It Takes a Village: How Working Together Creates Opportunities for Women

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Sometimes finding your way into work takes more than a good CV or a successful interview. It takes encouragement, opportunities to gain experience and people who believe in what you can achieve. That’s why working with other organisations has always been such an important part of Grow.

One partnership that has made a real difference is our work with Imperial Health Charity, whose Volunteer Employability Programme has given women from the Grow community opportunities to volunteer in NHS hospitals, develop new skills and explore careers in healthcare. Through Grow, women have received support with their confidence, CVs, applications and career goals. Imperial Health Charity has been able to build on that support by offering practical experience in a hospital environment, helping women discover new possibilities for their futures.

Different women, different journeys

For Kelly, who had spent much of her career working in hospitality, volunteering at St Mary’s Hospital helped her discover that a career in healthcare might be possible after all. Kavitha, who had previously worked in IT, found that volunteering opened her eyes to the many different roles available in the NHS, including opportunities where she could use her existing skills. And Sangeeta, preparing to return to employment after a long career break, was supported by Grow to apply for the volunteering programme as another step towards rebuilding her confidence and experience. Their journeys are different, but they demonstrate something important: you don’t always need to know exactly where you’re going to take a positive step forward.

The difference working together can make

Maryam Bello-Tukur MIEP from Imperial Health Charity recently shared some lovely words about the partnership and the women supported through it. She reflected on how women referred by Grow have volunteered in hospitals, with some going on to secure paid roles as medical laboratory assistants, healthcare assistants and imaging assistants. As Maryam put it, “sometimes it really does take a village.” And that’s what good partnership working is about. Bringing together different skills, opportunities and support so that women have more ways to move forward.

Could volunteering help you?

Volunteering can be a great way to explore a new career, gain recent experience, meet people and discover skills you didn’t realise you had. It doesn’t have to be in a hospital. There are opportunities in schools, charities, community organisations and many other settings.

READ MORE ABOUT THEIR JOURNEYS:

Kelly Finds a New Direction in Healthcare Through Volunteering

Kavitha Volunteers in the NHS

Sangeeta Rebuilds Her Confidence and Skills for a Return to Work

Harpreet Builds New Skills and New Hope Through Grow

Harsha Builds Her Confidence, Gained Experience and Found Her First UK Retail Job

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Could you tell us a little about yourself and where you live?

My name is Harsha and I live in the Uxbridge area. I came to the UK in 2007. In 2008, I completed an ESOL Entry Level 3 course at Eastcote. After that, I had a son who was born in 2009 and my family responsibilities increased thereafter.

My husband works full-time, so the school drop-offs and pick-ups were mainly my responsibility. I was very busy looking after my family, hence I didn’t have time to focus on my own career.

In 2013, I completed an IT course at Brookfield College in Uxbridge. I always wanted to continue learning, but my family responsibilities were my priority.

I had a daughter in 2014 and was a housewife. I was mainly responsible for her primary schooling. Just last year she started high school, and I became a bit free to focus on myself.

I started thinking about making a career for myself and wanted to start working, particularly in retail.

However, I didn’t know what I should do or where I should start. I thought the first step would be to improve my qualifications, especially my English. I started looking online for courses and support, and that is when I found the Grow programme.

What was happening for you when you first came to Grow, and what made you decide you wanted some support?

When I found Grow in June 2025, I was thinking seriously about starting my career. I wanted to work in retail, such as becoming a Retail Assistant, but I didn’t know anything about how to get started or what I needed to do.

I was also looking for ways to improve my qualifications, especially my English. I found the Grow programme on Google and tried to contact them.

I got an appointment with Sheeja. I went to the appointment with my husband because at that time I wasn’t confident about speaking and explaining about myself or what I wanted to do in the future. My husband explained everything on my behalf.

Sheeja spoke with both of us and explained that I had arrived at the right place. She told me that Grow could help me with my career. She encouraged me to attend the Grow online sessions regularly and explained that, slowly, I would become more knowledgeable about my career path.

I followed her advice and started attending the sessions.

How were you feeling about finding work when you first joined Grow?

When I first joined Grow, I was not very confident about finding work. I didn’t know what I should do or how to start my career.

