Toni-Leigh turned her personal loss into her purpose with training

Toni-Leigh's time as a carer for her grandma inspired her to begin a career in caring

Toni-Leigh was just 21 when she came to Futures during a deeply emotional time. She was caring for her grandmother, who was receiving palliative care for stage 4 bowel cancer, and grieving the loss of a family member to suicide.

Motivated by a desire to help others and honour her loved ones, Toni-Leigh enrolled in a mental health course with Futures to begin building a career in care and support.

The challenge

Unemployed and emotionally overwhelmed, Toni-Leigh wanted to pursue a career that would allow her to support others struggling with mental health.

She needed a flexible, understanding learning environment that could accommodate her responsibilities as a full-time carer and her own wellbeing.

The approach

Toni-Leigh enrolled in a Mental Health course with Futures, supported by tutor Amanda Turnock. Amanda provided:

Course guidance and feedback
Wellbeing support during difficult times
Flexible assignment deadlines
Encouragement and emotional check-ins

After completing the course, Toni-Leigh went on to pass a Palliative Care course, continuing to build qualifications toward her dream career. She stayed in touch with Amanda, who continued to offer encouragement and support.

Futures is the most understanding service I have ever used. They made sure I was okay mentally while doing the course and provided lots of well-being checks. I have now got the courage to carry on doing what me and my mamma had planned for my future.

The result

Toni-Leigh now holds two qualifications and is preparing to re-enter the workforce. Despite taking time off for her own mental health, she feels more confident and equipped to pursue a meaningful career helping others, just as she and her grandmother had planned.

Are you looking for support?

If Toni-Leigh’s story resonates with you and you’re looking for a supportive, flexible way to build your future, Futures is here to help.

Whether you're navigating personal challenges or planning a career change, our team offers compassionate guidance and practical training.

Fill out our contact form to get started today.

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