Rameen raises her confidence

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Rameen came to the GRoW Programme in July 2022 looking for support to get back to work.  Rameen had not worked since 2010 when she came to the UK from Pakistan and was lacking in confidence and confused about how to start.  She is now on her way to getting a job and full of confidence and hope about her future.

Rameen said “I saw an advert for GRoW at my daughter’s school and was interested in contacting them but at that time I had no confidence and was so scared about the whole prospect of going back to work.  I had worked in a bank and also worked in a school when I lived in Pakistan but I gave up my job in 2010 when I got married and moved to the UK with my husband.  I was really feeling that I was ‘just a mum’ but as my youngest child was in Reception I wanted to get back to work and move on with my life in a different way now that I had some time to myself.

When I contacted GRoW I was put in touch with Saeema and we arranged to meet.  I remember I was sitting in my car at 9am waiting to meet her and I was so scared I was thinking of bailing out and driving home!  I am so glad I didn’t though because when she came to meet me she immediately put me at ease and I felt much better.  Straight away she asked me what I was interested in doing and told me she could help me build new skills by putting me through some training courses.  Soon afterwards I started a Business Administration course at Uxbridge College which was supposed to take 3 months to complete but only took me one month!  I started the course in August and in September the college telephoned me to say I was doing so well that I could finish it more quickly than intended.  It really boosted my confidence to do so well and was a real turning point for me.  It was such a great experience to be learning new skills, meeting new people and making friends.

As I was interested in working Monday to Friday during school hours I went on to the Preparing to Work in Schools course through GRoW where I learned about the kind of qualifications and experience I would need to get a job in a school.  Liz recommended that I take a Safeguarding Training course which I will be starting this week which will help me achieve my goal of getting full time work but in the meantime I have been applying for a range of jobs including part-time positions.

Since going on Sonia’s Interview Workshop I feel so much more confident about applying for jobs.  She taught me so much in my mock interview that I then went on to have real interviews with potential employers and felt really confident doing it.  I now don’t worry about having an interview or applying for jobs because I feel I have the confidence now to go back to work.

I have been looking for admin and retail jobs and have been applying online as well as dropping my CV into companies.  I can honestly say that within a few months of being supported by the GRoW Team I have built up so much confidence and it is making such a difference to my wellbeing and life in general.  I have a couple of interviews coming up at some retail stores in the next few weeks so am hopeful that I will be offered one of those positions. Whatever happens I feel like things have really changed for me and it’s only a matter of time before I am back working again.”

Lakshmi Lands a Job at Boots

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Lakshmi first came to GRoW in October 2021 looking for support to find a job.  Lakshmi had a long gap in her work history having stopped work in 2014 when she got married but with the support of GRoW she has now found a job at Boots The Chemist where she has a full time position as a Retail Operation Assistant.

Lakshmi said “I used to work in accountancy when I was in my home country of India but when I got married, like many women in my culture, I gave the job up to focus on my family.  This was one of my main worries when I wanted to get a job here in the UK as I was aware that having an 8-year gap on my CV could be a problem. I was also concerned that my English speaking was not good enough and it really affected my confidence.

When I came to GRoW I had no idea of what sort of job I wanted to do or even what job I could do. I had studied at degree level in India but I didn’t have any formal qualifications in the UK and so my GRoW adviser encouraged me to take part in their training programmes so I could build up my skills and also learn more about the type of work I might want to do.

I took part in so many fantastic events with GRoW including their Preparing to Work in Schools Programme, the weekly Coffee Morning and the GRoW Picnics which are amazing.  Each picnic I attended I met more and more people and gained new friends and opportunities each time. Speaking to other people and practicing my English speaking is so useful for me and GRoW have offered so many opportunities to do that.

Improving my English is really important to me and was one of my main priorities when I joined GRoW.  Even though I can speak the language I don’t speak it fluently and I felt it was holding me back.  GRoW helped me by putting me through a Level 3 ESOL Training Course which took 3 months to complete and was so useful.  I also completed a Level 1 and Level 2 Safeguarding Course and a Data Protection Course too.

One of the most useful practical lessons I received was from Sonia who runs the CV, Job Searching and Interview Workshops.  Sonia was amazing, giving me so much information to help me develop my CV and most importantly my confidence through the Interview Workshops.  She also spent lots of time advising me on which Job Search Websites I should go on and how I should apply for a job.

