you want but who you have to closely supervise, you for ÂŁ10ph who has their own transport and can use their initiative but still needs guidance, or someone who can do the same as you but for ÂŁ7.50ph, possibly someone who even has experience already and will need less supervision?
That's a difference of around ÂŁ20 a day, or ÂŁ100 a week for employing someone who hasn't got kids to feed.
I'm not saying it's impossible, but you're definitely at a disadvantage.