I was also worried about my English and communicating with other people. I didn’t feel confident speaking about myself, explaining my experience or talking about what I wanted to do in the future, so I didn’t know how to present myself to employers.

At that time, I was hopeful that I could find work, but I needed someone to guide me and show me what steps I should take.

What support have you received from Grow?

I received a lot of support from Grow.

When I started attending the online sessions, I learned many things that were new to me. For example, I learned how to use Zoom and how to have conversations and communicate with other people online.

Grow showed me different types of courses and opportunities. I completed Maths and English courses online because I wanted to improve my qualifications.

My CV was out of date, Kaneez from Grow helped re-design and update my CV, which was very useful because I was finding it difficult to do that by myself.

After that, I started applying for jobs, but I wasn’t getting replies. During one of the online Grow sessions, I asked Liz about this. She explained that if I started volunteering, it could increase my chances of getting a job because I was interested in retail.

I followed her advice and started volunteering at the British Heart Foundation Home Store in December 2025. I also volunteered at Age UK Ruislip later on, where I learned how to use a till because the BHF home store did not allow volunteers to use the till.

Sheeja also explained to me that, although volunteering is unpaid, I was getting valuable experience. Through volunteering, I had the opportunity to speak to different types of  customers from various backgrounds and ethnicity and was learning how to deal with different situations, both simple and difficult ones.

Through my volunteering, I gained valuable experience in customer service, communicating with different people and customers, dealing with difficult situations, upselling and working as part of a team.

Grow also helped me learn how to use ChatGPT. I find it very useful for updating my CV, searching for jobs, creating cover letters and preparing for interviews.

The Grow team also did mock interviews with me several times. This helped me practise and prepare myself for real interviews.

What has being part of the Grow programme given you that you might not have had otherwise?

Being part of Grow gave me knowledge, support and encouragement that I didn’t have before.

Before Grow, I didn’t really know where to start. I was looking online by myself, but I didn’t know about the different courses, volunteering opportunities or how I could gain experience for the type of job I wanted.

Grow helped me understand that I could take small steps towards my career.

First, I improved my qualifications. Then I created my CV, started volunteering, gained customer service experience and started applying for jobs.

I also became more comfortable using technology and communicating with other people.

The support and encouragement from the Grow team helped me keep going, especially when I applied for jobs and didn’t receive replies.

Has Grow changed how you see yourself or what you feel you are capable of?

Yes, it has.

When I first came to Grow, I wasn’t confident enough to explain my own situation. I even went to my first appointment with my husband because I wasn’t sure how to speak and explain what I wanted to do.

Slowly, my confidence started to improve.

By attending Grow sessions, doing courses, speaking with other people, volunteering and practising interviews, I became more confident.

My volunteering also showed me that I could learn new skills. I learned how to communicate with different customers, deal with difficult situations, provide customer service, upsell and work as part of a team.

Now I feel more confident about what I can do. I know I still have more to learn, but I feel that I have skills and experience that I can offer an employer.

Congratulations on your new job with Primark! Can you tell us about the job?

Thank you. I am very happy that I have started working as a Retail Assistant at Primark in Uxbridge.

I started in September 2026. It is a part-time weekend position for a three month contract.

My job involves working on the shop floor, helping customers, keeping the department organised, replenishing stock and working as part of a team.

I am learning how everything works in a busy retail environment. Every time I go to Primark, I learn something new.

I am looking forward to gaining more retail experience, improving my customer service skills and learning more about working in a retail environment.

What does getting this job mean to you personally?

Getting this job means a lot to me because it is an important step in my journey back into work after a long time focusing on my family.

When my younger daughter started high school, I started thinking about my own career. At that time, I didn’t know what I should do or whether I would be able to get a job.

Now I have started working in retail, and that has given me more confidence.

I am meeting new people, learning new skills, gaining real work experience and building my customer service experience.

The job is currently fixed-term rather than permanent, but I am very happy that I have been given this opportunity. It is a very important step for me.

Do you think Grow helped you get to the point where you were ready to secure this job? If so, how?

Yes, definitely.

Grow helped me understand what I needed to do step by step.

They helped me improve my qualifications, create my CV and understand how to apply for jobs. When I wasn’t getting replies to my applications, Liz suggested volunteering. That was very helpful because volunteering gave me real customer service and retail experience.

