Single mum Giuseppina McCurdie gained confidence, a grant,
and a permanent job thanks to employment and skills specialists
Working Links.
The 41-year-old from Whitletts near Ayr almost
turned down a full-time job because she couldn’t afford to pay the
bills until her first wage was paid.
Before she was referred to Working Links,
Giuseppina had worked as a domestic assistant in shops and nursing
homes but could only find part-time roles.
Giuseppina said: “I was a bit nervous when I
first visited Working Links. I had two children to look after and
desperately needed a full-time job. I didn’t know what to expect
but my Personal Consultant Tracy McAlindin put me right at
ease.”
Working Links offers a tailored and flexible
service to help break down people’s barriers into work. Everyone is
given a dedicated personal consultant who will support them
throughout their journey into sustainable long-term employment.
They can help create CVs and hone interview skills and also offer
emotional support and advice.
After a couple of months Giuseppina landed a
job as a domestic assistant in a nearby nursing home. Her expertise
matched the job title but she was plagued with money worries. Like
many people, she couldn’t afford the bills until her first wage –
let alone the two bus trips to work.
Tracy said: “When Giuseppina was offered the
job I was over the moon – this was the financial stability she
needed. We sorted out her tax credits and a back-to-work grant to
help her out until she was paid.”
With her money worries taken care of,
Giuseppina settled into work. She said: “It was hard to ask for
help but I had to do the best I could to support my family. It’s a
great role and the residents are really lovely. Working Links
really helped me when I needed it.
“Tracy was a great support to me, especially
when times were tough. She is a good friend and still calls me from
time to time to make sure I’m ok.”
So far Working Links’ tailored and personal
approach has helped over 150,000 people across Great Britain back
into long-term employment.
For more information call our freephone number
on 0800 917 9262