Success Stories

Bekah interviews Mark Hawthorne 

Bekah is currently working with Gloucester City Homes on the Kickstart scheme, and indicated a keen interest in politics. We could think of no-one better to attend Shire Hall and interview the Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, Mark Hawthorne MBE. Here's the full video of Bekah's meeting with Mark, and Forwards would like to thank both for taking time to create this video, which was used in the Gloucestershire Work and Wellbeing event, broadcast on Weds 22 September via Chaos TV and SEETEC.

After the interview Bekah said how much she enjoyed the experience, and it has given her confidence for the future. The Kickstart scheme is designed to give young people a real experience of work and increase their skills and confidence; you'll see how it's working for Bekah in the video:

 

 

 

Abie meets Pete Bungard

Our newest team member Abie Buffin wasted no time going to the top and met with Pete Bungard, Chief Executive at Gloucestershire County Council, to create a video talking about his work at Forwards. 

Abie is the Step Forwards broker in our team and spoke with Pete about his role. The video was created for the Gloucestershire Work and Wellbeing Event broadcast by Chaos TV and SEETEC on 22nd September, online and on their Facebook page.

Abie, we wish you every success in your new role, and we thank Pete Bungard for taking the time to help us discuss and share our work.

 

 

 

Lettie Leads the Way

After a successful interview, Lettie shares the story of her success in gaining paid employment in our first ever video success story.

Congratulations Lettie, your hard work paid off!

 

 

Charlie's in the Garden

Charlie’s journey with Forwards is a perfect illustration of how someone gets what they really want through patience and willingness.

Located in South Eastern Gloucestershire, not far from the border with Wiltshire and Oxfordshire Charlie was keen and able with outdoor work and a particular interest in gardening. A regular volunteer at The Bathurst Estate, assisting the grounds team, he was seeking paid employment similar to his voluntary work, and realised how competitive this kind of work is to get.

He always showed up for his meetings and completed the tasks he was set, and when we could not find the right kind of job to apply for, he was prepared to try other potential work, even though he knew it wasn’t what he really wanted. A couple of examples of this saw him applying to Tesco and a Coffee distributor, both without success, but this didn’t dampen his enthusiasm. We even considered a role as a parking attendant, or retail security and because we were able to discuss the merits of this kind of work, we decided it wouldn’t be the right path for him.

We supported Charlie to develop his CV, and when the right opportunity came along he was ready to apply with a tailored covering letter. He was given an opportunity to show his skills on a full-day work trial and after successfully demonstrating his abilities he was offered the job and has started to work across several sites in a team where he feels welcome and is really enjoying his new role.

We hope his story inspires others to their success, and thank Charlie for his efforts, which have now paid off!

 

A Clean Slate for Susan

Susan had been the sole carer for her mother for the past ten years and was currently supporting her grandchild who has autism. Susan had a wealth of skills and experience, travelling, previously owned her on business and a wealth of volunteering experience with CAB.

At this point of time Susan had no self confidence, anxiety to IT and was confused about where she was to go in the employment field.

We started looking at what skills and the experience Sharon has had over the last ten years, we then started to link the transferable skills to the areas of work that would best suit Susan. We agreed to explore customer facing positions where Susan could utilize her skills. We explored library roles and completed application. Susan then identified Clean Slate as they were advertising support worker roles. Susan was successful with her application and was offered an interview. We spent some time going through ZOOM and interview practice.

Susan felt the interview went very well and explained that if did not get offered the role, it was a very progressive experience. Clean Slate felt it was also a positive interview and offered Susan a role. It was a very quick turn over and due to Susan being so adaptable, has taken to her new training and is currently being shadowed with calls to clients.

“Although this experience has been a massive change to my every day life and very challenging in some aspects, particularly around using IT, the support from Michaela and help I have received has made this one of the most enjoyable, positive experiences I have encountered. I would not have gained employment if it wasn’t for Michaela’s support.”

 

Platform to Launch - Diane's story

We have recently had an individual join our service by the name of Diane. Diane is a friendly and warm individual who has a wealth of experience that any employer would greatly benefit from. Stepping back into a career after a long break, due to illness, can be daunting for all sorts of reasons. It can be hard to know where to start and what to say to employers about your career break.  Diane has not worked for 7 years and has been referred to our service to help her get back into work. She has fought many battles and overcome lots of changes during that time but is ready to give it a go. She understands this will not be a quick process and we are making sure she is completely ready in mind, body and spirit. Together we shall work on her development through the likes of mock interviews and what to tell employers about her work gap.

