Michelle Celebrates Sixth Work Anniversary with Belina GRoW

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Employment Adviser, Michelle Grenada-Bryan is celebrating a significant milestone – her sixth work anniversary with GRoW! Michelle started as a participant with the GRoW Programme in 2018 when she was looking to return to work after her youngest child started full-time school. She is a vital member of the GRoW team and has evolved within the team to provide more specialist support for neurodiverse people and those with higher support needs.

Michelle said “I was first introduced to GRoW through my son’s school where Director Liz Sewell was running the GRoW Programme. It came at a time when I was looking to go back to work but was unsure where to begin and I needed some support.  Liz offered me a position within the team to develop GRoW participant relationships and book appointments which quickly expanded to working directly with participants to provide employability support and assisting them with researching job opportunities. It was a part-time position which offered me the flexibility to take on an additional role at the school as an SMSA.

Over my six years with GRoW I’ve continued my professional growth, combining my role with a permanent SMSA/1:1 SEN Learning Support Assistant position. This role has deepened my understanding of supporting people with more complex needs, which I also apply to my work with GRoW in collaborating with 3SC to assist neurodiverse individuals and those with learning disabilities through the Access to Work programme. It’s a really interesting job and so rewarding to be able to help people to overcome barriers and challenges that helps them to stay in work and feel more confident

GRoW has developed so much over the past six years with the different regions we work in and also through the range of events and specialised content we provide.  One thing never changes though and that is that we like to do things differently. We know that life is not just about work. We all wear many hats throughout our lives and for a lot of the women we support it isn’t just about “I’ve got to find a job”, it’s “I’ve got other things going on”; “I’ve got a family”; “I’ve got caring commitments” etc. We understand and we approach things from a holistic point of view. When women find the right employment they tend to stay there for a longer period of time and they are extremely committed. At GRoW we have a delicate yet highly motivational approach that hits the mark and 100% of the people that come through the programme truly achieve something from it, whether it is finding a job, getting a qualification, developing an effective CV or building their confidence and motivation. Everyone gets something out of it to suit their circumstances.

I have learned so much over the past six years but one of the most important things I have learned is to take advantage of any, and all opportunities that come your way as you never know where it might lead. Six years ago I knew what I wanted to do but I didn’t know how to get there. It’s being part of GRoW that has led me to do the different things I am doing now and my journey is still continuing so watch this space!”

Shirin’s Steps to Self-Employment

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Mother of one Shirin came to the GRoW Your Own Business Workshop at the Shama Women’s Centre in Leicester, looking for information and advice to help her follow her dreams to develop her beauty business,  Jamilla’s Beauty, so that she can better work around her family.

Shirin said; “I want and need to work but find the regular 9-to-5 routine doesn’t quite fit with being a mum and with a 7 year old daughter and my skills as a Beauty Therapist I was thinking more about the idea of developing my own beauty business from home. I found out about the GRoW Your Own Business workshop from Wesley Community Centre so went along to the Shama Women’s Centre to find out more.

Mercedes Grant, our tutor, covered a lot of ground, from taxes to CV writing and preparing a business plan. Mercedes was really good at breaking things down so you understand exactly what you need to do so it’s not too overwhelming. She explains it all in such a way that you can approach it in a systematic way, almost like a roadmap. I had thought about starting a business before, but having someone guide you through it and offer some motivation is different. It’s less stressful when you realise things aren’t as complicated as they seem, especially if you take it one step at a time. As well as the workshops, Mercedes also gave us access to the GRoW App which has lots of information in one place which is really handy.

I’m currently developing Jamilla’s Beauty and doing some admin work as an Activity Coordinator. I work from 9 to 2 each day – it’s a stepping stone for me and I’m happy to do this until I can set up my business as I see that is where my future lies.

I want to say to all the mums out there trying to balance family and career, there’s more you can do than you might think. You just need some guidance. GRoW at the Shama Women’s Centre is a good place for that. It’s about believing in yourself and finding your own way. Being on the GRoW Your Own Business Workshop has been very encouraging for me. It’s not just about learning skills, it’s about finding support and a community that helps you achieve your dreams. I now feel ready to move forward with mine and am looking forward to the future.

