Here is my story:
I have had an interesting career so far, starting life as a jeweller and then a side step into a training company where I worked my way up to Quality Manager, Work Based Learning Manager and Lead Internal Verifier. I had a fantastic External Verifier who recommended that I became an EV to, so I did.
The training company I worked for went bust and I started with a new company but was bored of being stuck in the same office everyday doing the same job as before, so went back to being an NVQ Assessor for a national company to get back out meeting people but hated the unrealistic targets and hours put on me.
At the same time as the assessor role I was a mentor for A4e, which I loved.
My friend called me and asked if had seen the paper, it has an excellent job in there that I had to apply for. Quality Practitioner for a national company.
I went and got the paper and that night sent my CV off to the recruitment company and they called me the next day while I was away on holiday, and said that I had an excellent CV as it was unusual to see work history with quality and training on it.
They wanted me to go for an interview at the end of that week and the company was A4e so I came back off my holiday early as I had been working as a mentor for this company I was really interested.
The interview was held in a lovely hotel in Exeter. I have to say the interview was very thorough and Steve Hart was very clear of what he needed in his area regarding the role.
The interview went really well and he really made me work hard throughout, really challenging me and my abilities and views to make sure I would fit in.
As per any interview it was said we will let you know. I don’t think at that point you ever know what’s going to happen next.
I got offered a second interview and before I knew it I was off to see Karen Roberts in Sheffield. Again I had a successful interview and was told they will let me know.
The offer came through and I accepted the role.
Since then it has gone from strength to strength with the role going from just Devon and Cornwall to National, we have developed a new quality tool which saves the managers time and produces reports, I am on central quality team and doing cross divisional work with A4e Work and Skills.
I can’t say that the challenges are not there now and I am doing things I didn't think I would be and expanding my knowledge of all A4e provisions so I am able to work on central teams. I enjoy the supportive/quality part of my role in helping and guiding managers to achieve their best, and do all I can to help them.
The best part is on my admin day when I can I still do mentoring for the local A4e works office as it seems to make an impact with the customers and they request to see me again as they feel it really helps them.
If I can give someone a chance to chat and give some advice which will motivate them to want to go back to work it is worthwhile as I always look at life that the glass is half full which is difficult for customers if they are feeling depressed or not motivated but gives them a chance to see things from someones else's points of view and take that forward. So far it has worked.
I was very motivated by attending In Conservation with Emma and decided that I wanted a company mentor.
I have managed to get myself one now so I have someone to lean on when there is a challenge or change, to discuss my concerns and issues and get a clear head to move forward but also to expand my knowledge regarding the company.
The company is excellent to work for and the staff I am meeting up and down the country are so friendly, helpful and supportive and really believe in Improving peoples lives, which is fantastic to see that the staff really believe the company ethos.
I am really enjoying my role and working for A4e and have people like Steve Hart to thank for all the support he has given me.
Many thanks for your time in reading my brief story.
Regards,
Clare-Marie Taylor
National Quality and Training Practitioner
Health and Social Care Division
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Sunday, 5 October 2008
My A4e - Susan Orr
My name is Susan Orr and I work for A4e as a Gateway Tutor in the HMP/YOI in Norwich. I have been employed by A4e for over two years and for the past fifteen months I have been working as a Gateway Tutor in the YOI in Norwich Norfolk. After reading Emma's Blog site, she said she was keen to hear from employees with inspirational stories and I felt compelled to put pen to paper so-to-speak.
Since working in the YOI I have met some really interesting young men who have lost their way for many different reasons. I have also learnt a great deal from these young men in terms of how, why and what it was that lead them to getting into trouble with the law. My role as a Gateway Tutor is to deliver a 10 day training programme for young offenders due for release. My workshops include diagnostic evaluations on individuals, communication skills, team building, problem solving, creating outstanding CVs, interview techniques, disclosure letters, money management, motivational sessions and confidence building.
I am I have to say extremely proud of the way the course has developed and also for the fantastic outcomes we have achieved as a result of these young men attending the programme. I felt I had to drop you a line with a few of these stories because I am so proud of their achievements. There is no doubt that these young men’s' lives have been improved. They are now looking forward to promising futures with something they had very little of and that was hope, hope that they can now become independent, successful members of society following a time of sometimes traumatic, difficult times filled with uncertainty whilst being in custody.