When Diane joined Forwards her year had just finished with the Listening Post who used to ring her every week and provide company in the form of a regular chat. Diane was understandably disappointed at this ending as it was part of her routine and she enjoyed the interaction and engagement. To help fill this gap, we have enrolled Diane in to a pen pal program. This pen pal will be 18 to 21 years of age with the idea of swapping stories and getting to know a different generation. Diane is very excited about this project and already has a pen pal of her own who she has been in touch with since 1974 and has met on a few occasions.

Diane has encountered recent setbacks with her personal computer being hacked but has demonstrated a can do attitude by engaging with a charity group who tired to remotely fix her laptop for her. When these attempts failed, Diane moved on to consulting computer specialists and will get the computer to them when possible. We are now working on Diane’s CV and looking at future volunteering placements to help enhance it. Through volunteering Diane will socialise, make new connections in existing and new networks (which she has greatly missed during the pandemic) and learn new skills.

 

Haydn

Haydn has been through a tough journey. He was home educated and therefore has no formal qualifications. His ambition is to study Mathematics at University, therefore, to help him achieve this he approached South Gloucester and Stroud College to study A Level Maths and Physics. He was interviewed by the college, sat two exams and was accepted onto the courses. Unfortunately, Haydn suffered with severe mental health problems and had to withdraw from the courses and leave college. He started to see a therapist to help him with his problems and as his treatment was coming to an end, he contacted the GEM Project to help him rebuild his confidence so he could return to college. Working very closely with Michaela Elliott, his Navigator Developer, they started to take small steps to help Haydn achieve his ambition. He started to get in touch with some colleagues, took part in a Participants’ Council meeting and even devised green impact resources for participants.

However, when lockdown started Haydn’s mental health deteriorated once again, and with the help and support from Michaela, Haydn was offered CBT. When the first lockdown was coming to an end Haydn accepted that going to college this year was not possible, so he and Michaela switched their efforts to getting Haydn into employment. Haydn found this very difficult but with the support and encouragement of Michaela he worked really hard and overcame one of his biggest fears and attended online employment sessions via Zoom to give him the skills and knowledge to write his CV and start job searching. Haydn bravely attended a mock interview via Zoom as well as face to face with Michaela and his family as he found interviews extremely daunting.

Haydn had two interviews and to his shock and amazement was offered employment, he was also offered another interview after he had already accepted the first job offer.

He has now been employed as a customer assistant at a supermarket , for one month and is starting to really enjoy it.

 

Not all Heroes wear Capes   

Our customer Steven (not his real name) is a hero and an inspiration.

Growing up in a rural and economically deprived area and having to deal with dyslexia meant that Steven’s work opportunities were severely limited, so he moved in with a grandparent living in Gloucestershire to expand his horizons and increase his chances. Although his family are located in various distant places around the UK he was determined to make his own way in life and work.

Inspired by the stories of a family doctor and the actor Susan Hampshire, who were both diagnosed as dyslexic, Steven didn’t see his condition as an obstacle to employment, instead choosing to be inspired by his chosen role models.

After working in construction where a serious accident halted his work temporarily, Steven used the time not only for his physical recovery, but also to volunteer with a Young Homeless Project because being out of paid work encouraged him to invest his time helping others.

After various jobs through agency work he accepted a full-time contract in the public building cleaning sector, and works unsociable hours on a demanding shift pattern. This is both physically and mentally demanding, and when split shift working patterns see him finish late one day, only to start again early the next, Steven is inspired to improve his situation.

But his current circumstances are not designing his future.

In the current lockdown through Covid-19 he has continued to work the demanding shifts, and when one of his colleagues who works alongside him was really struggling and ready to quit Steven’s positive attitude and practical stoicism led him to guide Derek to think carefully about what he was planning to do. Having experienced serious setbacks himself, Steven coached his colleague to carry on, reminding him that although resigning would eliminate the current position and frustration, it would also create another issue Derek would then have to overcome. That day, Steven was Derek’s hero, saving him from an inevitable situation he would have had to deal with if he stepped down: finding alternative work from an unemployed position of his own making.

Even though his own work situation sees Steven currently unable to achieve his personal ambitions of more meaningful work, improved pay, and a move into his own home from shared accommodation, added to him currently being unable to enjoy an active social life because his hours see him working when his friends are free… Still, Steven carries on.