Doing the GRoW Programme helped me really think about the type of job I wanted to do and I decided that the Retail sector was best for me.  Working in Boots is a great opportunity for me as I get to use my English speaking in a way that is more comfortable for me and I feel I am doing a good job.  GRoW has really helped me improve my confidence and I am so happy now to be working again and doing something I enjoy.

Faheema finds new confidence

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Faheema moved to the UK from India in October 2021 and came to GRoW to help her understand how to get a job after a gap of 10 years to raise her children.

Faheema said: “Since joining the GRoW Programme in July I have gained so much knowledge and confidence.  I had no idea how to start looking for a job in the UK and was really shy too.  I needed some help to point me in the right direction and show me the way.  In India, I worked in IT and then as a teacher but I have not worked in over 10 years and was not sure of what skills I might need to start work here.

GRoW have been so helpful for me.  I have taken advantage of all of their workshops so I could learn how to get ready for work.  At the Job Searching Workshop I have learned all about the different job sites I can access to find jobs and apply for them.  At Sonia’s CV Workshop she has worked with me to look at ways I can fill the employment gap and I am now doing an online IT course which will help me upskill and reach my goal of working back in the IT sector again.

I also went to the Preparing to Work in Schools Programme which was really interesting as it helped me understand the different things I could do to help me improve my skills and get noticed by an employer.  One of the most useful sessions for me was the Interview Workshop as it taught me a lot about the right phrases and words to use when responding to questions and also it taught me a lot about body language and how to make a good impression.  I am also doing the Mindful Parenting course at the moment which is really useful, not just in how to support me to parent in a more mindful way but to teach me new skills that help me as a mother and woman too.

I am really clear now about what work I want to do and how I am going to reach my goal.  I am currently looking for admin jobs and I have learned how to write cover letters to go with my job applications so they are tailored to the jobs I am interested in.  I am doing my IT course and I feel that once I have a job in admin I will be able to get some work experience under my belt and then start looking for jobs in IT.

GRoW has really helped set me on a path to where I want to be and that in itself is a huge achievement which has really given me a lot of confidence in myself.”

Rekha Looks for Retail Work

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Rekha was interested in finding out how to get work experience as she had not had a job before. Initially she was lacking in confidence, especially in speaking to people as English is not her first language. She has engaged fully with the GRoW Programme activities which has boosted her confidence and she has been actively looking for work in the retail sector.

Rekha said “I heard about GRoW some time ago but wasn’t sure if it was really for me until one of my friends who had been through the programme recommended it to me.  I spoke with Kaneez and she signed me up and it has been such a wonderful experience for me.

I found it really hard to speak to people in English as I really lacked confidence and was very shy but since joining GRoW that has all changed.  The people at GRoW have been so helpful, they really know how to bring everyone together so we get support from each other. I started off going slowly but now I understand English so much better and my speaking has improved so much. It does take time to learn a new language and being able to practice it with people makes so much difference.

I have gained so much from all of the GRoW events I have attended.  I have done the CV and Interview Workshops with Sonia and I really couldn’t believe how many skills and achievements I actually have and have now been able to put on my new CV.  I have never worked before and have no experience apart from some social work I did in my own country as a volunteer.  Doing the CV Workshop was really valuable for me as I really wouldn’t have known what to put on my CV without Sonia’s help – my CV is now really good and I am sending out to potential employers when I look for jobs.

When I did the Interview Workshop I asked Sonia if I could record it as I thought it would help me to practice afterwards. I thought it would be good to be able to see myself from the other person’s point of view, to see what I needed to work on and improve. It was the first interview I ever had and I was so nervous when we did it.  I thought, if I’m this nervous with someone I know, what will I be like with a stranger?  Having it recorded really worked well for me though as I now feel so much more confident than before.

I also attended the GRoW Picnics and the Preparing to Work in Schools sessions and I always go to the GRoW Coffee Mornings too as you learn new things all the time.

Most recently I have enrolled on the GRoW Mindful Parenting Course that started this week.  It was so interesting!  I have an 11 year old son who has just started secondary school and I have been thinking a lot about how I need to change and adapt the way I speak to him now that he is growing older.  The Mindful Parenting Course has given me a lot of tips about how to be calm and listen in a different way. It was a real eye opener and I am really looking forward to the lessons in the coming weeks.