Through the British Heart Foundation and Age UK, I learned how to communicate with different customers, deal with different situations, work as part of a team and use a till.

Grow also helped me prepare for interviews through mock interviews. This helped me feel more prepared when I attended real interviews.

I kept trying to find a job. I continued updating my CV and adding my customer service experience, and I kept applying for different jobs.

Eventually, I got the opportunity to work at Primark.

Looking back to when you first came to Grow, what feels different now?

A lot has changed since I first came to Grow.

When I joined Grow in June 2025, I didn’t know what I should do. I wasn’t confident speaking about myself, my CV was outdated and I didn’t have any work experience.

I started attending Grow sessions and slowly learned new things. I improved my English and Maths, created my CV, started volunteering and gained customer service experience.

I also learned how to use Zoom and ChatGPT and became more confident communicating with people.

Now, just over a year later, I have started my first retail job in the UK at Primark.

When I think about where I was when I first joined Grow and where I am now, I feel very happy and proud. Last year, I didn’t know what I should do, but now I am working, learning new skills and building my career.

What would you say to another woman who was thinking about joining Grow but wasn’t sure whether it could help her?

I would say, give it a try and don’t be afraid to ask for support. It’s good to join as the people are very helpful and things will get easier over time.

When I first went to Grow, I wasn’t confident and I didn’t even feel able to explain my own situation properly. But Sheeja listened to me and explained that I had arrived at the right place.

You don’t have to know everything when you start. Grow can help you understand what steps you can take.

For me, it was about taking one step at a time — improving my qualifications, creating my CV, volunteering, gaining experience, practising interviews and continuing to apply for jobs.

I would also say don’t give up if you don’t get a job straight away. I applied for many jobs and sometimes didn’t receive any reply, but I kept learning, gaining experience and trying.

Is there anything else about your experience with Grow that you would like people to know?

I would like people to know that Grow was not only about helping me find a job. It helped me understand what I could do and gave me the confidence to start building my career.

When I first contacted Grow in June 2025, I didn’t know what I should do, I wasn’t confident speaking for myself, with an outdated CV and lack of any work experience.

With the support from Grow, I took small steps. I improved my qualifications, created my CV, started volunteering, gained customer service experience, practised interviews and continued applying for jobs.

The Grow team encouraged me throughout my journey.

Now I have started working at Primark, and I am very happy about this achievement. My job is fixed term at the moment, but for me, getting this opportunity is a very important milestone.

If I think about myself when I first joined Grow and myself now, there is a big difference. I have more confidence, more knowledge and real work experience.

I hope my experience can encourage other women who have been away from work for a long time or don’t know where to start. You don’t have to do everything at once. You can take small steps, learn new skills and keep moving towards your goals.

Kinza Gets a Clearer Pathway to the Future

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Kinza joined Grow in summer 2026 looking for support to get ready for work. She knew she wanted to work but wasn’t sure where to begin.

Living in Hillingdon with her two children, Kinza had graduated in Early Years nine years earlier but had never moved into employment. Her time since graduating had been focused on bringing up her children and, after such a long career gap, returning to the workplace felt daunting.

“I was confused where to start,” she says.

Kinza had always been interested in working in a school. Her own experiences as a parent have given her a particular interest in supporting children with additional needs, whether in a mainstream or specialist setting. But first she needed to rebuild her confidence and understand the steps she could take to move towards work.

“I did not have any confidence before joining Grow,” she says. “I definitely gained confidence after I joined, with all the support and the great sessions.”

Since joining Grow, Kinza has received help from her Grow Adviser Kaneez to update her CV, explore job-search websites and think about training that could help her move towards the work she wants to do.

Practising interview questions with Grow has been particularly useful in helping Kinza feel better prepared. She recently attended an informal interview to volunteer at her son’s school and recognised some of the questions from her interview practice with Grow Adviser, Khatera.

Kinza said: “English is not my first language and when I become nervous I can sometimes struggle with finding the words I want to use. I do think I was confident in answering though, and the practising definitely helped me. Some of the questions we practised actually came up during the interview, so I felt I did much better.”

