Blog

Supporting Parents to Support Their Children with Maths

Posted on by heathercette

At GRoW, we love seeing our participants take steps to build confidence, explore new opportunities, and pursue their aspirations. Dhanya is a great example of this. Since joining GRoW, she has been actively engaging with our resources and is our GRoW App Ambassador in Croydon. Dhanya recently attended the first session of “How to Help Your Children with Maths,” a short course delivered by Capital City College that supports parents to better understand and assist their children with maths at school.

Dhanya said “I joined the GRoW programme just last month, and it’s been a really helpful experience so far. When I heard about the maths course, I was curious to see how they approach teaching because I’m actually planning to step into teaching myself. I wanted to understand how the course was delivered and how the tutors engage with parents, so I joined to observe and learn from their methods.

It’s a short course – just four sessions over two weeks. I’m interested in learning the techniques and the structure of how they course teaches maths, as these are things I could apply in the future if I pursue teaching.

The first session I attended was mainly about budgeting and money management, which I found interesting and practical. These are the kinds of real-life skills I think would be great to introduce to children as part of maths learning – showing them how numbers and money are part of everyday life. It’s not just about doing sums on paper; it’s about understanding how maths applies to real situations. The trainer was engaging and I’m looking forward to the next session this week.

I have one child who is currently in Year 9 at secondary school. For me, this course isn’t just about supporting him with his homework – it’s also about developing skills that will help me work with other children in the future. I’m really interested in finding a role in a school, perhaps as a teaching assistant as a first step, since I don’t yet have a teaching degree. I’ve been exploring different options and I think this is a good pathway for me.

I’ve also been keeping busy outside of GRoW. The team has helped me search for jobs and voluntary opportunities, and I’ve been active as a Community Responder for Croydon. In this role, I help with small tasks like shopping and welfare calls for people who need support. It’s something I enjoy because I get to meet people and contribute to the community.

I’ll be continuing with the maths course, and I’m looking forward to learning more about how I can use these approaches both at home and, hopefully, in a school setting one day.”

We’ll be catching up with Dhanya again once she completes the full course, to hear how the rest of the sessions went and how they have supported her next steps towards working in education.

Regina Completes Helping Children with Maths Course

Posted on by heathercette

We recently made available to our GRoW community the ‘Helping Children with Maths’ course held by Capital City College and one of our grow members was pleased to take part in and complete. Regina has been part of GRoW for some time, joining various workshops to build her confidence and skills — including CV writing and interview preparation. Regina joined the maths course to support both her own development and goals to become a teaching assistant and also for her children’s learning.

Regina said “I first joined GRoW a while ago, before the lockdown, but I’ve had to come and go because of my health and travelling. Now I’m back and still looking for work — I’m really hoping to find something that works for me and my children, maybe between 8 and 4 during the day.

I’ve done a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course and Level 2 Childcare already. What I want now is to do my Level 3 Teaching Assistant course so I can take that next step and hopefully get a job in a school.

I’ve been coming to a lot of GRoW sessions — how to write a CV, cover letters, things like that. They’ve all been helpful. Most recently, I joined the How to Help Your Children with Maths course with Capital Training. Even though I already had my Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths, it’s been a few years and I felt like I had lost a bit of confidence. I wanted to refresh my knowledge before starting any new work or training — and also to help my children better with their homework.

The course was really good. The tutor was very calm and patient, and explained everything clearly. If you didn’t understand something, he would break it down and go over it again. That helped me a lot — I’m dyslexic, so I need to go over things more than once to really get it. He also gave us handouts and recommended the website mathsgenie.co.uk, which I’ve been using at home to practise. It’s great.

The course reminded me how useful Times Tables are — I’ve started using them more and testing myself like I’m back at school! I’ve also been practising things like simplifying and ordering fractions, metric conversions, and checking my mental maths. It’s been really useful.

What I liked most is that it made me feel confident again. Maths can be scary, especially when you haven’t used it in a while, but the way the course was taught made it feel manageable. I’d recommend it to any parent who feels like they’ve lost confidence in maths — give it a try, it really helps.