Another GRoW event I attended which was really useful to me was the Childcare Information Session which helped me understand how important good childcare is and the difference it can make to your life when you can learn to believe and trust someone else to look after your child.

I have done the Job Searching Workshop which was really good and I have been searching mostly for retail positions such as Customer Assistant roles. I think this is the best sort of job for me at the moment.

Doing all the events and getting involved with everything GRoW has to offer has been a fantastic experience for me.  Everyone on the team is so energetic and upbeat and it just makes you want to be a part of it.  Some sessions I attend just because I think there might be something I learn which will be of help to me in the future or maybe I can share my own knowledge and help someone else!”

Indiana fulfils her dream

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Indiana came to the UK in 2017 and joined the GRoW Programme at the end of 2021. Her first language is Romanian and she was looking for support to improve her English and gain voluntary experience to help build her confidence. Indiana’s goal was to work for the NHS.  She attended all the GRoW workshops which helped improve her confidence and she felt motivated to push forward with studying and volunteering.

After Indiana had completed the Workshops with GRoW she completed an ESOL course to improve her English and an NHS Career Level 1 Employability Course and then started volunteering in Hillingdon Hospital. She then completed the following courses: Volunteer Learning Course, NHS CAREer Clinic Level 1 Certificate in Personal Development for Employability at HCUC,  Introduction to Understanding the Role and Expected Behaviours of a Health Care Support Worker, Adult Basic Life Support Level 1, Equality and Diversity, Conflict Resolution, Customer Care, Safeguarding Children Level 1, Essentials of Patient Safety, Dementia Awareness, Corporate and Local Induction, End of Life Care, Personal Risk Assessment and Sustainability Awareness.

Whilst volunteering at Hillingdon Hospital Indiana progressed in her training courses which led her to be in paid employment in the hospital as a Patient Access Administrator.

She has achieved her goal of working for the NHS and has built up her confidence in her admin role at the hospital and also in her confidence in English. She now works full-time for the NHS and is looking to undertake more learning as she progresses in her job.

Speaking of her experience Indiana said; “Attending GRoW’s CV and Interview Workshops helped build my confidence and doing the training courses with the NHS meant that the department I was volunteering for saw the potential in my work effort and offered me bank shift work. When I applied for an admin job I was successful and I now work as Patient Access Administrator in a 9-5 role.

My life is so different from last year, everything has happened so quickly I didn’t think I would be employed this quickly through the NHS, but I am so happy with my progression and the effort I have put in to get me where I am now. I thank GRoW for helping with the difference in my life now.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Through the learning and work I have done I have learned that confidentiality is the key to building trust. Dignity is one of the most important things to the human spirit. It means being valued and respected for what you are, what you believe in, and how you live your life. Treating other people with dignity means treating them the way we’d like to be treated ourselves.”

 

 

Ebony GRoWs for a better future

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Ebony joined the GRoW Programme after being given a leaflet from her Jobcentre that explained that GRoW helps mums get back to work. She had been out of work for 5 years to raise her youngest son and was looking at rejoining the workforce. Ebony has engaged with everything GRoW has offered her and is always looking to learn and do more.

Ebony said “I knew I needed to get back to work but I wasn’t sure where to start and how to approach it.  When I joined GRoW I did the GRoW Your Own Business Sessions which was so inspiring.  I had been thinking of setting up my own business making or white labelling and selling candles and when I went on GYOB it helped me learn about all the things I would need to do if I was to be self employed.  Mostly I learned how important it is to make realistic plans and set small goals to give yourself time to achieve each thing before moving on to the next.  It made me realise that I had a lot of thinking to do, in particular with regard to finances, before taking the plunge to do it. It hasn’t put me off though, far from it! Instead I am thinking about it realistically and plan to do re-do GYOB when I am in a better position to move forward with it.

As well as GYOB I did the GRoW Bootcamp which was absolutely fantastic because it helped to build my confidence which was something I was really struggling with – in fact I still do, but nowhere near as much.