Subject to her DBS check, Kinza will now begin volunteering at the school to gain experience alongside further training, with the longer-term aim of finding paid work supporting children with additional needs.

Kinza now has a plan for the next stage of her journey. Alongside volunteering at the school, she hopes to complete online training, including a Level 2 course relating to supporting children with additional needs. She plans to spend around two days a week volunteering, building up recent experience over the coming months before beginning to apply for paid roles. Grow has also introduced her to different courses, job-search websites and LinkedIn, helping her understand the options available and the practical steps she can take towards her goal.

Kinza said Grow has offered more than employment advice. “Being part of the sessions with other women has given me an opportunity to hear about their experiences and learn from people facing some of the same challenges.”

The SEN session delivered by Khatera was particularly important. Other mothers shared their experiences of supporting children with additional needs, while Khatera also shared relevant lived experience. “I think that really helped me open up about it,” Kinza says.

The session introduced her to information and sources of support for her family that she had not previously known were available. “Nobody told me before, so I felt like that was really helpful.”

Although Kinza has only been with Grow for a short time, she already feels differently about her future. “I have definitely gained confidence and motivation with the help and support,” she says.

Grow has helped her identify training, gain interview experience, improve her CV, explore volunteering and understand the steps she can take towards her longer-term career.

Most importantly, she no longer feels unsure about where to begin. “I feel like I have a clearer pathway now – a clear path of what I need to do.”

Uzma Lands Two Interviews in One Week

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When Uzma came to the UK from Pakistan last year, she knew that finding work might take time. What she hadn’t realised was how different the process of applying for jobs would be.

Uzma is a qualified pharmacist and is looking to get back into her profession. Since settling in Uxbridge with her family, she has been applying for entry-level pharmacy roles, as well as looking at retail jobs that could help her build up some UK experience.

“I kept applying for jobs, but people were refusing me because I don’t have UK experience,” she said.

Uzma was introduced to Grow around six months ago and started working with the team on her job search. One of the first things they looked at together was her CV.

Uzma had already tried to improve it herself using information she found online, but she hadn’t realised how differently CVs can be written and presented in the UK.

“I had no idea that the UK style is different,” she said.

The Grow team helped her look again at how she described her previous experience. Rather than simply listing the responsibilities she had held, they showed her how she could talk more about what she had achieved and the difference she had made.

Since changing her CV, Uzma has had two interviews for pharmacy roles in the space of just one week.

Neither has led to a job yet, but after struggling to get through to interview before, it has given her some encouragement that things are starting to move.

Uzma has two children and her youngest son is only two. With her husband working full time, finding someone to look after him when an interview comes up can be really difficult. She has even had to miss interviews in the past because she couldn’t arrange childcare.

She is trying to find ways around that now, including asking neighbours whether they might be able to help for an hour or two if she gets another interview.

This is also one of the reasons Grow’s online support has worked well for her. Uzma has been joining the online Coffee Mornings, where she can meet other women and hear about their experiences without needing to travel or arrange childcare.

She enjoys hearing other women talk about both the problems they are facing and the progress they are making.

“You learn from other people too,” she said.

“Being part of GROW has helped me emotionally, to keep going and don’t lose confidence,” she said. “They emailed me and called me many times. That’s a big thing. If someone pushes you, it’s a lot of motivation.”

Uzma is still looking for that first opportunity. Her priority remains pharmacy, although she is also open to retail work that could give her the UK experience employers are asking for.

Jarena Gets Back in to Work After Redundancy

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When Jarena was made redundant in July, after many years of working, she knew she wanted to get back into work. She had plenty of experience in accounts and accounts payable and knew that was the area she wanted to stay in, but it had been more than six years since she had updated her CV.

A friend told her about Grow and, towards the end of July, she came along and met Grow Coach Sheeja in Hillingdon.

Jarena and Sheeja spent several hours going through her CV together, looking at her experience and making some changes to how it was presented.

“It was very useful. She did tweak a few little bits which I didn’t even think about to do myself.”

There was some practical help too. Sheeja showed Jarena how to save her CV to a USB stick and how to access and send it from her phone, as well as helping her update her profile on CV-Library.