I love my job because I love the changes I see in their outlook on their own lives and how these have improved so much for them. I do hope that you read them and it would be fantastic to get some feedback from you when you are able to. In the meantime, thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Susan Orr
A4e Gateway Tutor YOI Norwich
Case studies from YOI Norwich
Young Man A
In April 2008, I spoke to a young D CAT prisoner who had attended an earlier Gateway course. I felt he had no direction or commitment to completing any tasks given to him. Whilst working in the Staff canteen, he was sullen, low in spirit and seemed to lack confidence. He agreed that I would recommend him to Shopie Houghton, my contact at the Princes Trust in Norwich for the 13 week ‘TEAM’ programme and felt that this would encourage him to surface from his shell. There were only limited spaces on the course of a maximum of 15 with it running only once every 3 months. The programme was all about taking part in team-building exercises, community project work, obtaining ICT, literacy and numeracy qualifications with the chance to prove staying power, commitment, confidence-building and communication skills.. He absolutely fulfilled his commitment by not missing any of the programme. According to the Princes Trust, he turned out to be one of the best candidates the Princes Trust had ever come across and worked with. When he did complete the course, myself and a colleague attended the ceremony, he and his colleagues from the ‘TEAM’ programme attended the awards ceremony in July 2008, where he was handed certificates for ICT CLAIT Level 2, Literacy Level 2, Numeracy Level 2 and a Food Hygiene certificate. He also managed to enrol at the Norwich City College onto a music production course which he started in September 2008 and when he gets his diploma, he wants to go onto Nottingham University to continue in Music Production.
This young man achieved so much in such a short time, not only did he work to gain his qualifications, he pushed himself through his comfort zone and forced himself to come out of his shell and communicate with others, he worked successfully as part of a team and managed to complete a community project of transforming some old run down changing rooms at a recreational playing field, enabling young children to start using the changing rooms for hockey, rugby and football practice and tournaments. The Princes Trust was outstanding in their support to this young man and we are all tremendously pleased for his achievements and his goals which are now in place for the future. This young man began a journey which was very daunting for him, but, he soared to fantastic heights and proved to everyone that he could make something of his life, all he needed was for someone to believe in him and to show him the way. I am absolutely thrilled with this young man’s success story and delighted that I was able to help him find his path and to realise his potential. He is just astounded at his own success and what he has achieved I such a short space of time.
Young Man B
In early March 2008 a young offender had attended the Gateway course delivered by myself at the YOI Norwich. His cellmate had recommended the course to him as he thought it would help him with his self-esteem and confidence. His lack of self-belief was evident however, as he participated in each session on interview skills, confidence-building, CV construction and team building exercises his confidence began to emerge. Armed with an outstanding CV, a bucket load of confidence and a positive attitude, he left the prison on Monday morning and set to work on making phone calls the next day to Job Mates contact Chris Metcalfe. Chris had met him prior to the young man leaving the prison and signed him up whilst he was taking part in the Gateway to work course. They rallied around most of the employment agencies in the Ipswich area and by 5.00pm that day, less than 24 hours after leaving prison, he had been offered a full-time temporary job as a Farm Hand. A week later the agency received a phone call from the Farmer who was so delighted with his hard work and strong work ethic that he wanted to employ him permanently.
Young Man C
In June 2008, another young prisoner who was from Russia, completed the Gateway to Work course and he was very impressed with his CV and the Adult Directions advice and guidance received by Jo in Tribal at the end of the course. After leaving prison, he was offered a job within two weeks of leaving as a Production Operative Supervisor, and three months later in September 2008, he managed to get himself a mechanics apprenticeship and is combining work with a college course to become a qualified mechanic over the next two years.