I did the CV and Interview Workshops which really helped me to understand the skills I have and what jobs I can do. I started applying for jobs as soon as my CV was ready and I have been overwhelmed by the number of interviews I have been getting.  I have attended interviews for all different types of jobs. I had an interview at the Airport, as well as a Kitchen Porter job at a restaurant, at a Travelodge and also for an admin assistant job. All were really interesting and I have been offered jobs following the interviews but unfortunately the hours don’t suit my family commitments. It hasn’t been a waste of time though as I have gained a lot of practical interview experience and a new found confidence which has come from being better prepared and better informed.

I am now doing a Level 3 ABM Teaching Assistant Course that grow introduced me to as I want to improve my chances of getting a job in a school.  School jobs would be really well suited to me because I can work term time only which is better for my family.  The training course takes 9 months to complete and I have to do some volunteering in a school setting as part of the training.  I love doing the course and am finding it so enjoyable.  I have already made an application to a school to do the volunteering and am just waiting to hear back from them.

Being part of GRoW I have come to learn that everything is possible and I don’t need everything right now.  It allowed me to put things in perspective and to just breathe… Mostly it has made me feel like everything is going to be OK and that as long as I take one step at a time and put one foot in front of the other, that I will get there!

The main things I feel I have gained from being part of GRoW is confidence and security.  I have learned that it is not the end of the world if something doesn’t happen within your exact timeframes and I now feel very positive about the future as I just feel everything is going to be OK.  The GRoW team members are so upbeat and supportive and they really make a difference to how you feel.  For example, they post motivational and inspirational messages on their app which help you change your mood and perspective, particularly if you’re having a bad day.  If you’re feeling low it really raises your spirits to read something so uplifting.  At their events they are so motivated and their attitude is contagious, you can’t help but feel more upbeat and motivated yourself.  They always seem to be doing the right thing at the right time too, almost as if they are in sync with how you are feeling and thinking.  It’s things like this that make so much difference and really spur you on to move forward.”

Maimoona builds confidence through learning

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Maimoona joined GRoW in February 2022 when she was thinking about returning to work after a 15 year career break to raise her family. She has been an active and engaged participant on the programme and now feels ready to get back to work.

Maimoona said; “I had heard a lot about GRoW over the years as they are very active at my child’s school where they have been enrolling mums onto their GRoW Programme to help support them into work. I didn’t really think their programme would be for me as I had assumed they could only help people who had good work experience and a particular level of skills and qualifications but after a conversation with GRoW Adviser Kaneez I found out I couldn’t be more wrong.

When I joined I was so impressed with Liz and her team, especially Mercedes who I thought was amazing on the first day I did GRoW Bootcamp.  The programme gave me so much confidence and it was just so relaxed and enjoyable, I felt really comfortable to talk to the the other ladies on the programme in the same way I would talk to other ladies I meet through school or in the community.

I had worked in a store 15 years ago but stopped work when I had my children. Being out of work for such a long period of time was quite a concern for me and I wasn’t sure of how to even get back to work – did I need to do training or go for higher education?  The GRoW team really helped me understand what I should do and they showed me the way and where to go.  I attended the Preparing to Work in Schools course and the online GRoW Coffee Mornings. I also went to a face to face Coffee Morning that was celebrating International Women’s Day and it was lovely to meet everyone in person and I just thought “Wow! This is really good!”.  Since then I have really increased my interest in getting back to work and I have attended the GRoW Childcare Sessions, CV and Interview Workshops. The One to One Interview session with Sonia was fantastic and really improved my confidence.

For many years now I have been at home, looking after my family and hadn’t had an actual interview in 14 years! Doing the One to One Interview session really opened my eyes up and made me feel I have abilities and can go forward with new goals. Being asked about my ideas and having the chance to to say what I think about things, what my views are and how to present myself – this was really wonderful as it has made me see who I am and what I have to offer.

I have three children, two who are teenagers and my youngest is six years old so it is much easier for me to be working now. I believe in taking small steps and building up slowly so I’m thinking more about part-time work at the moment although I wouldn’t rule out full-time work if I am offered it.  I always liked the idea of working in a school and I did an introduction to Teaching Course at Harrow College around 9 or 10 years ago but I am also interested in an admin or clerical position. GRoW offered me the chance to do a Level 2 Food and Hygiene Course recently and so I have completed that and am thinking about working in catering now too.  The course taught me so many things and was so worthwhile for me.  Although I already knew some of what it covered there were many new things I learned which has made me feel so much more confident and able should I apply for a job in a kitchen or a similar position.

