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I am a single mother of 6 children, 3 of my daughters live with me aged 12, 16 and 18. They are all in education, my two eldest attend local colleges and my youngest is home-schooled. (My 3 older children, one daughter and two sons have left home). I have been on a long journey and have come through a number of very challenging life events.
I had a very difficult, abusive, and unhappy marriage. I had lived abroad for many years with my husband. I returned to the UK 5 years ago to start a new life. I am now divorced from my husband. I suffer from anxiety and depression. I am diabetic and asthmatic and suffer from osteoarthritis.
I needed help with writing a CV and help with training/returning to work part-time; and exploring my options. I was not sure what direction to go in. I have not been in paid work for over 25 years since my marriage. Cambridge City Council, Adam Hodgson, referred me to Jo, an Outreach Employment Advisor. Jo was very patient and went at my pace. She understood that I been through very difficult times.
We discussed that I wanted a part-time flexible job to fit around my family and the school day. We explored a number of areas including School Catering Assistant roles. I suffer from asthma quite badly and knew I could not do a cleaning job and would find some kitchen environments difficult. Jo helped me to write a very good CV and a range of covering letters. We first looked at part-time jobs in local supermarkets, but these jobs only offered contracts that had very specific rotas that covered weekends/evenings – and did not offer hours that only fitted in with the school day.
At the time, I was living in a very difficult housing neighbourhood with difficult, noisy, and anti-social neighbours and this increased my feelings of anxiety and depression. Very happily after a time, I was able to do a ‘mutual exchange’ and moved into Cambridge city. I am now very settled in my new home. Although, soon after my move I was involved in a car crash and suffered from severe whiplash and my doctor advised I needed to rest and recover gradually.
I spent some time exploring becoming a childminder, but was advised by my consultants that I would not be physically fit enough to do the role.
Jo and I then discussed and explored alternative career pathways to accommodate my physical health condition (osteoarthritis). I discussed with Jo becoming an Arabic Interpreter. This would open up opportunities to work for the NHS and/or Court system. I had informally acted as an Arabic Interpreter for a young woman in my community when she attended a hospital appointment. I speak reasonably good Arabic but would need to improve both my reading and writing skills. I am British, born and raised in the UK. I converted to Islam when I married my husband (and lived in an Arabic speaking country for many years).
We looked at a few Arabic courses that local colleges in Cambridge offered. However, even with fee remission help, I did not feel I could currently afford the course fees. We discussed and explored free Arabic courses offered by Alison online.
I feel I have come on a long journey. Jo has been very kind, flexible and supportive of my needs and situation and this support has helped gradually build my confidence. Taking the decision to start the Arabic diploma has now made me feel positive about the future and that I will achieve my long-term plan to work as an Arabic Interpreter.
The participant requested her name not be shared as part of this case study.