Young Man D
This young man attended the Gateway course and was hoping to find employment as a fork lift operative. We produced an outstanding CV which he was delighted with and he mentioned that he had previously been in the Army, he was already quite motivated. He wanted to explore his career options and discovered after completing the Adult Directions in TRIBAL that he was an ideal candidate for driving a forklift as a career. I spoke to him at the end of August when he telephoned in requesting his floppy disk with his CV on it that he had been offered a job with the hard copy of his CV to start in September. He had also discovered that the Army would take him back in January 2009 once his Tag had expired. He was really delighted with his outcome as we were. He extended his thanks to and was looking forward to his new life.
Young Man E
I spoke to this gentleman only today 23.9.08 that had also benefitted from the Gateway course who had received confirmation that he had got a job working on a trawler as a Deck Hand, to start working in Kings Lynn at the beginning of October 2008. He was astounded that he had managed to get a job all lined up ready for when he was released!
Since working in the YOI I have met some really interesting young men who have lost their way for many different reasons. I have also learnt a great deal from these young men in terms of how, why and what it was that lead them to getting into trouble with the law. My role as a Gateway Tutor is to deliver a 10 day training programme for young offenders due for release. My workshops include diagnostic evaluations on individuals, communication skills, team building, problem solving, creating outstanding CVs, interview techniques, disclosure letters, money management, motivational sessions and confidence building.
I am I have to say extremely proud of the way the course has developed and also for the fantastic outcomes we have achieved as a result of these young men attending the programme. I felt I had to drop you a line with a few of these stories because I am so proud of their achievements. There is no doubt that these young men’s' lives have been improved. They are now looking forward to promising futures with something they had very little of and that was hope, hope that they can now become independent, successful members of society following a time of sometimes traumatic, difficult times filled with uncertainty whilst being in custody.
I love my job because I love the changes I see in their outlook on their own lives and how these have improved so much for them. I do hope that you read them and it would be fantastic to get some feedback from you when you are able to. In the meantime, thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Susan Orr
A4e Gateway Tutor YOI Norwich
Case studies from YOI Norwich
Young Man A
In April 2008, I spoke to a young D CAT prisoner who had attended an earlier Gateway course. I felt he had no direction or commitment to completing any tasks given to him. Whilst working in the Staff canteen, he was sullen, low in spirit and seemed to lack confidence. He agreed that I would recommend him to Shopie Houghton, my contact at the Princes Trust in Norwich for the 13 week ‘TEAM’ programme and felt that this would encourage him to surface from his shell. There were only limited spaces on the course of a maximum of 15 with it running only once every 3 months. The programme was all about taking part in team-building exercises, community project work, obtaining ICT, literacy and numeracy qualifications with the chance to prove staying power, commitment, confidence-building and communication skills.. He absolutely fulfilled his commitment by not missing any of the programme. According to the Princes Trust, he turned out to be one of the best candidates the Princes Trust had ever come across and worked with. When he did complete the course, myself and a colleague attended the ceremony, he and his colleagues from the ‘TEAM’ programme attended the awards ceremony in July 2008, where he was handed certificates for ICT CLAIT Level 2, Literacy Level 2, Numeracy Level 2 and a Food Hygiene certificate. He also managed to enrol at the Norwich City College onto a music production course which he started in September 2008 and when he gets his diploma, he wants to go onto Nottingham University to continue in Music Production.
This young man achieved so much in such a short time, not only did he work to gain his qualifications, he pushed himself through his comfort zone and forced himself to come out of his shell and communicate with others, he worked successfully as part of a team and managed to complete a community project of transforming some old run down changing rooms at a recreational playing field, enabling young children to start using the changing rooms for hockey, rugby and football practice and tournaments. The Princes Trust was outstanding in their support to this young man and we are all tremendously pleased for his achievements and his goals which are now in place for the future. This young man began a journey which was very daunting for him, but, he soared to fantastic heights and proved to everyone that he could make something of his life, all he needed was for someone to believe in him and to show him the way. I am absolutely thrilled with this young man’s success story and delighted that I was able to help him find his path and to realise his potential. He is just astounded at his own success and what he has achieved I such a short space of time.