 

Zainab’s Journey From Entrepreneur to Aspiring Business Analyst

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Zainab came to the UK from Nigeria 3 years ago to pursue a Masters Degree in International Management. Having successfully run her own fashion business back home, life took a new turn for Zainab after completing her degree and welcoming her fourth child two years ago. Recognising the need for a change and seeking new career opportunities, she turned to the GRoW programme for guidance in her pursuit of becoming a Business Analyst.

Zainab said; “After completing my masters and having a new baby, I took a 2 year break to focus on my family before thinking about going back to work.  I had been running my own fashion business but moving to a new country added new challenges – understanding the market, finding customers, and adapting to the cultural nuances. My degree had opened up new opportunities for me and I decided I wanted to pursue a different career as a business analyist.

I found out about the GRoW Programme when I started job searching and signed up with the hope that they could help me build my confidence and better understand how to present myself to employers. The GRoW workshops provided clarity and self-awareness that really helped me understand my skills, strengths and achievements better and gave me practical advice on how to navigate the UK job market.

My next steps now are to work with GRoW on developing my CV and they have also put me in touch with Business2Business who will be providing some additional support such as interview techniques. I am applying for Business Analyst jobs but also looking at admin roles to develop my work experience.

Being on the GRoW Programme has been a great experience for me and I would recommend other mums take advantage of the benefits they provide, especially in confidence-building and skill recognition. It has been quite a self-reflective experience for me”.

Laura Lands Two Jobs in Leicester

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Leicester mum, Laura, came to GRoW looking for support to find a job after a 4-year gap. With a new found confidence and motivation Laura found two part-time jobs and is feeling positive about the future.

Laura said “I hadn’t worked since having my son 4 years ago. I had been looking for jobs but was struggling with the job search as I couldn’t find many part-time vacancies that would be suitable for me.  As a single mum and with my family back home in Lithuania I was finding the whole process of finding a job and managing everything on my own quite stressful at the time. I spoke to a Family Support Worker at Highfield Children’s Centre and she recommended I get in touch with the GRoW Programme, explaining that GRoW are specialists in helping mums on their journey to work. It sounded just what I needed.

The GRoW sessions at Highfield Children’s Centre were so good. Liz and Mercedes who ran the sessions made everything so easy to understand and they were so encouraging and uplifting. There were lots of other women on the programme, all going through the same experiences which made you feel you were all in it together. The programme made me realise all of the transferable skills we’d developed since becoming mums and helped us see our potential beyond parenting. It was all so positive and motivating and it really helped to rebuild my confidence.

The GRoW Programme, combined with the great support from Business to Business (B2B), who helped me with my job search and interview skills, led to my success in securing two part-time admin jobs. They are both in-person roles but the timings allow me to take my son to school and pick him up without needing childcare. I have already started one of the jobs and will soon be starting the other one and am really looking forward to it.

I feel what the GRoW Programme offers is different from any other programme. To have a programme like this especially for mothers is so good. I’ve been to job centres and recruitment agencies, but the GRoW Programme understand that when you have children, especially if you are a single parent, that parenting takes up a lot of our time and that our children are our top priority. It’s really nice to feel included and understood and that is the difference it makes.

Zoiya Goes from GRoW Team Participant to GRoW Team Member in Leicester

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Mother of three Zoiya is a recent addition to the GRoW Team in Leicester and a symbol of inspiration for many mothers in the community. Having completed the GRoW Programme, Zoiya is now committed to supporting other mothers in Leicester, drawing from her rich background as a Functional Skills English and Maths Teacher. Additionally, she has embarked on a part-time role at Shama Women’s Centre, offering ESOL training and support.

Speaking of her new appointment Zoiya said, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the GRoW Team in Leicester, working to support other mums just like me. Alongside this, I’ve taken up a part-time role at Shama Women’s Centre, providing ESOL training and support one day a week. The two roles really complement each other, and it feels like a natural transition from the teaching roles I have held before.”

