Sindushar Starts her Journey back to work

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Sindushar came to the GRoW Programme in Hillingdon in January 2024, looking for support to find her first job since moving to the UK 18 months ago. With a young daughter, Sindushar felt destined to be a stay at home mum but with GRoW’s support she is now feeling confident about her journey back to work and is looking forward to a new start.

Sindushar said “I came to the GRoW Programme at West Drayton School in Hillingdon and I’m so glad I took that first step. I haven’t lived in the UK for very long, just 1.5 years, and my daughter was only 5 years old when I moved here with my family. Back in my home country I had the support of my family and friends around me so I was able to work. I had a job working as a software tester in an IT company. Even though I had thought about going back to work I found the prospect very daunting. I was worried about how I would balance work with looking after my daughter and I felt destined to continue being a stay-at-home mum for the foreseeable future. However, thanks to the support and guidance of GRoW, I’m now feeling confident and ready to embark on a new chapter in my life.

GRoW introduced me to lots of opportunities and resources like the GRoW app that has information all tailored to mums like me – in fact it was GRoW’s tagline ‘We help women in to work’ that first got my attention.  On joining the programme I was faced with the dilemma of whether to continue in the same field of work as before or explore new opportunities that might be easier to balance with my responsibilities as a mother. GRoW helped me realise that there are plenty of part-time job options available that fit around my child’s school schedule.

The GRoW workshops provided so much support in building my confidence. We did lots of group work with other women which really helped. It’s a very supportive environment. Taking a break from work for a year and a half had left me feeling unsure of myself, but through various activities and exercises, I rediscovered my self-assurance. I learned to set goals and think about a future where I could balance work and family life and also do something just for me.

One particular workshop on interview skills, led by Audrey Bodman, was especially interesting. As someone who hadn’t taken part in video call interviews and was very apprehensive, Audrey’s advice and guidance was amazing. I received lots of practical tips and now feel much more sure of how to present myself confidently in online interviews.

Since being part of the GRoW Programme, I’ve been to a few interviews and feel much more optimistic about getting a job. The programme has helped me feel confident that I will find the right career path to suit my goals but also my responsibilities. My next task is to update my CV and then I’m ready to job search!”

 

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.

Pushpa Secures Full-Time Job as a Teaching Assistant

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Pushpa, who joined the GRoW Programme in May 2023, has achieved a significant achievement by securing a full-time position at a local school as a Teaching Assistant. Pushpa sought assistance to navigate her way back into the workforce while balancing the responsibilities of being a mother to two young children and has fully engaged with GRoW’s activities and learning opportunities from the very beginning.

Pushpa said “I initially joined GRoW’s Preparing to Work in Schools programme at West Drayton Academy in Hillingdon and after completing the programme I began a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course to help me regain my career of working in a school.  I have previous experience of working as a Teaching Assistant in my home country but I felt it was important to gain the necessary skills and qualifications in the UK to help give me an advantage when applying for jobs. I am very close to completing the course with just one Workbook left to complete.  I have really enjoyed the course and found it so useful.

GRoW have given me lots of support to help me move back into my chosen career.  As well as facilitating my enrolment onto the Teaching Assistant course they also provided me with work experience to boost my CV. In addition, they introduced me to a recruitment agency, Teaching Personnel, who I have been working with since July.  Joining the agency involved an in-person interview at their offices in Uxbridge where I answered safeguarding-related questions and discussed my previous work experience. They carried out a DBS check, child safeguarding training and then provided me with placements in two different schools in Hillingdon.

I completed 10 days work through the agency which was a great opportunity to gain more work experience and demonstrate my capabilities.  One of the schools contacted the agency to express their interest in me joining them on a full-time basis and I couldn’t be happier. I start my new role at the beginning of the new term on 10th January.

I am so grateful to GRoW for all of their support and guidance they have given me.  Once I complete my Level 2 course I would like to pursue a Level 3 Teaching Assistant course to enhance my skills and qualifications further.”

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.

Nasrine’s Journey from Engagement to Education

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In September 2023, Nasrine joined the GRoW Community in September after learning about the GRoW Programme at her daughter’s school in Hillingdon. With a young daughter in Year 1 and a son in Year 5 she felt that the time was right for her to start thinking about moving into education or work and has actively engaged in learning opportunities to work towards her goal of becoming a Teaching Assistant.

Nasrine said “I’m so pleased I made the decision to join GRoW. It has opened up so many opportunities for me to explore and it has strengthened my motivation to take every step I need to achieve my dream career.

I came to the UK 10 years ago from Algeria where I worked in a laboratory related to the production of medicine, it wasn’t related to my studies at University, which was in finance, but it did give me lots of customer service experience.  When I lived in Slough I did an Early Years course at a college which made really think about teaching as a career path. I always remember the teacher talking about the impact of the relationship between an adult and a child and the importance of being a good role model and this stuck with me. When I became a mother the experience further impacted my career aspirations.  I discovered I had a passion for education when we moved from Slough to Hayes, and I spent some time home-educating her. I found it really interesting how being engaged with children’s learning can have such a positive impact on their lives and make such a difference and it gave me a dream to aspire to.

I was aware that having not worked for 10 years, or in the UK, my CV would be lacking, so before joining GRoW I enrolled on a Functional Skills Maths and English course and also with an IT course at the Harlington Centre in Hillingdon.  Currently, I am also doing a course about understanding challenging behaviour in children but when I joined the GRoW Programme I found out about other courses I could do which would help me on my journey.  What I love about GRoW is the way they make it easy to see what is available and what type of learning will be best suited to my goals. I know how important some qualifications can be to finding a job, even volunteering positions, and so having that support to choose the right course is so valuable. I am currently in the process of enrolling on a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course through GRoW which is essential to equip me with the skills and knowledge needed to work in this role. Kaneez also made me aware of an Autism Awareness course that I could do and I am planning to do this after the Teaching Assistant course as I really feel that having that extra and more in-depth understanding will help me gain even stronger skills and knowledge.

GRoW isn’t just about getting people into work, it’s much more than that. The team help you navigate the right educational routes and give you a sense of direction and purpose. They help you understand what is important, how to present yourself at an interview, how to sell your skills to an employer, and they give you confidence and motivation to drive forward. They have helped shape a path for me so I can see how far I’ve progressed and what route I need to take next. It’s like a roadmap and I’m on my journey to success.”