Jarena also joined a couple of Grow’s online sessions with Mercedes. One was about knowing your strengths, which helped her think about how she could talk about her experience and strengths if she was asked about them at interview.

“I found them very helpful and useful actually.”

It wasn’t long before Jarena started getting interviews. The first couple didn’t lead to a job, but she kept going. Then another interview came along.

“It was a conversation more than a formal interview and I felt prepared and confident. A couple of days later I was offered the job.”

Jarena is now back working in accounts for a pharmacy business. The role is part-time and only around a 20-minute drive from home, which is exactly what she was looking for.

Having worked for more than 40 years, Jarena had decided that this time she wanted to take a bit of a step back and work fewer hours. She’s enjoying being able to finish earlier and have the rest of the afternoon to herself.

When we caught up with her, she had only been in the job for a week, but things were already going well. The colleague training her had been telling her (and other people) how quickly she was picking everything up.

Jarena feels the support she received with her CV played a part in helping her get there.

“Because I had help with the CV, I think that probably did help me get noticed.”

“I found Grow very helpful and useful, I think it’s a great thing for women to be able to get this kind of support.”

Jarena is enjoying being back doing the kind of work she knows and with hours that work better for her now. Congratulations on the new job, Jarena and we hope it continues to go really well!

 

Rehana Builds Independence and Confidence Through Personalised Support from Grow

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Rehana was referred to Grow by her DWP Work Coach, she was looking for more than just help finding a job. She wanted to build her confidence, become more independent and improve her communication skills so that she could feel more comfortable navigating everyday life and be able to communicate openly with others.

Rehana, who is in her 50s, had never worked in the UK and had spent many years as a housewife. With limited work experience and difficulties with English, reading, writing and digital skills, finding suitable employment felt like a significant challenge. She often needed someone to accompany her when going to unfamiliar places because she lacked the confidence to go alone. She also has some minor health issues, meaning that any future employment would need to be carefully matched to her needs and the right working environment.

One of Rehana’s biggest barriers has been communicating confidently in English. She explained that she feels much more comfortable speaking Punjabi, particularly when she needs to explain something, ask for help or understand important information. At times, this has made it difficult for her to express herself freely and has affected her confidence when meeting new people or exploring opportunities.

She attended a Grow wellbeing session led by Grow Coach, Saeema. It was her first in-person session with Grow, and understandably, she was unsure about what to expect. Initially, she worried that her communication difficulties might prevent her from taking part in the same way as other participants. However, the experience turned out to be a very positive one.

Rehana shared:

“This was my first time attending a Grow session in person, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was told that I didn’t need to speak or take part if I didn’t feel comfortable. I could just sit, listen and watch what was happening. This made me feel much more relaxed because I didn’t have to worry about speaking English or feeling embarrassed if I didn’t understand something.

Saeema was very supportive throughout the session. She kept checking that I was okay and explained things to me in Punjabi so that I could understand what was happening. She took the time to sit with me and explain why Grow runs these sessions and how they can help women like me. She explained everything slowly and clearly and made sure I understood. Even though I was mainly listening and watching, I really enjoyed the session. I felt comfortable, welcomed and like I belonged. Having Saeema there to explain things to me in Punjabi made a big difference. I felt understood and supported, and it gave me the confidence to want to come back and attend more in-person sessions.”

Recognising that improving her English would be an important step, Grow has also referred Rehana to in-person, pre-entry ESOL classes in Hayes run by WEA. This has been an important milestone for her. For someone who has faced difficulties with communication for many years, attending classes and working on her English is helping her take steps towards feeling more confident in everyday situations.

For Rehana, this is not simply about learning English. It is about being able to speak to people more confidently, understand information for herself, express what she needs and gradually become less reliant on others.

The support she has received from Grow has helped create a safe and welcoming environment where she feels comfortable talking about her challenges, asking for help and sharing her aspirations. Having staff who understand her language and culture has helped her feel listened to and valued.

There are still barriers for Rehana to overcome, but she is making progress at her own pace. Her next goal is to continue developing her English, while also improving her reading and writing skills. As her confidence grows, she hopes to become more independent and explore employment opportunities that are suitable.