Zoiya and her family relocated to Leicester from Essex around a year and a half ago seeking a more community-oriented environment for their young children. She was introduced to the GRoW Programme through Leicester College and decided to give it a shot despite the challenges of juggling childcare and other responsibilities. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “I found the GRoW programme enjoyable and beneficial, and the team members were so welcoming and supportive. It all felt very easy and natural, a safe and nurturing community to be part of.”

Zoiya has a passion for helping people succeed, especially those who have barriers that can hold them back. When she learned about a part-time job opening at Shama Women’s Centre tutoring entry-level courses she was concerned about her five-year employment gap due to being made redundant when she was expecting her middle child. However, she applied the new-found confidence developed through the GRoW Programme and decided to embrace the opportunity. The same day she was offered the job with Shama Women’s Centre she was offered a position with the GRoW Team to support Leicester mothers as part of the Jobs22 project.

Zoiya said “Before having my children I had around 10 years’ experience of teaching. I’ve worked as a Functional Skills English and Maths Teacher and worked with organisations including Jobwise Training and CentrePoint and at Aylesbury College and Havering College. My passion has always been about working with people who find it harder to achieve their goals and need more support. Being part of GRoW gives me the opportunity to give back to the community and it feels perfect for me.

My new role with the GRoW Team will involve engaging in both training and outreach activities and my role at Shama Women’s Centre, will involve tutoring entry-level courses. Both are a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to inspiring and uplifting other mothers in Leicester to achieve their goals.”

Mihaela Upskills to Open New Doors

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Mihaela was referred to GRoW through the Restart Scheme in May 2022 from her local Jobcentre who felt she would benefit from the supportive community that GRoW offers mums in their journey to work. Initially she was looking at going back to work after a 5 year break to have her youngest child and with GRoW’s support found work as a Cashier at Primark. Mihaela is now enrolled on a Level 2 Functional Skills English and Maths course and is looking forward to new opportunities.

Mihaela said “When I first joined GRoW I struggled with confidence, especially with language, and I felt very shy. It was a huge barrier to me moving forward with my life but GRoW became a lifeline for me, boosting my confidence with the help and support of the team connecting me with other women experiencing similar issues as myself and also through the GRoW app with its motivational quotes and support information.

GRoW helped me craft an effective CV, which ultimately led to a job opportunity at Primark. I started as a cashier in December 2022 as a Christmas job which turned into a permanent 20-hour week position. It’s been a year now, and I’m still enjoying the job.

Though I am really happy with my current role, I know I can achieve more for myself and feel I need to push myself to do more learning. Before I joined GRoW an adviser from the Jobcentre recommended a Functional Skills course to me but I didn’t feel I had the confidence then to pursue it. Since going through the GRoW Programme however, I feel different. I now feel ready to take it on and so when I learned that GRoW were able to help me access a Functional Skills I jumped at the chance! The course covers English and Maths, and upon completion, I will have a Level 2 qualification.

GRoW helped me with the whole process of enrolling on the course. They carried out two assessments with me and dealt with all of the correspondence with the course providers, Runway Training. I’m all set now to start the course online, and my aim is to work on it for 1 hour each day so I can complete it hopefully within a couple of months.

Looking ahead, I want to explore new opportunities for work. I’ve always liked the idea of working with wood or craft, maybe making my own furniture. GRoW has opened doors for me, and I’m excited to see where these new skills will take me.

GRoW has been instrumental in transforming my life. It has helped me secure employment, build confidence, and now, it’s guiding me towards further qualifications. I feel far more empowered now as a result and I am looking forward to shaping a brighter and exciting future for myself and my family.

Shameela’s Job Success

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Shameela came to the GRoW Programme in Newham looking to get ready for work following a 19 year break to raise her children. After working with GRoW on a hospitality work placement she has enrolled on a Level 2 Teaching Assistant Course and has undergone other training to help her in her goal of working in a school. Shameela has now been offered a job as an Exam Invigilator at a school in Newham.