Young Man B
In early March 2008 a young offender had attended the Gateway course delivered by myself at the YOI Norwich. His cellmate had recommended the course to him as he thought it would help him with his self-esteem and confidence. His lack of self-belief was evident however, as he participated in each session on interview skills, confidence-building, CV construction and team building exercises his confidence began to emerge. Armed with an outstanding CV, a bucket load of confidence and a positive attitude, he left the prison on Monday morning and set to work on making phone calls the next day to Job Mates contact Chris Metcalfe. Chris had met him prior to the young man leaving the prison and signed him up whilst he was taking part in the Gateway to work course. They rallied around most of the employment agencies in the Ipswich area and by 5.00pm that day, less than 24 hours after leaving prison, he had been offered a full-time temporary job as a Farm Hand. A week later the agency received a phone call from the Farmer who was so delighted with his hard work and strong work ethic that he wanted to employ him permanently.
Young Man C
In June 2008, another young prisoner who was from Russia, completed the Gateway to Work course and he was very impressed with his CV and the Adult Directions advice and guidance received by Jo in Tribal at the end of the course. After leaving prison, he was offered a job within two weeks of leaving as a Production Operative Supervisor, and three months later in September 2008, he managed to get himself a mechanics apprenticeship and is combining work with a college course to become a qualified mechanic over the next two years.
Young Man D
This young man attended the Gateway course and was hoping to find employment as a fork lift operative. We produced an outstanding CV which he was delighted with and he mentioned that he had previously been in the Army, he was already quite motivated. He wanted to explore his career options and discovered after completing the Adult Directions in TRIBAL that he was an ideal candidate for driving a forklift as a career. I spoke to him at the end of August when he telephoned in requesting his floppy disk with his CV on it that he had been offered a job with the hard copy of his CV to start in September. He had also discovered that the Army would take him back in January 2009 once his Tag had expired. He was really delighted with his outcome as we were. He extended his thanks to and was looking forward to his new life.
Young Man E
I spoke to this gentleman only today 23.9.08 that had also benefitted from the Gateway course who had received confirmation that he had got a job working on a trawler as a Deck Hand, to start working in Kings Lynn at the beginning of October 2008. He was astounded that he had managed to get a job all lined up ready for when he was released!
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
My A4e - Tara Oldfield
Hi Emma
Just thought I would write and give my appreciation and thanks for yesterday’s visit to your beautiful home. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and learnt a lot. You are very inspiring and the day was very thought provoking. I continually strive to better the service I give to clients and to of course improve their lives. I wear my badge with pride and feel that at the end of the day I have improved someone’s life, and as I tell them regularly the continue to improve my life also. What some clients don’t realise is that they too improve my life. Whether it be saying thank you for something I’ve done or congratulating me on a good session. I gain a lot from the many different clients, mainly confidence in my own ability, which in turn, reflects there ability. As someone wise once told me there is nothing you can’t do if you put your heart and mind into it. I strongly believe this and use this philosophy in a lot of the sessions I teach.
I came to "In conversation with Emma" back in June and felt amazed by you, your beliefs and ambitions and after "Tea with Emma" yesterday I have to say I didn’t think I could be more impressed or inspired but I was wrong. Very wrong. Besides the fact that I believe you are a very genuine, hard working and loyal person to your beliefs, it really felt to me that that is not only the kind of staff you want and need but that kind of people our clients will one day be.
And may I just say that your shoe collection is fabulous!!!!
Anyway back to why I have really written to you. Yesterday you said if you could meet someone dead or alive who would it be? You said "A client".
I appreciate that you are a very busy lady but one day I really do hope that you could find time to meet one client I believe to be very special.
Her name is Elena Molchan and she originates from Russia. She has lived in the UK for six years and has only recently been granted indefinite leave to remain. Elena came to A4e four weeks ago and started on the Elevate course. It was my first week as the Elevate Trainer and I was petrified. I so wanted to get everything right. As with all new groups you have a mixed bunch of characters and personalities, but something and I still don’t know what it was drew me to her. Eventually she began to open up to me. She has not had the best of starts in our country and was desperate to find work to give herself and her two young children a better life. I have to admit I did spend a little more time with her, than maybe I should have done, but I knew there was something special about her and I really did want to see her smile. She is such a lovely lady with a great personality and a great amount of ambition. Elena applied for a job in a Dry Cleaners and I am so pleased to say she got the job and starts next week. She was terrified of the interview process so she stayed behind after sessions and we went through things together. It was as if this job was there waiting for her. She will eventually get to do clothing alterations which is her passion (as when she lived in Russia this was her job). She has won countless competitions and awards for her dressmaking. She is also doing work on my own wedding dress and I truly believe it will be beautiful when she has finished with it. I have really grown fond of her and will miss her so much when she leaves. The best thing about this little story is what she said to me the day she got the job – "Tara you have done so much for me and my two little girl’s and now our life will be better because of you". I did cry after she left because it was the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a very long time.
