Tea with Mrs Brown

One of our Lone Parents in Plymouth, Alison Casey, is now successfully in work and has just returned from having tea with Sarah Brown, the Prime Ministers wife, at 10 Downing Street!

 

Three months ago Alison Casey was an unemployed single mum looking for support and advice on how she could find a suitable job. But today she is the Volunteer Co-ordinator at the Oasis Project in Stonehouse, Plymouth, and was recently invited to 10 Downing Street to have tea with the Prime Ministers wife, Sarah Brown.

 

Alison (second from left) had received her invite in acknowledgement of her journey through Adult Education, from obtaining qualifications in literacy and numeracy, to an Access course, and now in her final year studying for a Community Degree. She was accompanied to Downing Street by Linda Gilroy MP, and Cllr Nicky Wildy.

 

Alison commented “I have really enjoyed seeing where the Prime Minister lives and works. Sarah Brown was really interested in everything I have achieved, and my new job.”

Visit Mrs Brown at number 10

 

With years of voluntary work experience Alison wanted to get paid employment and work in the community helping others. Her biggest barrier was her lack of confidence and the fact she was terrified of job interviews. She met Sarah and Jo on our Lone Parent Team who soon started to help her get that dream job.

 

They soon produced a professional CV for Alison, paid for interview clothes and even worked on breathing and relaxation techniques to calm her nerves before interviews. Alison said “Once I started seeing Working Links I gained so much more confidence, which helped me when finding work.”

 

After Alison was successful at her interview she received a big bunch of flowers from her consultant and a bus pass to help her travel to and from work. Her consultant, Jo, said “I am so pleased to see Alison doing well in her new role.  The visit to 10 Downing Street was just the icing on the cake and thoroughly deserved.”