Real People Real Stories

We love to share success stories of local people we have helped into employment, volunteering or training.

Jordan’s Story

Jordan always knew he wanted to work in construction, but felt he needed to brush up on his employability skills first. Having heard about our Get Ready for Employment programme, he signed up straight away. Upon completing this he wanted to develop himself further, so registered onto our Passport to Construction course where he gained his CSCS qualification.

Jordan approached all the opportunities he was given with a positive and professional attitude, including attending every session of the two courses plus work experience with Brenig Construction on the Ysgol Maelgwyn site followed by a work trial. His hard work and dedication paid off, and Jordan is now delighted to be working with Brenig Construction in a full-time paid Trainee Bricklayer role.

We recently received fantastic feedback from Wil Pritchard, Cartrefi Conwy Health & Safety Officer, about Jordan. Wil said:

“At these exceptional times – what a player to have in your team! Thorough, polite, clear with instructions, I was very, very impressed.”

If you would like to know more about our Get Ready for Employment programme, get in touch today.

Lucy’s Story

Lucy came to Creating Enterprise having been out of work for over two years as a result of a serious illness. She was looking for an opportunity to rebuild her confidence and get back into a routine.

She now volunteers on two of Creating Enterprise’s teams – our Environmental Maintenance team and Second Chance Furniture, which provides used furniture and other household goods free of charge to Cartrefi Conwy tenants who need them. As part of her induction she completed a manual handling course which has come in useful within both roles.

Lucy says: “All at Creating Enterprise have been understanding and supportive from day one. We put a plan in place for the future, which I am already feeling more confident about. You can work at your own pace and there is no pressure put on you. I have already seen an improvement in my social life – I am now organising walks with friends instead of finding reasons not to go. I have definitely taken the right first step and I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”

If you would like to know more about volunteering with Creating Enterprise, get in touch today.

Neely’s Story

Neely’s Work Coach at the Job Centre suggested that volunteering with Creating Enterprise might be a good way to boost her confidence. She now volunteers with our Property Maintenance Team, and has completed a full site induction plus a manual handling course.

Neely says: “I really enjoy working with my Work Buddies, Nick & Craig. They make me feel part of the team. Volunteering at Creating Enterprise has really improved my confidence.”

If you would like to know more about volunteering with Creating Enterprise, get in touch today.

Loz’s Story

Lauren (Loz) came to Creating Enterprise while she was living in supported accommodation. Another organisation had recommended that it would be a good way for her to gain experience and learn new skills.

She completed a series of training courses – including Customer Service, Energy Awareness, Manual Handling, Exploring My Leadership and Introduction to Enterprising Leadership – all of which were relevant to and useful for the volunteering role she was about to undertake on the reception desk of Creating Enterprise’s headquarters in Mochdre.

Loz fitted into the Creating Enterprise team really well. Senior Employment Academy Partner, Sioned, comments that “Loz makes the most of every opportunity that comes her way, and always attends our regular volunteer get-togethers”.

Loz has since progressed to volunteering with Cartrefi Conwy’s Community Involvement team, where she helps out with events such as coffee mornings and wellbeing sessions. She is now living independently and encourages others to come to Creating Enterprise for support.

She says: “The best thing about Creating Enterprise are the wonderful staff who are always willing to help and encourage me to try new things and attend various training sessions. They also provided me with valuable support through difficult times. My confidence levels have improved massively and this is helping me to provide support with the Community Involvement team”.

If you would like to know more about volunteering with Creating Enterprise, get in touch today.

Phil’s Story

Phil came along to the Creating Futures Jobs Fair back in October 2018 having been unemployed for over two years. He felt ready to get back into work, but the long period of unemployment had affected his confidence. For this reason he signed up for our Get Ready for Employment course.

As his confidence grew over the weeks, Phil started applying for jobs in the construction industry, but was unsuccessful. To build up his knowledge, skills and experience, he enrolled onto our Passport to Construction programme. As well as attending regular training sessions and gaining his CSCS card, Phil completed a week’s work experience with Brenig Construction where he was tasked with demolishing and rebuilding walls.

Having received excellent feedback from his work experience, Phil felt confident enough to apply for a Trainee Tiler position with Brenig Construction. He was successful in gaining a full-time role as part of a small team tiling new properties. Phil said: “I love it! I’m glad to be back working and learning new skills”.

If you would like to know more about the Passport to Construction course, get in touch today.

Jill’s Story

Jill was attracted to Creating Enterprise by the Work Skills project and the opportunity to develop new skills through volunteering on the reception desk at our headquarters in Mochdre. As well as her general reception duties such as greeting visitors and answering the phone, Jill is also responsible for our volunteers’ uniforms, and she has put her growing ICT skills to good use by creating log sheets and a spreadsheet to keep track of them.

Jill has completed a series of relevant training courses since volunteering with Creating Enterprise, and has gained qualifications in Manual Handling, Customer Service, Leadership and Energy Awareness. She says that she would recommend anybody interested in learning new skills to get in touch with Creating Enterprise, adding that “the staff are friendly, approachable and understanding, and I love how volunteering gives me something to look forward to each week”.

Keep an eye on our social media pages for more stories like Jill’s during the coming weeks.

 

 

Teresa’s Story

Teresa started thinking about getting back into work as she came close to completing her final year of university. She says that, having been out of work for four years, she felt a bit lost and didn’t know where to start.

Teresa had heard about Creating Futures from a fellow Cartrefi Conwy tenant who had started volunteering with us, and this inspired her to take on her own volunteer role across three Cartrefi Conwy Group departments. By gaining on-the-job experience, improving her confidence, and receiving one-to-one job search support, Teresa was successful in securing full-time, permanent employment as an Administration Assistant, a role which fits around her parenting commitments.

Looking back on how her life has changed over the past year, Teresa says, “When I think back to the first day I visited the Creating Futures Academy it amazes me how far I’ve come! My mindset has changed completely – I am in a routine and thinking more positively. I am happy, content, and have a better understanding of my own potential”.

Keep an eye on our social media pages for more stories like Teresa’s during the coming weeks.

Decklyn’s Story

Decklyn recently completed our Passport to Construction course in Denbighshire. Living in Mochdre, he travelled twice a week to Rhyl on public transport to attend the training, showing remarkable commitment and dedication. As part of the course, he was offered the opportunity to spend five days on a work experience placement with Brian Davies Ltd, a local groundworks and landscaping company who were subcontracted to Wynne Construction on their site at the Welsh Mountain Zoo.

Decklyn received excellent feedback from Brian Davies Ltd about his attendance, punctuality and work ethic, and has subsequently been offered employment with the company. He says: “The Passport to Construction course helped a lot. I didn’t have the means to get a CSCS card or the Site Safety Plus qualification, and now I’ve got both. Because I already had some experience in construction the course was a good refresher for me, but it’s also the perfect first step for someone who wants to work in the industry but has never been on site.”

If you would like to know more about the Passport to Construction course, get in touch today.