I did what my badge said and I improved someone’s life, but this was different.
I really love the work you are doing overseas and Elena has said the same thing. You are touching so many people’s lives and I want to say thank you for that. Without this job I know I wouldn’t never be able to do something so rewarding.
So if you could find the time to meet her I would be most grateful. I know as said earlier you are very busy I would be more than happy to bring her to you just for a small chat and maybe a piece of that gorgeous cake!!!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Best Wishes
Tara Oldfield
Elevate Trainer
A4e Barnsley
Just thought I would write and give my appreciation and thanks for yesterday’s visit to your beautiful home. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and learnt a lot. You are very inspiring and the day was very thought provoking. I continually strive to better the service I give to clients and to of course improve their lives. I wear my badge with pride and feel that at the end of the day I have improved someone’s life, and as I tell them regularly the continue to improve my life also. What some clients don’t realise is that they too improve my life. Whether it be saying thank you for something I’ve done or congratulating me on a good session. I gain a lot from the many different clients, mainly confidence in my own ability, which in turn, reflects there ability. As someone wise once told me there is nothing you can’t do if you put your heart and mind into it. I strongly believe this and use this philosophy in a lot of the sessions I teach.
I came to "In conversation with Emma" back in June and felt amazed by you, your beliefs and ambitions and after "Tea with Emma" yesterday I have to say I didn’t think I could be more impressed or inspired but I was wrong. Very wrong. Besides the fact that I believe you are a very genuine, hard working and loyal person to your beliefs, it really felt to me that that is not only the kind of staff you want and need but that kind of people our clients will one day be.
And may I just say that your shoe collection is fabulous!!!!
Anyway back to why I have really written to you. Yesterday you said if you could meet someone dead or alive who would it be? You said "A client".
I appreciate that you are a very busy lady but one day I really do hope that you could find time to meet one client I believe to be very special.
Her name is Elena Molchan and she originates from Russia. She has lived in the UK for six years and has only recently been granted indefinite leave to remain. Elena came to A4e four weeks ago and started on the Elevate course. It was my first week as the Elevate Trainer and I was petrified. I so wanted to get everything right. As with all new groups you have a mixed bunch of characters and personalities, but something and I still don’t know what it was drew me to her. Eventually she began to open up to me. She has not had the best of starts in our country and was desperate to find work to give herself and her two young children a better life. I have to admit I did spend a little more time with her, than maybe I should have done, but I knew there was something special about her and I really did want to see her smile. She is such a lovely lady with a great personality and a great amount of ambition. Elena applied for a job in a Dry Cleaners and I am so pleased to say she got the job and starts next week. She was terrified of the interview process so she stayed behind after sessions and we went through things together. It was as if this job was there waiting for her. She will eventually get to do clothing alterations which is her passion (as when she lived in Russia this was her job). She has won countless competitions and awards for her dressmaking. She is also doing work on my own wedding dress and I truly believe it will be beautiful when she has finished with it. I have really grown fond of her and will miss her so much when she leaves. The best thing about this little story is what she said to me the day she got the job – "Tara you have done so much for me and my two little girl’s and now our life will be better because of you". I did cry after she left because it was the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a very long time.
I did what my badge said and I improved someone’s life, but this was different.
I really love the work you are doing overseas and Elena has said the same thing. You are touching so many people’s lives and I want to say thank you for that. Without this job I know I wouldn’t never be able to do something so rewarding.
So if you could find the time to meet her I would be most grateful. I know as said earlier you are very busy I would be more than happy to bring her to you just for a small chat and maybe a piece of that gorgeous cake!!!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Best Wishes
Tara Oldfield
Elevate Trainer
A4e Barnsley
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