Asfia Progresses from Learning to Employment

Asfia first came to the GRoW Programme in October 2024, when she was looking for opportunities to develop new skills and find a job that suited her family’s needs. As a mother to teenage twins and a younger child, she wanted a career that allowed her to balance work and home life. Through GRoW, she discovered courses that would enable her to progress towards her goal of working with children and social care, and she quickly got involved in learning.

Asfia said “I first heard about GRoW in October 2024. At that time, I was looking for ways to build my skills and find a job that would work around my children. I have always been interested in working with children and possibly becoming a social worker in the future, so I wanted to start with some courses to set me on the right path.

Through GRoW, I completed two courses: Level 1Preparing to Work in Schools and Level 2 Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health. These courses were so helpful in giving me the knowledge and confidence to take my first steps. Before this, I had not done any studying in 20 years though I had spent many years at home managing my family and running a restaurant business with my husband.

I found out about GRoW through a leaflet in the local library that explained the courses available. When I called to find out more, I spoke to Kaneez, who was really supportive and guided me through the process of getting started. I had never studied anything like this before, but I found the courses to be very engaging. The trainers were fantastic—Natasha and Liz made sure we understood everything clearly, and they explained things in a simple way that made it easy to follow.

After completing the courses, I started looking for job opportunities, and I was so happy to be offered a role in an After School Club. It started with just a few hours a week, but now they are offering me more hours because they are happy with my work. This has given me such a boost in confidence—I feel like I am finally doing something for myself while still being there for my children.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue my learning to help me progress further in a career in either social work or education. I am planning to take a Level 3 course in Children and Young People’s Mental Health to deepen my knowledge and open up more opportunities for the future. GRoW has made such a difference in my life. The team has been so supportive, and I feel like I am part of a community that wants to see me succeed.

I would recommend GRoW to anyone who is looking for support in getting back into work or learning new skills. It has given me the confidence I needed. After not doing any studies in 20 years it was so easy to step back into it again with the support of my course tutors which is something I really didn’t expect at all.