Rehana’s journey is a reminder that progress  starts with simply feeling welcomed, understood and supported enough to take the next step. Through personalised support, Grow is helping Rehana build her confidence, develop new skills and move towards greater independence. Her journey is still ongoing, but every step she takes is bringing her closer to the future she wants for herself.

Sangeeta Rebuilds Her Confidence and Skills for a Return to Work

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After a ten-year career break to raise her family, Sangeeta is preparing to return to employment with renewed confidence thanks to the support of Grow.

Originally from India, Sangeeta relocated to the UK after getting married. Although she had previously worked as a Technical Associate, she had been out of the workplace for a decade while raising her children. Wanting to rebuild her confidence, update her skills and prepare for work in the UK, she discovered Grow through the Hillingdon Council website while completing a digital skills course with Learn Hillingdon.

Sangeeta said:

“I found out about Grow in September 2025 while I was doing a digital skills course with Learn Hillingdon. I was also looking for job opportunities and came across the Grow programme on the Hillingdon Council website. I discovered that Grow could help me improve my skills and my confidence, so I joined.”

Looking back, Sangeeta says a lack of confidence and being away from work for so long were her biggest barriers.

“I was not having much confidence and I also wanted to improve my skills because it had been a long time since I was working. I had no work experience here after relocating to the UK, so I thought it was a good idea to join Grow. It has really helped me.”

Although her background is in accounts and technical work, Sangeeta decided to focus her job search on administrative roles as she felt they would provide a good route back into employment.

Through Grow, Adviser Sheeja recommended several learning opportunities to help Sangeeta build new skills and strengthen her CV.

“Sheeja recommended several courses that aligned with my career goals. One of them was a Canva course, which was really helpful. It developed my practical skills in creating professional designs, presentations and digital content.”

She also completed a Social Media course through Capital City College, helping her develop practical digital communication and marketing skills.

“The course gave me practical experience in digital communication, content creation and online marketing. I also use these skills for my artwork, which I do as a hobby. It isn’t my full-time business, but it has helped me promote my work while I’m looking for employment.”

Alongside learning new skills, Sangeeta has become an active member of the Grow community, attending Coffee Mornings, using the Grow App and working one-to-one with her Grow Adviser, Iryna.

“I join the Coffee Mornings and I use the Grow App regularly. I find job opportunities there and apply for them. My mentor, Iryna, has encouraged me throughout my journey. She has supported me with job applications, improving my CV and strengthening my interview skills.”

The one-to-one interview preparation has made a real difference.

“It was really helpful. It improved my communication and my confidence.”

As well as applying for jobs, Grow has also helped Sangeeta take another important step towards employment by supporting her application for an NHS volunteering opportunity through Imperial Health Charity.

“Grow’s adviser Khatera also supported me in applying for an NHS volunteering opportunity with Imperial Health Charity. I’m attending the selection day next week and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Now that her children are older, Sangeeta feels ready to return to work and is excited about the future.

“My children are grown up now, so I have time to come back to work. I haven’t worked since moving to the UK, so now I’m looking for a full-time job. Grow has helped me understand my transferable skills, build my confidence and improve my digital skills. I feel much more prepared for the next step.

Beyond employment support, Grow has also encouraged my personal development. Liz has been very supportive of my interest in art and gave me the opportunity to showcase my artwork. Being able to present my artwork with the Deputy Mayor of London was a proud moment that boosted my confidence and reminded me of the importance of nurturing my creativity alongside my career goals.”

 

Vishnupriya Finds a Route Back into Finance Through Volunteering

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When Vishnupriya moved to the UK from India with her husband and two sons, she was eager to rebuild her career. With an MBA in Finance and a 13-year career break, she knew returning to work would not be easy. Thanks to support from Grow Adviser Iryna and an opportunity she discovered at the Kingston Volunteer Fair, Vishnupriya is now volunteering in a finance role that is helping her rebuild her confidence, improve her English and gain valuable UK experience.

“I met Iryna at a jobs fair in Kingston, where she told me all about Grow. I was interested because I wanted to improve my English, meet new people and build my confidence. When I joined Grow, I found out about the coffee mornings, workshops and the Grow community. It made me feel that there were opportunities for me and that I could start building my network.”

