Over 50s; volunteering wellbeing and reducing isolation Everyone is valued and can offer something special Expand Sheena and Narbada have both joined Ashiana as Volunteers and Peer Support Both volunteers have received training and through our support now lead the arts and craft sessions. The project has helped them build their confidence and provide opportunities for peer support and teaching others as well as learning themselves. They would like to see more professionals help women deal with anxiety and depression, and create awareness on the issues. They have worked with National Trust, Ort Gallery and The MAC. The project has stopped me feeling like a failure and I appreciate myself and I am confident in dealing with life. I visit other places and try new things as I now travel with confidence on buses. It’s therapeutic talking to other women and I am better informed to get help. I want to help other women to get out and encourage them to do things rather than sit at home. The activities distract them from their problems and help them focus on positive thinking which has helped me overcome depression. Better understanding of anxiety and depression helps relieve symptoms and more support in this area needs to be given for our women”.
Advice & Advocacy; Skills Development & Employability; Wellbeing We give people purpose and value Expand A fuel-poor client was registered through our outreach work. They were supported with one-to-one help managing fuel bills. The client was single mother of 1 child and in receipt of Job seekers Allowance. We helped her set up a payment plan with the fuel supplier. She was very happy with the service she received and wanted to help others in the community. We registered her to support with our Energy Efficiency and Sustainability workshops. Her confidence has grown immensely. Quote from the client “I have never had job and thought I was not good at anything but volunteering with the energy efficiency project makes me feel like I am worth something; I am able to help others and this makes me feel happy and valued”.
Skills development and Employability We help bring the best in people Expand Client X was a single mother from Pakistan who was an ex-ESA claimant. Despite having very good communication and IT skills she struggled to find work due to limited use of her arm. No one was willing to give her a chance. She was referred to Ashiana by the Job Centre for volunteering to help build her work experience. The placement was scheduled for 8 weeks. She continued for another 6 weeks because she enjoyed the experience and wanted to improve her personal development. After being mentored and trained, client X had made so much progress that upon her return to the Job Centre her work coach put her name forward for a role with the DWP. Client X was successful with her interview and started working with the organisation
Volunteering; Skills Development & confidence building We help our clients build confidence and skills into employment Expand Client X joined us as a volunteer after being referred by a third-party organisation. She found it difficult to secure employment in the past due to her child-care commitments, and lack of experience in the work place. In her placement, she was highly motivated, determined and was supported to provide administration for training projects and general clerical work. She also supported many clients who were coming to the centre, whilst completing the Level 2 Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) course. Her confidence had grown, and she applied for a number of jobs. She secured a job within an accountancy firm, which had offered her a training contract.
Volunteering; Skills Development & Employability Training into employment Expand Miss A was a volunteer with an organisation supporting vulnerable women in the Hockley area of Birmingham. She enrolled on our Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) course: Level 2 Award course to enhance her professional qualifications. She enjoyed the training immensely and found the skills useful for working with the client group she went on to support, after which she secured a job with us as an Advisor
Volunteering; Self-Esteem and Confidence Building A stepping stone into work Expand Ms M is a single mother aged 29 with 2 children. She was out of work since the birth of her first child, and her self-esteem had hit rock bottom due to her personal circumstances. She was placed at Ashiana for work experience. During this period, she volunteered as a receptionist and was mentored by our lead adviser. The work experience raised her confidence. She started applying for work, secured a few interviews, and became employed as an Administrator on a job share, which suited her childcare needs
Social Inclusion; Accessing Social Security; ESOL Everyone deserves a better life Expand Mrs F arrived in the UK. Upon her arrival she was very shy and knew very little about the UK, had no friends and was very isolated. In March 2014, she signed up for our activities. She has made friends through her attendance at coffee mornings and began to learn English. We have helped her with the following: Improvement in spoken English – achieved Entry Level 1 and 2 Obtain her national insurance number Improved knowledge of the UK with attendance at workshops and trips out Given support for Life in the UK test.