The course also gave me more motivation to continue learning. Since I want to work with children, knowing how to explain maths in simple ways is going to be a big help. I’m grateful to GRoW for letting me know about the course and always being there to support me.

Elisa Starts Work at Wilko

Posted on by heathercette

Elisa joined the GRoW Programme in March 2024 and has now started a new part-time job in retail at Wilko. Elisa has been supported throughout her journey to work by her Adviser, Sheeja. Together they worked on her CV, job applications, and building her confidence. Elisa has shown real determination and has taken important steps towards building a better future for herself and her daughter.

Elisa said “I joined GRoW a year ago. At the time, I wasn’t working and I wasn’t sure where to start. I have worked before — I did packing jobs through an agency and worked at Poundland — but I lost my job when I was pregnant. That was back in 2022, so I had been out of work for a while.

I wanted to work again, but it felt hard. I have a young daughter who is 2 years old, and I’m also on pre-settled status, which makes things more complicated sometimes. I didn’t know what support I could get or how to find a job that would fit around my life.

Sheeja from GRoW really helped me. She really went above and beyond. She worked with me to update my CV and apply for jobs, checking in with me and encouraging me to keep going. She helped me get a reference, which is really important when you haven’t worked for a while. She also helped me by advocating for me, speaking with other people and authorities on my behalf to help me when I needed to find new accommodation.

She personally helped me with job searching by telephoning me and inviting me in to the office to support me in applying online, through Indeed and other sites. I didn’t have much luck but then one day, I was out shopping and I saw a sign at Wilko saying they were hiring. I went in, filled out the form, and gave them my CV. A few days later, they called and offered me the job.

I now work part-time, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm. My daughter is in nursery and I pay a little extra so she can stay the extra hour while I work. It’s not always easy, but I’m proud to be working again.
GRoW has helped me a lot, especially Sheeja. She gave me support when I needed it most and helped me feel more confident. I’m really happy to be back at work and I feel more positive about the future.”

Change in action

Posted on by heathercette

Working to help people has always taken a blended mix of empathy, expertise, and encouragement. Yet now more than ever it’s about reaching out and genuinely connecting with people sitting outside of the working world.

This is a huge priority for policy makers, keen to support not just people attending the Jobcentre and receiving state benefits, but those back at home, commonly believing there’s no ‘right’ job out there for them. Programmes, and their funding, are rising to the challenge; their make-up directly responding to the task of finding, coaxing, and empowering people to think differently about their own futures. It’s a challenge Ingeus is keen to overcome.

One such example is the People & Skills South London Partnership Programme, delivered by Ingeus in partnership with Belina Consulting and Beam across the five London Boroughs which form The South London Partnership: Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton. So far, the programme has supported over 700 unemployed people from across its five London boroughs, utilising a strong network of local partners to provide community outreach and offer local knowledge and expertise.

Belina specialises in supporting women with differing barriers preventing them from working. Over the course of the People & Skills South London Partnership Programme, Belina supported 80 women from Croydon and Kingston to get ready for or start work.

