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.”

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.

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.”

How Grow Digital Changed Fathima’s View of AI

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When Fathima joined the Grow Digital AI workshops in Leicester, she wasn’t sure what to expect.

Delivered by Grow and funded through AKG UK’s Community Investment Fund, the programme was designed to help women build confidence in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and understand how digital tools can support everyday life, learning and employment. The workshops were hosted at Shama Women’s Centre and brought together women from across the local community to explore AI in a practical and accessible way.

Like many people, Fathima had heard a lot about AI but wasn’t convinced it was something she needed.

“I was someone who was quite reluctant to use it. I used to think people are becoming lazy. They don’t want to put in the hard work. They’re trying to have a shortcut doing CVs or personal statements.”

After receiving information about the workshops through Shama Women’s Centre, Fathima decided to give it a try.

“I thought, OK, I haven’t looked into it, I haven’t used it, so I’ll go and see what it’s all about.”

What she discovered completely changed her perspective.

“When I went, I realised it’s not someone who’s lazy who uses it, it’s someone who’s smart. If you take advantage of it, it can work to your advantage. It can actually help in your personal as well as your professional development.”

Fathima particularly appreciated the practical approach taken during the sessions.

“I liked when Kaneez said, ‘Use it to your advantage but don’t let it use you.'”

She explained that the workshops helped her understand both the benefits and limitations of AI.

“It only does what you instruct. It’s as clever as what you ask.”

As someone currently looking for work after being made redundant in January, Fathima found the sessions especially useful when updating her CV and applying for jobs.

“I haven’t had to use a CV for some time. Now when I had to update it, I liked how I could use my transferable skills as a mum, take the knowledge and expertise from other fields and apply it to the job that I’m applying for.”

The workshops also introduced her to practical tools she can use every day.

“She makes it very simple. Don’t overcomplicate it. Just give a key instruction about what you want.”

One example that particularly stood out was using AI to help plan meals.

“If you’re lost with ideas about what to do, just tell it what you’ve got in the fridge and ask AI to suggest a menu for the day.”

For Fathima, one of the biggest surprises was discovering just how many different ways AI can be used.

“I really enjoyed how Grow’s Kaneez made it practical to every person’s need. For someone who’s looking for a job, someone who wants to cook, someone who wants to learn a language, or someone who doesn’t speak much English.”

As a mother of two young children, she can also see how AI could help support learning at home.

“I’ve got young kids. My youngest is six and I have a nine-year-old. Kaneez showed us how AI can help teach Year 1 and Year 2 children about addition like a teacher.”

Looking back on the experience, Fathima describes the workshops as an eye-opener.

“I was so wrong. I think it’s a smart way to do things, but we should always make sure that we are in control and that we use it wisely.”

She added:

“I found it really like an eye-opener.”

Earlier this week, Fathima attended the Grow Digital Celebration Event in Leicester, where participants came together to celebrate their achievements and receive certificates recognising their learning.

Fathima was one of more than 270 women who took part in the Grow Digital AI for Women programme. Through Grow’s partnership with community organisations across Leicester and Leicestershire, the programme has helped women build digital confidence, develop new skills and explore practical ways of using AI in everyday life, learning and work.

 

Sheila Rebuilds Her Career

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Sheila lives in Hayes and joined Grow through the SWEET programme after recently moving to the UK from Kenya with her daughter to join her husband. With a background in IT consultancy, business and clinical coding, Sheila had spent several years out of work while caring for her daughter and was trying to understand how to rebuild her career in a completely new country.

Sheila said:

“Back in my country, I was an IT consultant and I also majored in business and worked in medical volunteering and clinical coding. After having my daughter, I became the primary caregiver, so I could only work from home, which meant I was very limited in the type of work I could do.”

Although Sheila had qualifications and professional experience, she found trying to return to work in the UK difficult and overwhelming.

“I have only been in the UK for five months and have been looking to return to my career as my daughter starts Reception in September. I found it challenging being new to the country and having no family or support here. I didn’t know how to go about things and adapting to another country with different systems and another culture was difficult for me.”

“Getting my career back is important to me because I wanted to rebuild myself as a woman, not just as a mother.”

Sheila joined Grow two months ago after being introduced to the programme by another participant and has since attended online sessions, employment rights workshops and motivational sessions led by the Grow team.