During one conversation, Vishnupriya explained to Iryna that although she had an MBA in Finance, she had been away from her career for 13 years while raising her family. Iryna encouraged her to consider volunteering as a way of gaining UK experience.

“In my country, volunteering isn’t something we really do, so I wasn’t aware of it before. Iryna explained how valuable it could be and encouraged me to look for opportunities.”

After hearing about the Kingston Volunteer Fair through Grow, Vishnupriya decided to attend. That decision proved to be a turning point.

“I had already applied for volunteering opportunities but hadn’t received any replies. At the Volunteer Fair I spoke to the charity directly and explained that I had applied twice without hearing back. They asked me to come in the very next day.

“I originally applied for a fundraising role, but when they saw my qualifications, they offered me a finance volunteering position instead.”

Vishnupriya is now volunteering twice a week with the Save the World Club charity in Kingston, where she is carrying out financial reconciliations and checking accounts.

My role is to reconcile the accounts, compare the sales records with the finance system and identify any discrepancies. Recently I spotted two missing transactions that hadn’t been recorded correctly. I reported the missing transactions to my manager, and the charity was able to recover the missing money. Everyone appreciated that I had spotted the issue, and it gave me so much confidence.”

Alongside gaining valuable finance experience, the volunteering role is also helping Vishnupriya improve her spoken English.

“The people I work with are very kind. They know I’m still improving my English, so they explain everything slowly until I understand. It’s helping me build my confidence every time I go.”

Although Vishnupriya hopes to return to paid employment in the future, she knows there are still steps to take first.

“I want to improve my English and continue building my skills. This is a new country for me, so I want to learn as much as I can before I move into work. Volunteering is giving me experience, confidence and helping me prepare for that next step.”

Vishnupriya continues to attend Grow workshops, coffee mornings and uses the Grow App to keep up to date with new opportunities.

“I use the Grow App every week. I check for the coffee mornings, workshops, new courses and job opportunities. I also enjoy reading about other women’s experiences because I’m learning from them too.”

With Grow’s support, Vishnupriya has already taken an important step back towards the career she loves. Through volunteering, she is gaining UK experience, developing her confidence and preparing herself for future employment in finance.

Harpreet Builds New Skills and New Hope Through Grow

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Harpreet, who lives in Hillingdon, joined the Grow programme after moving to the UK from India. With support from Grow, she has completed courses including Canva and Project Management, 30 hours NHS volunteering at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, and is now applying for NHS positions while continuing to receive tailored support through Grow.

Harpreet said:

“I first heard about Grow at a jobs fair at Uxbridge College in January. I had gone there because the Jobcentre suggested I attend, as I was looking for work. When I spoke to the Grow team, they explained that they support women with education, training and employment, and I knew it was exactly the kind of help I needed.

I had qualifications from India, including a degree in Software Engineering and an MBA in IT, but I didn’t have any UK work experience. I wanted someone to help me understand what I needed to do to build my confidence and find work here.”

After discussing her goals with her Grow Adviser, Khatera, Harpreet was referred onto a range of learning opportunities that matched her ambitions.

“The first course I completed was the Canva course through Capital City College. I had never used Canva before, but I really enjoyed it. It opened my eyes to how useful it is for social media, creating designs and presentations, and it’s another skill I can now add to my CV.

After that I told Khatera that I wanted to study Project Management as well, and I have now completed that too. More recently Grow have enrolled me onto a Civil Service course to help me find opportunities in the Civil Service field. Grow understand what I’m trying to achieve, and they help me choose the right courses for my goals.”

Harpreet’s ambition has always been to work for the NHS. With Grow’s support, she completed 30 hours volunteering at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington through Grow partners, Imperial Health Charity which gave her valuable UK experience while continuing her job search.

“One of the biggest things Grow helped me with was getting into NHS volunteering. I started volunteering at St Mary’s Hospital on 1 April, and it has given me the experience and confidence I needed. I’m now applying for NHS administration jobs every day.

I completed my 30 hours of volunteering in just six weeks and was even presented with a Kind Person Award after a patient recognised my communication skills and kindness. That meant so much to me.”

Alongside training, Harpreet says the personalised support she received from the Grow team made all the difference.

