Sara GRoWs her confidence and looks to the future

Sara came to the GRoW Programme looking for support in getting back to work. She has actively participated in various GRoW programmes, both in-person and online, undertaken training and recently secured a job as a carer. Sara found the impact of having a strong support network in GRoW as a huge boost to her confidence and motivation.

Sara said “I first came across GRoW through my daughter’s school. They were advertising a GRoW bootcamp at the school for parents who wanted help with learning English or finding work. At the time, I was struggling to find a job and didn’t know where to go or what to do, so I thought, “Why not?” That’s how it all started for me.

When I joined GRoW, I was looking for work and trying to figure out what I needed to do to get there. I also had some challenges because I am hearing-impaired and unsure if that would make finding a job even harder. GRoW helped me a lot. I did a course on mental health and another one on working with children and young people. Both were online, but they gave me so much confidence. Being in a group where everyone was in the same situation, struggling with English as a second language, made me feel comfortable. We were all learning together, and it gave me the courage to speak up and use my English more.

I’ve been out of work for a long time. The last time I worked was about 10 years ago, helping my husband with his business. Since then, I focused on raising my children and did some volunteering to gain experience. Now, my youngest child is older and more independent, so it’s easier for me to work.

Even though my goal was to work with children or in schools, I’ve taken a job as a carer for now. It’s not my dream job, but it’s a good starting point to gain work experience and build my skills. I’ve already learned a lot through the training, like safeguarding and understanding medication needs.

GRoW has been a huge support for me. They check in regularly, tell me about new courses, and encourage me to keep going. I remember one time I wasn’t planning to do a course, but someone from GRoW called and explained why it would be helpful. I’m so glad I did it. They’ve always been there to guide me, and their encouragement has made all the difference.

For me, the biggest thing GRoW has given me is confidence. As a woman and a mother, it’s easy to lose confidence, even if you have experience or skills. GRoW helped me believe in myself again, and that’s what’s allowed me to take these steps towards finding a job.

My dream is still to work with children or in mental health, and I’m open to doing more courses if I need to. For now, I’ll focus on doing my best in my new role as a carer and continue building my experience. I’ll also stay connected with GRoW because their support has been invaluable, and I know they’ll help me reach my goals.

To anyone out there who feels stuck or unsure about how to move forward, I’d say: just start. It’s not easy, but with the right support and a little confidence, you can do it. GRoW has shown me that we’re all capable of achieving more than we think.”