GRoW has really helped me with my confidence and motivation as it has shown me what I am capable of and what my abilities are.  I now have a very clear idea of what I need to do to get a job and I am really looking forward to going out in the world and starting work.  GRoW has so many resources available, whether from the Advisers giving their knowledge and advice during the events they run, or on the GRoW app which is a great place to find information.  If you take part in the events you can jot information down while the Advisers talk but they also add all the resources such as presentations and articles to the app so you can always check there for anything you need. It makes it so much quicker to access. They also tailor information to you depending on what you want, for example, if you want to be a carer or you want to work in a school, they let you know what sort of training you should be doing to help you reach your goal.

After meeting the other ladies on the programme I realised that so many of us feel the same way. When you are out of work and haven’t worked in a long time you can feel so confused about getting back to work and it makes you feel hesitant about taking the first steps.  GRoW help with everything, even helping you to understand how you should speak in a professional environment.  These are the types of things you worry about if you haven’t done it in a long time but they explain all of this to you so you feel more prepared.

GRow has opened up a community to me, I can share ideas and get ideas from them, it all feels very natural and relaxed.  I have explored many jobs now and listed the ones I want to go for.  I am ready now to really commit to giving time to applying for jobs every day and make it my goal.”

Reshma rebuilds her confidence

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Reshma came to the UK with her family from India in late 2021 and with a long gap in her employment was concerned about how she would rebuild her career. She joined Belina GRoW and has been fully engaged with activities. She has rebuilt her confidence and is now following her dreams.

Reshma said “I had tried to get back to work in India when my son started full time school but when the pandemic hit I had to abandon my hopes.  My family and I then moved to the UK and before I knew it I had been out of work since 2012.  As I had been a teacher in India I was looking for jobs that would suit my qualifications but after applying for some vacancies I was finding the interviews really difficult and just wasn’t getting anywhere.  I was concerned about how long I had been out of work for and was feeling like I was unemployable. I needed a new start and I needed a boost and fortunately GRoW came along just at the right time.

The GRoW Team were promoting their work at my son’s school about helping mums get back to work and I was immediately interested.  By this time I was desperate to start work again now that my son was in Year 3. I was interested in part-time or full-time work, preferably in a school but I was open to working in other sectors too.

I contacted GRoW and was introduced to Sonia so that we could do a review of my CV and so she could help me practice my interview techniques.  The CV Sonia did with me was absolutely amazing, it was such an improvement on the CV I had previously and it really helped me feel more confident.  At the one to one interview workshop I had so many questions to ask Sonia. I just didn’t know how best to represent myself but she was fantastic, answering all my questions and the by the end of the interview I felt so much better. I now feel really prepared if I get offered an interview and so much more confident.

Tosin was assigned to me as my personal Adviser and she discussed my options with me and encouraged me to attended all the different the GRoW events such as the Job Searching Workshops and the Coffee Mornings and each and every one of them was wonderfully useful.  I have applied for more jobs since my CV was updated, one of them is for a job at Brunel University as an Admissions Officer and they asked me to write 3600 words as part of the application. I wasn’t sure how to do it but Sonia and Tosin helped me, reviewing what I had written and correcting it in places so that it read much better. They also helped tailor a cover letter to go with the application and they have done the same with three other jobs I have applied for in retail at Matalan, WHSmith and Primark. Because of the CV Workshop I attended I learned how to tailor my CV to the job I am applying for so I did this myself when I applied for the retail jobs.

I am really keen to undertake more learning and Tosin and Kaneez are currently looking for a suitable Teaching Assistant course for me to attend at college. I am also going to be doing an Information, Advice and Guidance Course that GRoW offered me and I have found some free courses in basic maths and IT that I want to do too.

I would recommend anyone to go on the GRoW Programme as it has changed my world. After attending GRoW I feel I am now following my dreams.

Zainab prepares to return to work in schools

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Zainab joined the GRoW project in Newham following a four week workshop focused on helping mums get back to work and presenting the many opportunities jobs in Schools can provide for working mums. Zainab has fully engaged with the GRoW Workshops and activities and is looking for volunteering opportunities in a school when her daughter starts Nursery in September.

