A's Story
When A first came to Futures, she had a strong foundation to start from - with GCSEs in Maths and English, a Level 3 qualification in Travel and Tourism, and experience as a long-term volunteer, she was ready to find paid employment.
However, her health challenges, including ADHD, autism, and a genetic condition affecting her balance, meant that she lacked confidence in finding a role that would suit her needs.
Despite her volunteering experience, A experienced anxiety around her additional needs and had had some unsuccessful interviews, which had knocked her confidence. Living in a rural area and needing to use public transport also meant A felt limited in the types of roles that would be available to her.
But she was motivated and determined to overcome her challenges. With the support of an adviser, A:
- Attended regular group sessions with Futures, focusing on developing IT and other basic skills
- Developed her CV and completed training on how to search for jobs online
- Engaged with Bassetlaw Food Bank workshops
- Enrolled in a Level 2 Food Hygiene certification
- Began looking for a Level 2 Sales and Marketing qualification
- Discovered new volunteering opportunities
- Connected with specialist support service for neurodivergent people
- Focused on building her confidence and improving her communication skills
A's case demonstrates how targeted support combined with personal determination can lead to significant progress. A engaged with multiple development opportunities and showed commitment to self-improvement, and as a result she has substantially improved her employability prospects and built up confidence and essential life skills.
As a result of her determination, A left Futures with a fully updated and professional CV, practical warehouse experience thanks to regularly volunteering at the food bank, new technical skills and professional certifications.
Alongside all of that, she also significantly increased in confidence during social situations and improved her communication skills, making her feel read to explore new career paths and take on the challenge of finding a job that is right for her.
A's journey shows the importance of a holistic approach to employment support, particularly for individuals with diverse needs. The combination of practical work experience, formal qualifications and personal development support has created a strong foundation for her continues progress toward her employment goals.
