A woman approached us wanting to work but lacked confidence, digital skills and an up-to-date CV. She had significant employment gaps due to abuse and trauma, and had spent years caring for her three children.
Through one-to-one digital inclusion sessions, we supported her to:
- Create a professional CV.
- Learn basic Microsoft Word skills.
- Understand how to upload her CV to job platforms such as Reed.
- Search and apply for jobs online independently.
- Understand how to navigate agency sites.
We also reframed her “employment gap” into strengths. We helped her recognise that raising three children alone demonstrated:
- Time management
- Organisation
- Problem-solving
- Responsibility
- Resilience
When she was invited to interview for a part-time dinner lady role, we supported her with interview preparation and confidence building. We provided a character reference to strengthen her application.
She attended the interview confidently and was offered the job.
Although part-time, this role has significantly increased her confidence and independence. She later expressed deep gratitude, sharing that she never believed she would work again.
This intervention demonstrates how digital skills and confidence-building can directly lead to financial empowerment.
