name: Joanne, lone parent

organisation: Parents into Jobs, Click Centre, O-Regen

background: The project offers a comprehensive package of training and support to paretns including personal skills development, vocational training, training, job-brokerage and workplacement.

funding: currently funded through to 2012

borough: Barnet, Enfield and Waltham Forest




I lost much of my confidence a long time ago, in the midst of bringing up three children on my own. I always felt that life was passing me by but I just didn't have the motivation to grab it.

I came to the "Click" looking for some direction. I wasn't sure what to expect but felt that I needed to make a positive change in my life. I cried the first time that I spoke about myself and my life but was reassured that this was the start of a new beginning. We worked together on increasing my confidence and self-esteem by setting small goals to achieve and looking at where I would like to see myself in a year's time. It was good to see that there were jobs out there and I was able to transfer the skills

that I had used in bringing up my family, to the work place.In just over a month I started working as a mid-day assistant at a local school. I'm like a different person now, I have so much confidence. I'm proud to say that I'm working. And it's not just had an effect on me; all my children have seen the change in me and its making them look at themselves. My middle daughter, who had a baby a year ago, is now talking about going back to college and finishing of her studies. It really has been great for all of us, I just wish that I had done it sooner.