Read more about the project here

#WomenWelcome: Accelerating Action for Women in Work

Posted on by heathercette
International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 calls on us to “Accelerate Action”—a reminder that progress for women cannot wait. At Belina GRoW, the theme this year is #WomenWelcome, celebrating the strength, resilience, and talent of women from all walks of life and urging employers, policymakers, and communities to take meaningful steps toward equality. On Friday, the Belina Team hosted a powerful hybrid event, bringing together women from diverse nationalities to share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. The discussions highlighted the everyday barriers women face—lack of childcare, unequal pay, and limited access to flexible work—and the urgent need for action to address them. The event was a true celebration of diversity, with participants speaking 21 languages—including Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Irish, Malayalam, Tamil, Russian, French, Punjabi, Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, Guyanese Creole, and Nepalese. And that was just in the room! They were also joined by a vibrant group of women online, making it a truly international gathering. The conversations were uplifting, focusing on the importance of women’s contributions to society and how we can continue to support each other in achieving our goals. Voices from the GRoW Community Several women shared their personal reflections on what International Women’s Day means to them: Khatera Ahmed MIEP, GRoW Adviser, shared: “To me, this day means freedom, fighting for our rights, resilience, and appreciating the women in our lives who are role models for us. We must also acknowledge the privilege of living in a country where we have access to opportunities that many women around the world do not. Coming from Afghanistan, I know how important it is to stand together. In my home country, many women are currently denied even their basic rights—education, work, and the ability to live independently. This day is a reminder that we must support each other and empower ourselves to use our voices to advocate for those who cannot. International Women’s Day is for celebrating the achievements of our journeys and also standing together like sisters, helping each other. When one woman rises, we all rise together.” Iryna, GRoW Adviser, reflected on the significance of the day: “I am originally from Ukraine, and for us, this celebration comes early in spring—a time of new life and new hope. This day is very important, and I am so happy to be here with all of you, celebrating our achievements and resilience. I want to encourage all women to never give up.” Another participant shared how moving to the UK was a life-changing experience: “When I arrived in the UK two years ago, I lacked confidence and barely left my home. I didn’t have the courage to handle people and was not bold enough. But today, I stand here in front of you all, sharing my story. We can overcome challenges, we can find our strength, and we can achieve anything when we support one another.” Sushma from India shared a heartfelt message: “Today we celebrate International Women’s Day by thinking about our mothers, sisters, grandmothers, friends, teachers, and all the women who work hard every day. Women are strong and can achieve anything they set their minds to. Yet, too often, they face challenges simply because they are women. We must create a world where everyone has the same opportunities, regardless of whether they are boys or girls. Let’s promise to treat every woman fairly and with respect and keep working to ensure that all girls and women can reach their full potential.” The event was not just a moment of reflection—it was a call to action. Women should be valued, supported, and empowered. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we must continue pushing for real change in workplaces, policies, and communities.

Asfia Progresses from Learning to Employment

Posted on by heathercette

Asfia first came to the GRoW Programme in October 2024, when she was looking for opportunities to develop new skills and find a job that suited her family’s needs. As a mother to teenage twins and a younger child, she wanted a career that allowed her to balance work and home life. Through GRoW, she discovered courses that would enable her to progress towards her goal of working with children and social care, and she quickly got involved in learning.

Asfia said “I first heard about GRoW in October 2024. At that time, I was looking for ways to build my skills and find a job that would work around my children. I have always been interested in working with children and possibly becoming a social worker in the future, so I wanted to start with some courses to set me on the right path.

Through GRoW, I completed two courses: Level 1 Preparing to Work in Schools and Level 2 Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health. These courses were so helpful in giving me the knowledge and confidence to take my first steps. Before this, I had not done any studying in 20 years though I had spent many years at home managing my family and running a restaurant business with my husband.

I found out about GRoW through a leaflet in the local library that explained the courses available. When I called to find out more, I spoke to Kaneez, who was really supportive and guided me through the process of getting started. I had never studied anything like this before, but I found the courses to be very engaging. The trainers were fantastic—Natasha and Liz made sure we understood everything clearly, and they explained things in a simple way that made it easy to follow.

After completing the courses, I started looking for job opportunities, and I was so happy to be offered a role in an After School Club. It started with just a few hours a week, but now they are offering me more hours because they are happy with my work. This has given me such a boost in confidence—I feel like I am finally doing something for myself while still being there for my children.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue my learning to help me progress further in a career in either social work or education. I am planning to take a Level 3 course in Children and Young People’s Mental Health to deepen my knowledge and open up more opportunities for the future. GRoW has made such a difference in my life. The team has been so supportive, and I feel like I am part of a community that wants to see me succeed.
I would recommend GRoW to anyone who is looking for support in getting back into work or learning new skills. It has given me the confidence I needed. After not doing any studies in 20 years it was so easy to step back into it again with the support of my course tutors which is something I really didn’t expect at all.

GRoW Support Tanuja on Her Journey to Employment

Posted on by heathercette

At GRoW, we are dedicated to helping people gain the skills, confidence, and support they need to find sustainable work. Tanuja’s story is a great example of how the GRoW Programme’s workshops, training, and one-to-one support can make a real difference.

