Rehana’s Path to Childminding Entrepreneurship with GRoW

Rehana began her journey with GRoW at the Shama Women’s Centre, where she attended the GRoW Your Own Business Programme. With plans to start her own childminding business, Rehana gained valuable insights and practical advice about various aspects of self-employment, and with GRoW’s continuing support has gained experience and is now on the path to achieving her goal.

Rehana said “I had been a regular visitor to the Shama Women’s Centre over the years, where I had taken some courses such as computer, IT and ESOL but it was the first time I had done a programme like GRoW Your Own Business.  It was excellent and the ladies that ran the programme – Liz, Mercedes and Kaneez – were really friendly and supportive. I attended one session a week for three weeks and it was a great experience for me. I felt it helped me to understand the different aspects of setting up a business such as preparing your Business Plan, promoting your business, and finance, tax and VAT. It covered a lot of detail, step by step but more than anything, it made me feel so much more confident and motivated to push forward.

I have always wanted to be a childminder. I previously worked in a school and childcare nursery 16 years ago and I have a NVQ childcare qualification. I am currently working part-time in Home Care but my plan is to become a full-time childminder as I find it a very challenging and rewarding career. Through GRoW I was offered the opportunity to gain some recent work experience when they asked me to provide childcare at a GRoW session they were running at Highfield Childrens Centre. I offered support by looking after a child while their mother attended a GRoW session. I have completed a First Aid course and my next steps now are to finalise some of the details and then arrange for my OFSTED inspection. Once everything is completed, Kaneez is helping me to launch the business early next year and GRoW have offered to help advertise my business via their GRoW app which is really helpful.

I am grateful to GRoW for the support I have received. It has been such a helpful and motivating experience, taking part in workshops with a supportive community of women, whilst gaining practical guidance on navigating the complexities of setting up a business. I feel very optimistic about the future and can’t wait to start.