Case Studies

Paul Cotton - Award Winner

Paul Cotton - Award Winner

PAUL COTTON – Learner Award, Salisbury

 

Although Paul was devastated when he was made redundant, with hindsight he believes it is one of the best things that could have happened to him.

As soon as he lost his job as a warehouse operator Paul was referred to NWT by the Jobcentre to join the Response to Redundancy course.  Although Paul had acquired lots of skills doing various jobs he had no actual qualifications.  Paul felt it would be beneficial to achieve some recognised accreditation in order to secure better paid jobs.

On the R2R programme Paul was first helped to produce a CV and to learn interview techniques.  Paul carried out some research and discovered that, to fulfil his ambition to become a carpenter, he would need a CSCS card and basic skills level 2 in Maths, through the R2R programme he was able to achieve both these qualifications.

Paul applied and was accepted onto a carpentry apprenticeship course at Wiltshire College and secured a placement with a local firm.  Paul is looking forward to starting college and has a guaranteed job at the end of his training.

Clare Harbour- Entry to Employment/ Apprenticeship

Clare Harbour- Entry to Employment/ Apprenticeship

Clare who is 18 joined the E2E programme at NWT as she didn’t enjoy school and when she left she only had 3 GCSEs. When she was at school Clare felt as though there was no support and she was left to figure things out for herself. Although Clare didn’t like school when she left she wanted to go back as she felt like she was on her own and she had no teachers to tell her what to do.

“I am finding the apprenticeship very different from school but it is better than school. I am learning new things; if I was told at school that I would be an NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service I would have said ‘Yeah right, you’re having a laugh!’  I’m also getting the help I need here.”

E2E was a like second chance for Clare; the advisers on the programme gave her the support and confidence she needed without being too much for her. She has been able to meet lots of new people everyday who have helped her build her confidence and customer service skills. Clare is proud to be doing an NVQ 2 in Customer Service, she would never have believed she could do it if it hadn’t been for the support if her NWT advisor.

The apprenticeship has been an opportunity for her to gain experience and learn new skills for the future.

“The work on the apprenticeship is easy to understand but if there is something I don’t understand I have always got someone I can ask for help.”

Clare’s ultimate goal now is to achieve a full-time role in Administration or as a receptionist.

Martin Andrews - Award Winner

Martin Andrews - Award Winner

MARTIN ANDREWS – Personal Achievement Award, Devizes

 

Martin is a graduate who has had a varied and distinguished career as an Officer in the British Army.  When he left the Army after 26 years service he took advantage of the resettlement programme and gained additional qualifications to support his robust experience, this he believed would enable him to pursue a new career in civilian life; he looked forward to the future with a sense of optimism.

Martin had a couple of temporary contracts which he thoroughly enjoyed, however, when the last of these finished it soon became apparent to him that finding new work was going to be a lot harder than he anticipated.

Martin was very proactive over the coming months in his job searching and joined the liquid list which specialises in helping ex-service personnel find work.  At one of these meetings Martin met a representative from NWT who explained how the Journeys to Work Programme would be able to help him.

NWT works closely with Haydens Bakeries in Devizes who were looking for managers with qualities suitable for their operation following a recent significant expansion.  Martin’s wealth of experience and robust management of projects in the army, and since, seemed to make him an ideal candidate.  Martin was delighted to have impressed Haydens management team and to be offered a job as a distribution project manager.

He is looking forward to being part of an exciting time in the company’s history and he is now looking to the future with renewed confidence and optimism.

Valerie Lewis - Award Winner

Valerie Lewis - Award Winner

Valerie Lewis – Learner Award, Trowbridge

 

Val asked her Job Centre Adviser if she could come to NWT on a basic skills programme as she wanted to improve her literacy and numeracy, as well as her quality of life by achieving qualifications.  Val wanted to be able to help her daughter with her GCSEs, find work and rebuild her life.  The previous years had been traumatic as struggled to raise her daughter and beat the oral cancer which was diagnosed when her daughter was just 5 months old.  This meant a series of 15 major operations during the course of which she lost the sight in one eye.

Val never had the opportunity to fulfil her potential or gain qualifications as she was sent to the same special school as her sister who had learning difficulties.  She felt that she was capable of much more than the teachers expected of her, and asked to join a mainstream class in another school but was told she would find it too difficult.

