Anne's story

Anne Morris, a single parent, joined Groundwork's first programme and was one of the first to arrive, showing enthusiasm and commitment from the start. Anne had a strong work history including work as an administrator, temporary work for a local job centre, and even as a conductor on a Routemaster bus.

However she had not worked for over a year and was looking for a change of career which would allow her to work, and continue to have time for and support her large family (when they were not giving her chicken pox).

Anne started to study to become a teaching assistant and wanted to find a placement at secondary level. Groundwork found her a placement supporting across year groups 7 to 11 at Copland Community College. Secondary school placements are often more challenging; the students bringing a diverse range of needs and difficulties, and Anne found her first few weeks to be in her own words a "shock" and an "eye opener". However, with practical support and advice from her tutors, as well as through using her natural tenacity, Anne began to settle and have a positive impact on her students.

She greatly enjoyed "turning around" her relationships with students who had been initially hostile, and watching their progress and increased confidence in classes where they had been failing. Anne drew on all her experience and patience for this, including that of raising a large family and put in additional work of her own finding different resources and techniques for individual students.

With Groundwork also supporting Anne with travel, resources, a training allowance and weekly supervision and job search tuition, Anne secured a provisional job offer to continue at Copland. Anne has shown that although the Moving Forward programme is a big commitment, you get back what you put in. She made the most of the time with Groundwork and is ready to progress to further qualifications and employment as a teaching assistant.

Moving Forward is a two year project funded by London Councils' European Social Fund (ESF) co-financing programme. The aim of the project is for Groundwork staff to engage with workless parents living in deprived areas of South and West London to support them into employment in the child-care and education and health & social care sectors.