Shameela said; “I am so happy to have been offered this job and to feel I am achieving my goals. My dream is to work with children and I am grateful for all the support I’ve received from the GRoW team in helping me gain the skills I needed to help me, as well as the confidence and motivation to encourage me to go for it.

As I haven’t worked in a long time my confidence had taken a hit and I felt I couldn’t do anything more than be a mum but GRoW helped me see past that, giving me the support I needed and the chance to improve my skills and experience. Through GRoW I completed a number of courses including Food and Hygiene, Safeguarding and Customer Services training which helped me to boost my CV and I’ve also completed Maths and English courses at Newham College. Sheeja helped me put together a really strong CV and so when a friend shared a link to an Exam Invigilator position I felt confident to apply and feel I was in with a chance.

It took about three weeks from applying before I received an email inviting me to an interview and I was quite nervous in the lead up to the big day. I got the invite to interview email on the Thursday for the interview to take place on the Monday and so I had a very nerve-wracking weekend preparing for it. I had never been to a job interview before so was really quite anxious, practising interview questions and researching what I should say. The interview took place at the school with the Exams Officer and only took around 20 minutes. I felt I came across well and when I left I felt quietly confident. I was overjoyed when I received an email the following day telling me I had got the job! The role involves overseeing exams for GCSE students, ensuring compliance with rules, and providing support as needed. The flexibility of the position is perfect for me as I can choose the hours I want to work and fit it around my Teaching Assistant course as well as my family.

I am feeling so positive now about my journey and my future. I was so excited to be offered this job and to tell my husband, family and friends who were all so happy for me. I’ve been given lots of encouragement to follow my dreams but now I feel that I am finally on my way.

Rehana’s Path to Childminding Entrepreneurship with GRoW

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Rehana began her journey with GRoW at the Shama Women’s Centre, where she attended the GRoW Your Own Business Programme. With plans to start her own childminding business, Rehana gained valuable insights and practical advice about various aspects of self-employment, and with GRoW’s continuing support has gained experience and is now on the path to achieving her goal.

Rehana said “I had been a regular visitor to the Shama Women’s Centre over the years, where I had taken some courses such as computer, IT and ESOL but it was the first time I had done a programme like GRoW Your Own Business.  It was excellent and the ladies that ran the programme – Liz, Mercedes and Kaneez – were really friendly and supportive. I attended one session a week for three weeks and it was a great experience for me. I felt it helped me to understand the different aspects of setting up a business such as preparing your Business Plan, promoting your business, and finance, tax and VAT. It covered a lot of detail, step by step but more than anything, it made me feel so much more confident and motivated to push forward.

I have always wanted to be a childminder. I previously worked in a school and childcare nursery 16 years ago and I have a NVQ childcare qualification. I am currently working part-time in Home Care but my plan is to become a full-time childminder as I find it a very challenging and rewarding career. Through GRoW I was offered the opportunity to gain some recent work experience when they asked me to provide childcare at a GRoW session they were running at Highfield Childrens Centre. I offered support by looking after a child while their mother attended a GRoW session. I have completed a First Aid course and my next steps now are to finalise some of the details and then arrange for my OFSTED inspection. Once everything is completed, Kaneez is helping me to launch the business early next year and GRoW have offered to help advertise my business via their GRoW app which is really helpful.

I am grateful to GRoW for the support I have received. It has been such a helpful and motivating experience, taking part in workshops with a supportive community of women, whilst gaining practical guidance on navigating the complexities of setting up a business. I feel very optimistic about the future and can’t wait to start.

Sajada’s Passion for Lifelong Learning

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Mother of four Sajada came to GRoW in the Autumn of 2023 after connecting with GRoW Adviser Saeema at a junior school in Hillingdon. With a passion for learning and development, Sajada has engaged fully with the GRoW Programme and is now studying for a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course.

