Case Studies

“Have you done your homework yet mum?!”

Forty-four-year-old Geraldine came over to England from India with her two children and British husband. Growing up as one of eight children and coming from a family that didn’t have a lot of money, Geraldine left school early, with no qualifications, so she could look for work to help support her family.

Now living in Chesterfield, Geraldine works as a domestic assistant in the local hospital, and also volunteers for six hours a week at her children’s school, but she has always felt that her lack of qualifications was holding her back.

Whilst looking for potential courses at Chesterfield College, Geraldine was introduced to the nextstep adviser, Ina Jones, who encouraged her to book an appointment to find out how nextstep could help her. After looking at the career options available to her, Ina then helped Geraldine identify how she could achieve her goal to become a teaching assistant.

Now, after completing a ‘Skills for Life’ numeracy course, Geraldine is studying for a level 2 teaching assistant’s qualification.

“The nextstep service has really helped me improve my confidence and focus on my career goal,” says Geraldine. “Becoming a qualified teaching assistant is suddenly a reality, and with all my studying, I’ve even become an inspiration to my teenage children! These days they ask me if I’ve done my homework yet instead of the other way round!”

“I want my son to be proud of me”

By her own admission, twenty-one-year-old Leanne, from Allenton, Derby, was never really inspired by academic subjects at school, and ended up leaving with no qualifications. Her interest lay in looking after children, and she’d earn pocket money by babysitting for friends and family.

Without a job and as a lone parent to two and a half year old Cameron, Leanne felt that she was losing her social skills and self-confidence.

It was at this time that Leanne saw an advert for nextstep and it got her thinking about her future. Leanne arranged to meet up with Julie Benton, an adviser for nextstep at SureStart First Steps in Allenton, Derby.

“Leanne wanted to do something that would improve her chances of getting a career – but in something she was familiar and comfortable with,” explains Julie. “After finding out about her interest in childcare, I suggested that she could look into doing an NVQ level 2 qualification in Childcare”.

Inspired and motivated by Julie’s support, Leanne arranged for Cameron to be looked after in the SureStart crèche, and joined the course in September 2007. She is thoroughly enjoying the learning and has ambitions of continuing her studies with courses in literacy, numeracy and computers – with a view to eventually working as a teaching assistant, nursery nurse or crèche worker.

“I probably wouldn’t have joined this course if I hadn’t received the advice from Julie at nextstep,” says Leanne. “My social skills have improved as I’ve met new people, Cameron is enjoying his time in the crèche and I feel more confident as a mum! I want my son to be proud of me and thanks to the advice I received from nextstep, the course has given me the inspiration and confidence I need to better myself”.

nextstep helps Carmel overcome barriers

Carmel is a 21 year old with a health condition that affects the type of work she can realistically carry out. To help her look at the career options available to her and identify a rewarding but realistic career, Carmel was referred to nextstep in Nottingham.

Accountancy was identified as a possible career that suited Carmel’s skills and preferences, but because of the benefits she was receiving, some of the courses available were too expensive.

After searching the local area and looking at the funding options available, her nextstep adviser helped her find a ‘Computerised Sage Accounts’ course at Ashfield College. Carmel didn’t have to worry about the cost either, as the funding was provided through the ‘Changing Gear’ programme.

Carmel said: “I couldn’t have done all this without the help of nextstep. My nextstep adviser has helped me overcome the barriers I was facing as a result of my health problems. I am now well on the way to achieving my goal to work in accountancy’”.