If you're a good PHP dev then don't talk that down—your client doesn't care what's cool at the moment. They're more interested in getting something that works and delivered on time.
If I wanted to be a freelancer that earned £1000 per week, I'd start by just telling people my day rate is £200 per day. Then use whatever personal connections, friends of friends, to find work and use that to build a early network of clients. The freelancers I've hired in the past are generally through personal recommendations so think about people who come into contact with your target market and approach them to see if they're willing to put a good word in for you.
If you're looking to be trained then you're likely to have more fun getting a permanent job where they're willing to invest money to train you.
Obviously, this is unlikely to happen over night so may not be the solution to your current problem.
Good luck.