Tragic loss leads to undiscovered talent through confidence building course

After the heart-breaking loss of four family members, Emma* has gone from recluse to confident job seeker.

Emma was happily employed as a mechanic until an excruciating hip and back injury in 2014 left her unable to work. While unemployed, Emma suffered a series of tragedies, with the loss of her grandmother and her mum in the space of 6 months, followed by her brother and niece both taking their own lives. After losing four members of her family, Emma’s partner of 30 years ended their relationship, leaving her grieving and isolated.

Only leaving her home sporadically, Emma saw a grief counsellor for 12 weeks. She then visited an employment support service but felt her situation was misunderstood and felt that she was not as ready for work as she should be. Struggling to get back on track with support from traditional services, she was referred to Landau’s Building Better Opportunities project.

Landau is the lead on the Building Better Opportunities (BBO) Shropshire Project funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery Fund. The BBO Shropshire project brings together over 20 organisations to engage with those furthest away from the labour market helping them move forwards into employment.

Whereas other services had made Emma feel “worthless and small”, Emma says the team at Landau made her feel understood for the first time in years. Emma’s confidence grew as she worked through a tailored support plan, motivating her to attend weekly job seeking classes where she received support in writing her CV and completing jobs applications.

Emma also completed courses in Health and Safety, Customer Service and IT to build the skills and confidence to pursue employment.

Thanks for befriending work and a role at a charity shop enabled by Landau and the BBO Shropshire project, Emma discovered an ambition to become an Activities Coordinator.

Recalling on her tumultuous journey Emma says “Before I arrived at Landau’s doorstep a few months ago, my confidence was at an all-time low. It’s with everyone’s help at Landau I have my confidence back, I look forward to what the future has in store for me now.”

Small Charity Week is important as it gives us the opportunity to share the impact of our charitable work and BBO Shropshire Project.

To find out how Landau’s BBO Shropshire project could help you, get in touch with the BBO team. {BBOProject@Landau.co.uk}

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Building Better Opportunities Shropshire is funded by the Big Lottery and European Social Fund. Funding supports projects in England that tackle poverty and promote social inclusion.

*Name changed to protect identity 

Blogger bio: 

Sandie is a highly motivated and respected project manager who is currently leading the Building Better Opportunities Shropshire project, with over three decades’ experience in management Sandie brings a wealth of expertise that delivers projects that are of huge value to the local communities she serves and to the wider charity sector.

Find Sandie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandiedent

Landau

Landau is a registered charity who has been delivering support services to those with learning disabilities, long term unemployed, and young people since 1995. Helping over 600 people a year across Stoke, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and the Black County, Landau is committed to empowering individuals through formal/informal learning for the benefit of clients and the wider community.

For more information visit https://landau.co.uk