Tanuja said “I recently started a job working in a café, making coffee and sandwiches. I enjoy this work because I have done it before, and it feels good to use my skills again.

I learned about GRoW when I was searching for jobs online. A friend suggested that I join the GRoW programme because I was always looking for work but not having much success. I joined the workshops and met Karen, who helped me a lot.

Karen showed me how to make a professional CV. Before this, I was applying for many jobs but getting no replies. I did not understand why. Karen helped me highlight my skills and write my CV properly. After that, I started getting interview offers, which made me feel much better.

I also attended interview workshops with GRoW. Karen practiced interview questions with me and gave me tips on how to answer. This helped me a lot when I went for my interview at the café. My manager asked me if I could make a coffee, and I felt confident enough to say yes and show my skills.

GRoW also helped me to improve my skills by enabling me to do a Level 1 Customer Service training course with Get Set UK. This course was very helpful and it will help me in my job and also for any job in the future I apply for. I am waiting to receive my certificate so I can add it to my CV.

Whilst I am enjoying my job I do need to increase my hours so I am keen to find additional or alternative work in a customer service type role ideally, maybe closer to home. I am much more confident now since going through the GRoW Programme and want to say a big thank you to GRoW, Karen, and everyone who helped me. I am very grateful for their support.

 

GRoW at the Jobs Fairs – Connecting with Opportunities

Posted on by heathercette

The recent Jobs Fairs in Uxbridge and Kingston were a fantastic opportunity for job seekers to meet employers, make new connections, and explore job options. GRow’s Liz and Iryna attended the Kingston Jobs Fair and Sheeja attended the Uxbridge College Jobs Fair at Hayes Campus alongside members of the GRoW community, who were there to connect with potential employers and find out what opportunities there are in the local and national jobs market.

Job fairs provide an excellent platform for networking, learning about different industries, and discovering job openings that may not be widely advertised. For many job seekers, the chance to speak directly with recruiters and hiring managers helps to break down barriers to employment and gives them a clearer understanding of what employers are looking for.

Sheeja shared her thoughts on the experience, highlighting the positive impact of attending in person. “It’s a great place to be, you can meet so many employers all at once and learn about support organisations, volunteering opportunities, and other roles that might not be immediately obvious.”

She also emphasised the variety of opportunities available. “Even if you see a construction company hiring, they may also have admin jobs. So it’s always good to talk to people and see if they have any other opportunities.”

For members of the GRoW community, events like this can boost confidence and motivation. Many participants are returning to work after a break or looking to change careers, and speaking with employers in a supportive environment can make a big difference. Sheeja said “We met some women who hadn’t been to a jobs fair before, and they found it really useful. They were handing over their CVs, filling in forms, and getting immediate feedback, which was really valuable.”

This year’s fair at Uxbridge College – Hayes Campus, saw a significant number of attendees, with more mothers in attendance compared to previous years. “Compared to last time, I think we had more people coming in, and we saw more mothers looking for work, which was great. There were police, the Navy, and colleges there too, so it wasn’t just local employers, but a mix of different organisations.”

Beyond the job opportunities, the fair also provided information on training programmes, career support services, and apprenticeships, providing a better understanding of the next steps people can take in their journey to employment.

If you hear about a job fair in your local area, we highly recommend attending. Sheeja said “If you hear about a job fair in your local area, you really should go because they are a great opportunity to network, connect with new people, and explore different career options.”

Kingston GRoW App Ambassador Zineb Builds Her Confidence

Posted on by heathercette

Zineb has been part of the GRoW Community since last year and recently became a GRoW App Ambassador. As a mother of four, Zineb was looking for support to start her journey to work in the UK and found a passion for working with children.

Zineb said “I first heard about GRoW last year when I was at my local Children’s Centre and I was given a leaflet that told me all about how GRoW supports mums to get ready for work. At that time, I was thinking about getting back to work but didn’t know where to start. I have always loved working with children, but I’ve not worked in the UK before and I wasn’t sure how to begin.