“Laura helped me rewrite my CV, prepare my personal statements and practise interview questions. Even now, if I’m applying for an NHS job, I send her my application and she gives me advice. When I get an interview, she helps me prepare with mock interviews.

Because I’m new to this country, I didn’t know how to enrol on courses or what employers were looking for. Grow guided me through everything and even provided references when I needed them. Nobody had ever explained things to me like that before.”

Having experienced some difficult personal circumstances, Harpreet says Grow has supported her emotionally as well as professionally.

“Living on your own in a new country can be very difficult. There were times when I felt lonely and overwhelmed. The Grow team listened to me, encouraged me and treated me like family. They gave me emotional support as well as practical help, and that made a huge difference.”

Looking ahead, Harpreet remains focused on building a long-term career in the NHS while also exploring opportunities within the Civil Service.

“Every day I apply for NHS jobs and Civil Service roles. I’m hopeful because I now have volunteering experience, new qualifications, a much stronger CV and people who continue to support me.

*Grow has helped me so much. They didn’t just help me find courses, they believed in me, guided me and gave me the confidence to keep moving forward. I feel much more positive about my future now.”

Sarabjeet Finds Confidence and Hope for the Future with Grow

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Sarabjeet joined the Grow programme after facing difficult family circumstances that left her feeling low and unsure how to move forward. Through Grow she received guidance and practical support, rebuilt her confidence, completed courses including Preparing to Work in Schools, and is now being supported through Grow’s Job Brokerage programme as she works towards finding employment. Recently, Sarabjeet was invited to meet Nick Riddle for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), where she shared her experience of the difference Grow has made to her journey.

Sarabjeet said:

“After some family issues, I was feeling very low. My confidence had gone and I didn’t know where to start. I wasn’t working and I just wanted to get my life back on track.

My daughter’s teacher told me about Grow because she knew I wanted to build my confidence again and start working. I was also going to the Jobcentre for Universal Credit and they referred me too. Joining Grow has made a huge difference to me.”

Before coming to Grow, Sarabjeet had worked in retail, residential care and school catering. Although she had lots of experience, she struggled to secure interviews and didn’t understand why.

“I had the same CV that I showed at the Jobcentre but when I joined Grow, Sheeja sat down with me and showed me step by step how to improve it. She explained transferable skills and how to tailor my CV for different jobs. Before that I had applied for hundreds of jobs without even being shortlisted.”

Over the past year Sarabjeet has attended workshops, seminars, completed training and gained work experience through the SWEET programme.

“The workshops taught me so much. I learned about rights to work, employment, schools and lots of different careers. I completed more education and I feel like a completely different person now.

Grow isn’t just about courses. They really get to know you. They understand what you need and support you as a person.”

Sarabjeet is now working with the Grow Job Brokerage team, where she receives one-to-one support with applications and interview preparation.

“Laura, Saeema and Khatera have helped me prepare for interviews and showed me things I had never thought about before, like eye contact, how to answer questions and how to complete application forms properly. One evening an application was about to close and Khatera stayed online helping me complete it. They always make time for you.”

Although her long-term ambition is to work for the NHS, Sarabjeet is applying for every suitable opportunity to gain employment and continue building her career.

“My dream job is to work for the NHS one day, but right now I’m applying for all kinds of jobs because I want to get back into work. I know I’m ready now. I have the confidence, the knowledge and the support around me. I’m just waiting for the right opportunity.”

Earlier this week Sarabjeet was invited to meet Nick Riddle from the Department for Work and Pensions, who visited Grow to hear directly from women about their experiences of employment support.

“Nick wanted to know what the difference was between the Jobcentre and Grow. I told him the Jobcentre helped me with Universal Credit, but Grow gave me personalised support. They listened to me, understood what I needed and helped me every step of the way.

People come through the door carrying so much that you can’t always see. Grow understands that. They encourage you, they build you up and they never make you feel like you’re on your own.”

Looking back on her journey, Sarabjeet says the biggest change has been in herself.

“Before Grow I cried all the time and didn’t believe in myself. Now I feel confident. I know what I want to do and I know I have people around me who believe in me.

*I honestly feel Grow has changed my life. The team are amazing. They are always there when you need them. I really hope more women hear about Grow because it can make such a difference. It certainly did for me.”