“Grow gave me a blueprint for how to go about rebuilding my career. I got to understand how the UK employment system works and what my options are. It was really an eye opener for me. It gave me a roadmap that I’m now following.”

One of the biggest changes for Sheila has been understanding how employment works in the UK and how to present herself professionally.

“Grow’s sessions and team members helped me to improve my CV and make it more suitable for UK standards. I now understand the application processes and feel more confident about interviews.”

“I also learned how to use the STAR method. In my country we don’t use it, so that’s something I was still learning here. I used the STAR method in my interview and this month I secured a part-time job working as a medical receptionist.”

Sheila also said the sessions helped her understand her rights at work and gave her more confidence speaking in interviews.

“Now I know my rights at work. I understand what is fair and what is not considered fair in UK workplaces.”

“The motivational sessions were also very useful. They spoke to us about interview confidence, answering questions and language barriers. It was very informative.”

Looking ahead, Sheila hopes to continue building her career within healthcare and administration.

“I’m looking for administrative posts and I also want to volunteer so I can gain one-on-one experience before moving fully back into work.”

“I really want to stay in the medical profession.”

Reflecting on her experience, Sheila believes support like Grow is especially important for women returning to work after motherhood.

“So many women lose themselves in motherhood and when you want to come back, you have no guide.”

Sheila said:

“Mothers nurture future generations, but when a mother is nurtured, the world itself is healed and aligned to accommodate that future generation.”

 

Nisha’s Journey Back into Work

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Nisha joined Grow after spending nearly three years out of work while raising her family. Through Grow’s Job Brokerage support, she received help with her CV, interview preparation and job search, and has now secured a term-time role that fits around her children, as a kitchen assistant in a primary school.

Finding a way back to work

Before joining Grow, Nisha was actively applying for jobs but not getting results. Nisha said:

“My situation was very bad, I was desperately looking for work, I needed some financial stability… I was volunteering in a primary school… but I wasn’t hearing anything back.”

Her situation was shaped by her responsibilities at home.

“Timing, as a mother of two, was very difficult. Getting a job that fits within school hours is really tough… I didn’t have the option of someone picking up or dropping off my kids.  I am a mother of twin boys, both with special needs… I am the main carer for my boys, so although I was applying for different jobs, I found it very hard.”

Being out of work for a long period also made things harder.

“You don’t know where to start or how to approach things. There was a lack of support, low confidence, and limited employability skills.”

Getting support through Grow

Nisha came across Grow through a session at her children’s school.

“They came to my children’s school… she told me that they have a project helping mothers find a job, and I thought what can be better than this. I showed interest and my journey started with them.”

Through the Job Brokerage support, she began working on her applications and preparing for interviews.

“Grow helped me create my CV, and I think that was the reason I was being shortlisted for interviews.”

“I also had a mock interview… I learned how to answer questions and how to prepare… I received detailed feedback and every time I had an interview, I would read through the feedback.”

She also had ongoing one-to-one support.

“The one-to-one support was just amazing. I knew that if I got stuck, I had somewhere to go and someone to ask.”

Building confidence and skills

One of the key changes for Nisha was feeling more prepared and able to present herself.

“At that time, if someone asked me, ‘What do you do?’ I would say, ‘I’m a mother of two.’ That was my identity. Now, I feel more confident in how I present myself. I’ve learned how to talk about my skills and experience clearly and confidently.”

She also felt more supported in managing applications and interviews.

“My advisor was always there for me… I could talk about my applications… that was the most valuable support I received.”

Moving into work

Nisha has now secured a role as a kitchen assistant in a primary school.

“My role mainly involves preparing food, serving meals to the children, and supporting during lunchtime… and helping with general day-to-day duties.”

The role works around her family, which was a key priority.

“This job has given me exactly what I was seeking, balancing my family responsibilities while working.”

What has changed

Having a job has brought both stability and independence.

“I feel great. I’m working and managing my own life. I don’t have to ask anyone for help, and I’m now financially independent.”

She also describes the wider impact on her confidence and wellbeing.

“Working outside has given me more confidence in talking to people and learning new skills.”

Looking ahead

Nisha now feels more positive about her future and the opportunities ahead.