In the past, I did an NVQ Level 2 in childcare and worked in a nursery for work experience in 2017 and 2018. I’ve always enjoyed being around children, and I often help my friends by looking after theirs. Being a mother myself, I feel happy in that environment, so I knew I wanted my career to be in childcare. But I didn’t know how to move forward.

Joining GRoW has been really helpful. The programme has given me confidence, which I had lost after being at home with my children and not being out in the world. Through GRoW, I have learned how to update my CV and prepare for job applications. I have also attended online sessions where I could look at jobs in my area. I have also completed courses in hospitality and catering to build my skills. Now, I am waiting to start a ‘Preparing to Work in Schools’ course, which will help me take the next step towards my goal.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to become a GRoW App Ambassador. I volunteered for this role because I wanted to help other women like me who are trying to get back into work. I had never done anything like this before, but I found it interesting and useful. Even though I am not very active on social media generally, I enjoy using the GRoW app. I find it such a useful resource from a user’s point of view. I check it every day for job updates, skills workshops, and positive messages from the GRoW team which I really like and find motivating.

As an ambassador, I post job opportunities, community events, and activities for women and children. I also keep an eye on what’s happening in other areas, like Croydon and Hillingdon, even though I am based in Kingston. It helps me see what support or activities are happening in different places in London and what I can make use of. When I post something, I get good responses from other women in my area who find the information useful, and I had really good engagement at Christmas with lots of different activities I was posting.

Right now, I am focusing on building my skills so I am ready when the right opportunity comes. I have started going on school trips with my children’s school, which I never did before. It has been a great experience and has given me even more confidence.

I have always been good at languages—I speak French, Moroccan Arabic, and some Spanish. In the past, I have helped friends by translating, and I have a degree in Business Management. But now, I know that working with children is what makes me happy. GRoW has helped me take the right steps toward this goal, and I am excited about what’s ahead.

GRoW App Ambassador Dhanya is Making a Difference

Posted on by heathercette

At GRoW, we are fortunate to have incredible App Ambassadors who contribute to our community in meaningful ways. One of them is Dhanya, who joined GRoW in December 2024. Originally from India, Dhanya has been living in the UK for nearly three years and is actively working towards building a new career while supporting others through her role as a GRoW App Ambassador.

Dhanya said “When I first joined GRoW, my main goal was to find a job and meet new people, especially people from different backgrounds and to be one among them to support each other. Before, my social circle was mostly people from India, but now I have had the chance to connect with people from different parts of the world both online and in person. That has been a great experience and also being part of the GRoW community and meeting the team members such as Liz and Laura who are so supportive.

I became a GRoW App Ambassador because I wanted to learn more about all the activities happening at GRoW but also I wanted to know what was happening in my community in Croydon. Before, I only looked for events related to my interests, but now, I explore all opportunities so that I can share them with others. I post in the group to help people find useful opportunities.

Some of the things I have shared include a a pizza-making workshop to explore kids’ culinary skills, an embroidery workshop using repurposed materials, and an opportunity to meet an author, Mr Bhishma Asare, to talk about his new book. I also shared information about a webinar for parents and carers on how to support young kids and an opportunity to volunteer as an NHS care community responder.

I focus mainly on opportunities for women and kids in Croydon. This is my first time doing something like this. I volunteered to be an ambassador, and I enjoy it. It has helped me learn about what is happening in my community, share useful information, and connect with more people.

Before coming to the UK, I worked as a design engineer in India. But now, I want to shift my career path completely. I am interested in working in services, maybe in the NHS or teaching. For my own job search, I have applied for many teaching assistant jobs. However, since I do not have a UK qualification, I need to complete training first. I have registered for a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course, but I need to complete three years of UK residency before I can start. By March, I will be eligible, and I plan to begin the training then.

Being a GRoW App Ambassador is something I can add to my CV. It shows my involvement in the community and my ability to share information. More than that, it has helped me build confidence and gain knowledge about different opportunities around me.

I am very grateful to everyone at GRoW. Liz, Laura, and the whole team have been supportive and friendly. It is a great community to be a part of, and I am excited to continue my journey here.