Sajada said “I met Saeema when dropping my youngest son off at his school one morning and she was so positive and encouraging about the GRoW Programme that  I was intrigued to find out more. I am a person who has always been interested in gaining knowledge and furthering my education. I have always believed it is important to keep growing, keep studying, even if you are a busy mum, of course it is difficult to find the time but it is possible always to do something. Back in 2018 I did Employability and ESOL courses at Uxbridge College and more recently at Hillingdon Adult Centre I did my Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English. I have also done a Safeguarding course and a Level 1 Teaching Assistant Course. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and lockdown I was not able to complete it because I was unable to carry out the mandatory voluntary work placement.

When I met Saeema I was pleased to be offered the opportunity through GRoW to enrol on the next level in my journey to becoming a Teaching Assistant.  I am doing the course online and am really enjoying it. Studying the Level 1 first gave me some really important tools about how to study which has made it easier for me this time around. I have moved house recently which has presented a few challenges for me so being able to do the study fully online is a great help and my tutor is really understanding and supportive.

I moved to the UK from Afghanistan in 2007 where I had been a medical student. I faced the challenge of adapting to a new language and culture and although I knew English, the transition to spoken English was difficult. I married here and had four children and have embraced the opportunity to learn and improve my language skills. It’s especially important as I want to be a Teaching Assistant and good communication is so crucial. Being able to speak the language well and communicate and learn from other teachers and students is a personal goal for me.

Something I feel very passionate about is the importance for mothers to prioritise education, not just for their children but for themselves too. Mothers are educators within their homes and so by constantly learning and gaining more knowledge mothers can better support their children and contribute positively to society. I think it is really important to give back to society and so I fully encourage other mothers to seize opportunities for personal and educational growth.

I have a dream to reach academic achievement, to be wearing the square hat and gown and be standing before my peers, confidently speaking English so I can inspire others too.

Saeema has been a real guiding force behind me, encouraging me all the way to keep motivated and learning. I have attended sessions with GRoW in-person as well as online and they have helped move forward with my dreams and take the opportunities seriously. I am now looking forward to completing my Teaching Assistant course and taking it to the next step of finding work.”

Cristine GRoW’s in Confidence

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Cristine came to a GRoW Bootcamp at Minet Junior School in Hillingdon in October 2023. A mother to two young children she was interested in finding out how to start the journey back to work after a 5 year break and is now enrolled on a Teaching Assistant Course and Functional Skills, preparing for her future career.

Cristine said “I first got involved with GRoW at a Coffee Morning Bootcamp at my daughter’s school. I met Saeema, one of the GRoW Advisers, and she was so helpful, explaining different opportunities that were available to me.  I learned about ways I could develop both personally and professionally though training courses and the online sessions GRoW offer as well as the live in-person sessions at their HQ at the Winning Box in Hayes.

The GRoW Bootcamp was a great experience. I have two children, a daughter in Year Four and a son in Year 1 and I didn’t feel that I had very many skills to offer an employer. Through the Bootcamp however, I learned that I have many skills and abilities and that all of the different things you do every day as a mum counts as transferrable skills that can be used in the workplace. This was a real confidence boost for me.

I moved to the UK from India 5 years ago and although I used to work as an Office Assistant previously, I have not worked since coming here and having my family.  I did a Finance diploma in my home country but have not done any training in the UK. I did think about enrolling at college a while ago but I didn’t have the confidence to do it at the time. Joining GRoW has really helped me take that step forward and it is due to the support of the team, especially Saeema who has helped me a lot. She helped me see a way forward that would work for me and it has motivated me to strive towards a goal of becoming a Teaching Assistant which is something I have wanted to do for a long time.

I have now enrolled on the Functional Skills and also the Level 2 Teaching Assistant qualifications, and plan to do the Level 3 as well. I’m really excited to start and finally feel that I am on a journey towards reaching my goal.

Before joining GRoW I had looked at doing some courses but it never quite worked for me, whether it was just my confidence stopping me I’m not sure but I now feel very happy to be doing these courses through GRoW.

Sometimes when you are a just being a mum you can think you can’t do anything else beyond that but Saeema gave me the energy to go forward and that’s now what I am doing. I don’t know where my journey will go exactly but I’m taking the first steps and I have a goal in mind and that makes me happy.