At NWT the tutors were immediately impressed by Val’s determination and dedication.  She quickly achieved 2 numeracy qualifications.  Val asked if she could work on her literacy as she loved to read.  No matter how much work Val was given it was always completed and handed in by the next session, she soon also achieved qualifications in this subject.

The qualifications Val has gained at NWT have given her confidence for the future.  Val is now working at NWT and at the same time continuing her studies.  Her enthusiasm and willingness to learn is an inspiration to others.

 

Peter Lowe - Award Winner

Peter Lowe - Award Winner

Peter Lowe – Learner Award, Chippenham and Client of the Year

 

Peter worked in a job he loved for 20 years as a manager for a manufacturing company.  In late 2008 Peter began to suffer from stress and in February 2009 it had affected his home and work life and he had to stop work.

Peter found being out of work extremely difficult both emotionally and financially.  He was referred by the Jobcentre to the Pathways programme with NWT, after the very first meeting with his advisor he began to feel there was light at the end of the tunnel.

With the help of NWT Peter gained a sector specific qualification which enabled him to start his own business, PJL Rail Services Ltd.  Peter has steadily build his business over the last year and now employs staff, all of whom he recruited from the Pathways programme at NWT.

Peter wanted to put something back into the community and so he is sponsoring his local football team, Spartens FC.

Peter has certainly turned his life around and is helping others in a similar situation to do the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan

Ryan

"North Wessex Training is a good place to go. There are lots of helpful and understanding tutors and people with similar issues. I like the activities and projects there are to do.  It gives me something to do and I am learning for the future ahead of me."
Ryan Gallagher

Kym Fowkes - Award Winner

Kym Fowkes – Personal Achievement Award, Salisbury

Kym has shown incredible strength of character and bravery in the way she has turned her life around.

Kym has coped with extremely difficult family circumstances from an early age, resulting in personal problems leading to issues with alcohol, homelessness, convictions and ultimately her child being taken into care.  After getting into more trouble with the police Kym decided to take control of her life. She attended courses to help with alcohol addiction and aggression; she was praised for her commitment.

Kym was referred to NWT by the Jobcentre; during her time with us she passed her Food Hygiene qualification and has taken courses to improve her literacy and IT skills. Kym proved herself during a work trial with a local hotel and was offered a job as a housekeeper, here she undertook and completed a level 2 NVQ in housekeeping.

Kym had wanted to work in the care sector for a long time.  With her past convictions she knew this would be difficult.  However, the staff at NWT encouraged her to talk to Turning Point, they gave her the chance she needed.  Kym has recently started a full time position with them.

Shaun

Shaun

"When I started e2e I didn’t think it was going to be that much fun. But I started to meet new people and try new things that I’ve never done before. Also, there are people that you can talk to about anything."
Shaun Smith-Williams

Tony Davies - Award Winner

Tony Davies - Award Winner

TONY DAVIES – Personal Achievement Award, Chippenham [On left of photograph] 

Tony’s life changed overnight when he suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage which resulted in loss of speech and balance, affected his memory and his ability to walk.  He has had to relearn all of these skills. 

With incredible determination and courage Tony’s rehabilitation only took one year rather than the expected three.  Tony looked around him at the rehabilitation centre and decided he was utterly determined he would strive to make a full recovery. 

Tony was determined to return to full time employment but decided after speaking to his Pathways to Work advisor to build up to this level of employment.  With a positive attitude and persistence Tony found work as a part-time gardener; he built up his strength and stamina by cycling a little further each day and taking on more and more strenuous activities around the garden. 

Tony continued working part time for six months, all the time looking for full time employment which he has now secured. 

Tony is delighted with his progress and is finally looking forward to a full life again. He feels that he has truly been given a second chance.

 

 

 

 

Kelsey Ayliffe - Award Winner

Kelsey Ayliffe - Learner Award, Young Persons Programme

Kelsey was referred to the Entry to Employment course at NWT by her Connexions advisor after some difficulties she had at college and with the police.Kelsey had some trouble settling into the course and daily life at NWT.  However, with some help and guidance from the Young Persons team Kelsey began to attend regularly and her confidence grew.  The positive environment of a mixed group of teenagers helped Kelsey change her attitude to others and to make friends amongst the group.Kelsey gained several qualifications whilst at NWT including, literacy, working with others and a healthy eating unit of a personal and social development qualification.Kelsey had already surpassed all the team’s expectations with her change in attitude but she continued to surprise them.  She completed an administrative work placement with NWT which included dealing with the public for which she received a glowing report.Kelsey has now gone full circle and is back at College, this time taking a work based learning qualification in childcare.

