Grace had been out of work for 5 years due to her health. She has Ehlers-Danlos Type 3 which causes her joints to dislocate. This really knocked Grace’s confidence as she wasn’t able to finish her apprenticeship due to her health and so she felt she was back to having no real experience and qualifications.

Grace was uncertain on which direction she wanted to go in, needed to learn how to job search effectively and needed an updated CV.

At first Grace was shy and felt negatively about her skills, but after working together she now understands her strengths and that she has a lot to offer. We went through many subjects including cover letters, local labour market, social media, how to apply for jobs and job sites. We looked into job roles that suited Grace’s skills and experience.

Grace was interested in helping people, so this is the job we looked for together. We did mock interviews to help with her confidence and eventually she was offered a position as a support worker. Grace now feels very positive about work and believes in herself. She is excited to begin this new chapter, helping people and making a difference.



The participant requested her name not be shared, and an alternative has been provided as part of this case study.

 

Community Connections South and Essex are Building Better Opportunities projects funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund