Carol volunteered with Hexagon from 2006 as an Estate Grader to keep her skills updated and help improve the delivery of Hexagon’s services. She’d been unemployed for years focusing on being her son’s carer. But in 2022 decided to access employment support so she could do some training. Her advisor referred her to an online course, but she was unable to complete this due to other commitments on her time.
Carol took some time out from accessing support, but re-engaged in July 2023 so she could attend the 7 signs employability course Hexagon paid for Clean Slate to deliver to residents. This course covered CVs, interviews, networking and promoting yourself to employers.
Carol attended the course in August and fed back that she found it very helpful and engaging. She felt more motivated to find employment and worked with her advisor to update her CV. Her advisor then referred her for a mock interview with our contractor Murray Birrell, in September, so she could put the learning from the course into practice. Carol said,
“At the beginning of the interview I was nervous but as it progressed I was more relaxed. They were excellent Interviewers, made me feel welcome and gave good feedback…it really helped my confidence on doing Interviews in the future.”
Carol and her advisor continued to work together and a couple of months later her advisor referred her to Clean Slate’s Peer Worker programme that provides training and paid part-time employment.
Carol had to be interviewed for the programme and effectively put her training and mock interview feedback to use by giving a great interview which secured her place on the programme.
Carol worked for Clean Slate as a Peer Worker on a fixed term contract and completed an accredited Mental Health course. She continued working with them beyond her contract and they were so impressed with her, that they offered her more hours as a Support Worker, running their drop in sessions, across 4 London Boroughs, providing a triage service for people in need of money and/or employment support.
Carol said, “I’m so grateful for participating in Hexagon’s employment support programme and to my advisor for all the help and support given. Never in a million years did I think I would be a Support Worker. But if I can succeed on this program so can anybody else.”