Lisa Bilby - Award Winner

Lisa Bilby- Personal Achievement Award, Young Persons Programme 

Lisa found it difficult to engage with formal education and came to NWT after dropping out of college. At first Lisa found E2E as difficult as she had found college but we gradually built up the relationship and soon Lisa began to trust the staff who worked on the Young Persons’ Programmes.

Lisa began to engage more with the staff and other learners, her confidence grew and she began working towards gaining a qualification.

Lisa went on to participate fully in daily life in the Centre and gained qualifications in Numeracy and Food Hygiene.  Lisa eventually left NWT to go into a full time job with Brewers Fayre in Chippenham, she has now been in this job for over 3 months.

Lisa’s work ethic is such that she is unable to be with us this evening as she had already committed to working this shift.

 

Aiden Ollerhead - Award Winner

AIDEN OLLERHEAD – Learner Award, Devizes 

Aiden joined the Making Changes programme with NWT and immediately impressed his advisor with his commitment to gaining qualifications and getting back into work. 

Aiden had been made redundant in May and was finding it hard to find another job. This was affecting his relationships and social life, and as a result he felt really fed up.  Aiden had applied for a number of jobs but had not been successful and as a result he was beginning to wonder what his future held. 

Aiden fully committed to training and soon passed his CSCS certificate.  Hayden’s Bakery in Devizes were recruiting for new staff and Aiden decided to apply; this process involved passing a food hygiene certificate followed by a 3 week work trial. 

Aiden started his work trial in August and impressed the management with the attributes he demonstrated whilst doing his training, he was offered a job at the end of the first week, a fantastic achievement.

Tanya Stephens - Award Winner

Tanya Stephens – Personal Achievement Award, Trowbridge

 

Tanya was referred to NWT by the Jobcentre to gain employability skills including a work placement.

Tanya was keen to do all she could to improve her prospects.  She had been in an abusive relationship and her confidence and self esteem were very low, she knew she had to make some changes.

Tanya looked forward to her work placement, she had no previous work experience or qualifications and felt this was the chance she needed to move into the work place and make a better life for herself.

Tanya’s placement was with a local hotel; she thoroughly enjoyed the experience and her confidence grew quickly.  The job had its challenges as Tanya often had to complete additional workloads left unfinished by her colleagues.  Her extra efforts and attention to detail were recognised by the hotel management and Tanya has been taken on as a full time housekeeper.

Tanya is now excited about her future life and is an excellent example of how determination and hard work can lead to success.

Lesley Confu - Award Winner

LESLEY CONFUE – Learner Award, Swindon

 

At the age of 7 Lesley fell 40 feet from a building and suffered sever head injuries resulting in memory loss, including all the reading and writing skills she had learned to date.  Lesley had little support at this time and has had to struggle through life without these skills. 

Lesley was referred onto the Pathways to Work Programme with NWT, she was visibly upset about her situation.  Lesley’s partner, Tony, who is extremely supportive, said that prior to their visit to NWT no-one had listened, taken them seriously or sought help for her. 

Lesley’s advisor found a phonetic awareness online course which Lesley was keen to practice at home.  It took several months of dogged determination to secure a place on a pre-entry level literacy course for Lesley at the local college; she has just started the course and loves it. She is relearning the skills she lost at an early age. 

Lesley’s whole future has changed.  She is looking forward to reading road signs, filling in forms, shopping and reading recipes. 

Lesley’s self esteem and confidence are growing daily.  Her positive attitude to life is most impressive.

Terry Ayres - Award Winner

Terry Ayres – Personal Achievement Award, Swindon

 

After ten years as a warehouse operative for WH Smiths Terry was made redundant in April this year.  He felt the current levels of unemployment and his age would make it difficult for him to find another job.

Terry joined North Wessex Training on the Making Changes Programme.  NWT helped him to improve his CV and supported him whilst looking for job vacancies.  He also undertook training and gained a CSCS card enabling him to apply for a greater range of jobs.

Terry applied for several jobs but was unsuccessful at the interview stage so he asked for interview training with his advisor.  He approached his next interview with greater confidence.  Terry applied for a multi-skilled maintenance assistant role; he had recently gained his CSCS card and was therefore qualified for this position.  Terry’s determination and hard work were rewarded when he was offered the job.