Chahad came to GRoW in early 2022 as she wanted help to find a job after being out of work for some time. She has started work as a part time assistant at a café in Wimbledon.
Chahad said “I was referred to GRoW from my workcoach at Kingston Jobcentreplus. I was trying so hard to get a job so I could improve my life, I have twin 6 year old boys and have so much to pay out for and getting a job is so important for me to make life better for my children.
I have worked before, at Bicester Village in Oxford and also at a pharmacy approximately 10 years ago and I had been trying to find the same type of work but was getting no luck. I had also undertaken an online Healthcare Administration course as I thought it would be a good way to get in to a GPs surgery or a school but despite looking for work in this field I hadn’t seen anything available. Ideally my goal is to work in a school so that I can work during term-time but when I first came to GRoW I was happy to just take any type of work that would fit in around my children.
I found the GRoW team to be so helpful, nothing is too much trouble for them and they have always made themselves available whenever I needed any advice. They have taught me so much that I didn’t know, especially around childcare. I went on their Childcare Information session and was given so much advice I hadn’t previously been aware of, for instance I found out about lots of different opportunities for after-school and activity clubs where my children could go during school holidays. It is places like this that make it more possible to work without the worry of what you do with your children during school holidays if you are at work. Even knowing these places exist make opportunities seem much more achievable!
GRoW introduced me to the jobs board Indeed which is a great place to find jobs vacancies. I signed up with them and put my CV on to their system and was really pleased when I found a job at Patiserie Valerie as a part time Café Assistant. I started work there a few weeks ago and am really enjoying it. I’ve got to meet so many different people, from many different cultures and backgrounds, I really love it. I get to eat pastries too which makes it even better!
GRoW have really helped to raise my confidence in the time I have been supported by them. My GRoW Adviser Chantelle was so helpful, signposting me to lots of different opportunities and places where I could get advice, I’m so grateful for their help and I’m really pleased now to be back working, being around people and making a difference to improving my family’s life.”