Saron came to GRoW looking to work in a school setting and has now found in a Primary School as a Learning Support Assistant.
Saron said “I am well qualified with a degree in biomedical science and a Batchelors degree which I gained 10 years ago but soon after finishing University I had my children and so never experienced working in a laboratory. When I was ready to go to work again I needed to find a job that would offer flexibility to work around my children and I felt working in a school would be ideal.
The GRoW Team were really supportive, offering me lots of opportunities to take part in their activities such as the weekly Coffee Mornings and sending me their jobs bulletin every week. I attended a GRoW session where they discussed how to apply for jobs and offered me lots of support. I was already volunteering at my child’s school and so was building up the experience I needed on my cv to help me secure a job. I also did a course with Hillingdon Adult Learning in Support Teaching and Learning, it was half a day a week and I did my volunteering at the same time to gain practical experience. The GRoW advisers continued to check in on me, asking if there was anything they could help me with, such as any problems at work or any other support I might need.
I applied and was offered a job in a primary school as a Learning Support Assistant which I have now been doing since October. It is a really interesting job, working on a one-to-one basis with a young boy with additional needs. I started on a zero hours basis but I now have a contract working 25 hours a week. The hours fit well around my children and I am really enjoying being part of the team.”