Gerald’s story

"I feel more empowered and hopeful about my future."

I was made redundant at the end of September last year from a customer service role. This work took a real toll on my mental health and I didn’t fully realise the impact this had on me until after Christmas.

Once the festive period was over, my mental health was seriously affected. I began to feel worthless and even convinced myself that I’d never work again.

Finding direction with Into Work

I knew I wanted to move into a different sector going forward. With support from Patrick and Celeste from Into Work, we took time to analyse my situation and explore possible next steps.

As a qualified teacher with previous classroom experience, we discussed returning to education. However, we agreed that stepping back into a full-on teaching role could be overwhelming, so the most suitable would be that of a Teaching Assistant. I was extremely keen to reintegrate into the world of work, and this felt like the most suitable and manageable option.

Rebuilding confidence and moving forward

With support from my Employment Specialist, we created a new CV – my previous one dated back more than 20 years! My Employer Engagement Officer then shared it with several teaching agencies, which quickly led to opportunities. Since then, I’ve had a few successful placements at schools, and my self-confidence is slowly but steadily coming back.

Alongside this, the Into Work weekly jobs club, run by Patrick and Celeste, has been absolutely amazing. It allows you to meet new people who are in similar situations, and we can encourage and support each other throughout the process.

I’m sincerely thankful to Patrick and Celeste from Mental Health UK for all their support and encouragement. I’m so grateful to be working part-time as a Teaching Assistant, and I feel more empowered and hopeful about my future.

Information and support

Into Work programme        Into Work resource hub