Zainab said “I have a Batchelor of Commerce which I attained in my home country of India but when I moved to the UK in October 2015 I began a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course as I was keen to get a job in a school.  I had previously worked in a Nursery in India teaching children all aspects of the school curriculum and also did home tutoring to children of all ages and so I knew this was something I wanted to return to when the time was right for me.

In 2016 whilst studying for my Teaching Assistant course I was expecting my first child but I did manage to do some voluntary work in a school and then at an After School Club where I was teaching maths and different subjects to the children who attended. Within a year I was expecting my second child and so had two children under two which made it quite difficult for me to continue with my voluntary work and so I have been a stay at home mum for the past 5 years.

When I heard through my daughter’s Nursery that GRoW were running a 4-week workshop to help mums in Newham prepare to work in schools I was immediately attracted to it as my daughter is due to start school in September and I had been thinking about working again. Another mum from school went along with me to the first Workshop at Sheringham Childrens Centre and we both found it real informative and enjoyable. During one of the workshops Sonia from GRoW did a group CV session which made me realise that even though I already had quite a good CV from when I finished my T Level course that I could really benefit from updating it.  Ameisha from the GRoW Team did a one to one CV session with me to make it more attractive and it was just fantastic.

Being part of the Preparing to Work in Schools Programme was brilliant and it really helped me.  Just being around the other women who attended was a really good experience as I got to hear about all their different backgrounds, the type of work they had done previously and why they wanted to work in schools too.  Everyone had a different experience but we could all see the clear benefits of working in a school when you are bringing up children at the same time as it offers the flexibility that is important when you have a family.

One of the best things about the programme was that they gave us different ideas and tips. For example, they told us that how to present ourselves during an interview – how you should walk with your shoulders straight and to make eye contact.  Another really positive outcome from the Programme is that I was given the opportunity to do either a Food Hygiene or a Safeguarding Course for free.  I am going to opt for the Safeguarding course as I think this will benefit me more when working with children in a school.  I am aiming to do the course in August and am really looking forward to it.

I am really very happy and truly appreciative of the opportunities GRoW have offered me and I am going to be taking part in many of their Successful Summer activities that they have scheduled in July and August.  I am going to do as many as possible and then I will look to see whether there are any opportunities for volunteering work in a local school and keep my eye out for job vacancies at the same time!”

Chahad Becomes a Cafe Assistant

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Chahad came to GRoW in early 2022 as she wanted help to find a job after being out of work for some time.  She has started work as a part time assistant at a café in Wimbledon.

Chahad said “I was referred to GRoW from my workcoach at Kingston Jobcentreplus.  I was trying so hard to get a job so I could improve my life, I have twin 6 year old boys and have so much to pay out for and getting a job is so important for me to make life better for my children.

I have worked before, at Bicester Village in Oxford and also at a pharmacy approximately 10 years ago and I had been trying to find the same type of work but was getting no luck.  I had also undertaken an online Healthcare Administration course as I thought it would be a good way to get in to a GPs surgery or a school but despite looking for work in this field I hadn’t seen anything available.  Ideally my goal is to work in a school so that I can work during term-time but when I first came to GRoW I was happy to just take any type of work that would fit in around my children.

I found the GRoW team to be so helpful, nothing is too much trouble for them and they have always made themselves available whenever I needed any advice.  They have taught me so much that I didn’t know, especially around childcare.  I went on their Childcare Information session and was given so much advice I hadn’t previously been aware of, for instance I found out about lots of different opportunities for after-school and activity clubs where my children could go during school holidays.  It is places like this that make it more possible to work without the worry of what you do with your children during school holidays if you are at work.  Even knowing these places exist make opportunities seem much more achievable!

GRoW introduced me to the jobs board Indeed which is a great place to find jobs vacancies.  I signed up with them and put my CV on to their system and was really pleased when I found a job at Patiserie Valerie as a part time Café Assistant.  I started work there a few weeks ago and am really enjoying it.  I’ve got to meet so many different people, from many different cultures and backgrounds, I really love it.  I get to eat pastries too which makes it even better!

GRoW have really helped to raise my confidence in the time I have been supported by them. My GRoW Adviser Chantelle was so helpful, signposting me to lots of different opportunities and places where I could get advice, I’m so grateful for their help and I’m really pleased now to be back working, being around people and making a difference to improving my family’s life.”