Case Studies

All names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality. 

• Mary had worked as a gardener for many years.  She was beginning to suffer from arthritis.  She'd also had a bout of severe depression, in part caused by poor self esteem because of her dyslexia.  She followed our Business Admin course and went on work placement as a receptionist to a local educational charity that worked with school refusers and adults with low levels of basic skills.  The placement was so successful that Mary was offered a permanent job as the charity's administrator.  She went on to train as a teacher of adults, and subsequently worked part time as a basic skills tutor and also as the administrator for the organisation.

• Leo is dyspraxic and finds physical co-ordination difficult.  He learned with us to carry out basic administrative tasks.  He also got his NVQ in business admin, but wanted to work with people.  He has been working for over two years as a classroom assistant, helping disabled students, in a college of further education.

• Janet's teenaged daughter died suddenly, and Janet, previously a care homes worker, was plunged into a deep depression.  She stopped working, but eventually came to SHARE.  We provided training in business admin and also a course of counselling.  Gradually, she began to live again, and after a year was looking for work.  Three years later, she is managing a care home and has remarried.  She came in to thank us a couple of months ago. 

• Rosa is from Uganda and is HIV positive.  Before the anti-retroviral drugs, she was often unwell and hadn't worked for some years.  The new medication meant that she could stay well for most of the time.  She came to us to update her computing skills and regain her confidence.  At the same time, she started an accounting course at night school.  After attending a job fayre, she decided that she wanted to become a social worker.  She completed the one year access course at a local university and went onto the social work training course.  The last time I saw her, she was thoroughly enjoying the course and was engrossed in her work placement. By now she is almost certainly practising as a social worker.

• Jasmin ran her own business - a post office and grocery store - for many years until arthritis made the long hours too difficult.  She gained her business admin qualification with us in record time and is now happily working for Boots. 

• For Josh art was just a hobby, not something he thought he could seriously do as a career, especially when he was lacking in confidence.  As Josh himself says; "I used to do drawings in my bedroom but I didn't take it very seriously."  For years he found it hard to leave the house because of his social phobia and anxiety, so neither his doctors nor Josh thought he was ready to go onto college.    Instead, the hospital suggested he go to SHARE Community before making the step into college or work.
• When he first arrived at SHARE he was so nervous and inhibited by his lack of confidence that that he didn't talk to anyone.  It took him a while to settle down and get used to the new environment and being around so many other people.  When his tutors realised he had a huge talent in artwork, they encouraged him to use the computer.  This meant he could do more advanced art work with programmes such as Photoshop, which led him to become more interested in web design.  "I've become so much more confident in different ways because of SHARE.  Not only am I more confident on the computer but also in myself and I've made so many friends here," Josh says. 
• Josh has not started studying graphic design at college whilst still attending SHARE one day a week to make the transition easier.  "I see SHARE as the stepping stone before going onto college or work," he said.  The next step is university, which Josh is looking into at the moment.  His anxiety previously would have held him back from the prospect of university.

He said: "I wouldn't say that I am completely cured, but not I am much more in control of my anxiety and I am doing things that I wouldn't have thought possible before."