He has also advised the same to his colleague Derek by sharing his patient approach, and that’s another aspect of true heroes: they don’t always whoosh into a scene and fix things in a minute.

Since meeting with Forwards, who will support him in his quest for an improved life accessed through a better job, Steven has consistently demonstrated the qualities needed to succeed, his quiet determination and steady progress is a credit to him. Together we will succeed and the team is really looking forward to the time when we will be able to share the end of this story, which for Steven will be the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

 

Shipon and Jonathan

Shipon first met Jonathan at the Churn Project where they introduced their selves to each other and started the Forwards journey. They created a CV, carried out job searching, to identify which jobs would be suitable for Jonathan. Within a few months Jonathan was invited to go for an interview at a pub in Cirencester which Shipon supported Jonathan with. We then completed the E-Learning together following on from a job offer.

Jonathan completed a work trial at his local pub and is now starting as a Pot Washer on Saturday 29/10/2022. Jonathan will be working 1 day per week which is ideal for him.

This is great for Jonathan as he enjoys visiting the pub in his spare time but now also is part of the team helping the local business.

 

Volunteering at Gloucestershire Archives 

Alex reached out for support from Forwards Employment Service with his mother for us to look for voluntary work to prepare him for paid employment in the future. Alex has Autism and wants to build his confidence and communication skills. My customer Tim who has a Learning Disability was also open to voluntary work/paid work.

Both customers,  Timothy and Alex have now started their volunteering roles at Gloucestershire Archives. They arrived at the Heritage Hub on Wednesday 9th November 2022 excited to start their induction. It was great to see Tim find something he would like to engage in and be interested in. Alex was also looking for additional voluntary work in addition to his voluntary work at Roots Coffee Shop, which is a minute walk away for him.

Their duties involve Repackaging archive documents into new secure packaging to ensure they will be preserved properly for the future, Keeping an up-to-date list of their work, making sure the documents are properly labelled and working in a team with archives staff and other volunteers.

They will be able to put this on their CV’s and can use this voluntary work as reference.

 

Supporting Hartpury with Inclusive Recruitment

At the Employment & Skills Hub we utilise in-house tools to identify trends with our customers and use it towards strategic employer matching.

A review of our job broker submissions alluded to a young adult with a real passion for working in the catering industry and resulted in our Employer Engagement team arranging a meeting with Hartpury College, who were keen to connect and work together to provide opportunities for our customers.

Conversation around potential barriers our customers might face were had, speaking about how they can sometimes feel overwhelmed with online applications so they kindly adapted their process to allow a shortened application form, which could be handwritten or completed on MS Word.

The roles on offer from Hartpury were full-time positions however a discussion was had about a specific customer of ours Ashley, a 17-year-old young adult with learning disabilities and a rare medical condition, wanting to become more social, build his confidence and gain a part time position that would complement his L1 Catering course.

A little shy and anxious but always willing and proactive Ashley was always open to all suggestions from his job broker, Ashley consistently expressed his passion for working in the catering industry during his appointments and had held a previous kitchen porter/waiter position at his local pub in Newent. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the pub closed, and Ashely found himself out of work.

These setbacks, although frustrating, did not alter Ashley’s determination to find part time employment which would hopefully grow into his chosen career path.

With the help of his job broker and his completion of an online employability course Ashley tailored his CV, produced a personal statement and covering letter to aid his applications within the catering industry. After applying for several jobs, Ashley was informed of the amazing opportunity that had been sourced within Hartpury College’s catering department.

There were lots of unknown factor’s such as transport and working hours that would fit with his college course, but Ashley filled out the application form without hesitation and submitted it.

Not long after Ashley was invited to interview at Hartpury College, he attended with his job broker and finally had the chance to voice his passion and discuss what he had been doing at college with the staff.

A couple of weeks later after a follow-up discussion around Ashley and his declaration of his disability on his application form, Hartpury sought our advice and guidance to ensure that they have the correct support in place for him and any specific reasonable adjustments that may be required in relation to his conditions. These were swiftly finalised and shortly after, Ashley received the amazing news that he had been offered the role of weekend catering assistant, he was absolutely made up!

Ashley is now part of a friendly team and is enjoying learning new skills where he’s able to provide an excellent service to all of Hartpury’s students, staff, and visitors, he also gets to be involved in the wonderful events and exhibitions that the college host throughout the year.

We hope that Ashley’s incredible journey is an inspiring example for other individuals with learning disabilities to pursue their career aspirations and follow their dreams!