“I feel more positive about the future… as my circumstances change, I can see more opportunities opening up for me.”

Ruth Finds Confidence Again with Grow

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Ruth joined Grow in Kingston after taking a career break to raise her family and trying to return to work on her own. With a background in engineering and a newly completed AAT Level 2 qualification, she was looking to move into finance but wasn’t seeing success in her job search.

“I took a career break to raise my kids. About last year, I thought, you know what, let me start trying to get back into work. I began applying, but because I wanted a career change from engineering into finance, I wasn’t being successful.”

“I have a friend who told me about Grow and said I could give it a go. I just took a chance and went into the Guildhall. I spoke to Grow’s Employment Adviser Iryna, and that’s how I came in. I’ve been a part of them since then.”

Through Grow’s Job Brokerage support, Ruth received practical help with her CV, applications and interview preparation.

“Grow looked at my CV with me and helped to polish it up. They also did mock interviews and gave me sites to go to apply for jobs. They’ve been advising me on where to apply, helping with my CV, giving feedback and talking about what is needed in an interview. That has been really helpful.”

“I meet regularly with my mentor. If I have an interview and it’s gone wrong, we discuss what has gone wrong. Every response I get from applications, we talk about it. Grow also run sessions about how to make your CV stronger and how to be more confident.”

For Ruth, one of the most important things about Grow was being supported by women who understood her situation.

“They are women like me and they have children as well, so they’ve been through what I’ve been through. You feel like you’re on the same page with them. They understand childcare and work-life balance. That’s what I’ve loved about Grow.”

Although Ruth is still looking for work, she feels much more confident and clearer about her next steps.

“I feel more confident in my search. I know where to look and what to look out for, and that has been because of Grow.”

She also feels better prepared to talk about her career break and change in direction.

“They have told me how to address the career gap and how to talk about what I’ve done during that time. They’ve helped me see that it’s OK and that many people go through this.  It has been very positive being part of Grow, they make you feel as though we have these challenges but we can still get over them and find ways around them”.

Sumbal Finds Herself Again Through Grow

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Sumbal joined the Grow Programme after trying on her own to find work that would fit around her three young children. As a single parent, she was looking for something that would work for her family life, while also helping her rebuild her confidence and sense of identity.

Through Grow, she was introduced to an Early Years Skills Bootcamp, which she is now completing.

Sumbal said:

“I’ve got four kids who are 8, 7, 3 and 2 and I’m a single parent. After my youngest was born, I started thinking, I need to be me again. Since my first child was born in 2017, everything has been about the kids. People don’t even call you by your name, they just know me as my kids’ mum. I thought I need to snap out of it and do something for myself.

I tried on my own for about eight months. I was applying online, doing interviews, even doing some remote commission work. I thought working from home might suit me because of the kids, but it didn’t work. I was still at home, still surrounded by everything, not socialising. I realised that’s not for me.

I remembered Grow from a presentation that Grow’s Khatera did at my child’s school and I thought I would contact them. I spoke to Sheeja and straight away she said there’s a course starting – an 8-week bootcamp with JCL – and asked if I was interested. I said yes straight away, because I knew I wanted to work with children.

Before I started the course, I joined a few Grow online sessions. They really helped me. They talked about different types of work and how to choose something that suits you. That helped me decide properly that working with children is what I want to do.

Now I’m doing the 8-week Early Years course. The first two weeks were face to face, then online, and now we’re back face to face again. We’ve done things like safeguarding, legislation, and first aid training. They also help with work placements and interviews at the end.

It means if I go to a nursery or school, I already have what they are looking for.

Grow ask you during the course what you want to do next. You can go into work or continue studying, like Level 2 or Level 3. They don’t just leave you after the course, they stay with you until you’re ready. For me, I want to go into employment in a school or nursery setting.

Grow made everything easier for me. I was struggling on my own for eight months, but with Grow, from the moment I walked in, they’ve been helping me.

They check in on me, they support me, they guide me. Sheeja even said she can provide a reference for me.

I honestly regret not coming to Grow earlier. I should have come first instead of trying on my own. I’ve already recommended Grow to other mums. When they see me, they ask what I’m doing and I tell them they should join. Some of them have already started doing things through Grow as well.

My focus now is to get a job. If I can get a role in a school or nursery, I’m ready to go.