Fatima came to London from Gambia six years ago. A survivor of domestic violence, she knows what it feels like to be vulnerable and has been working as a carer in London.
Keen to “better the life” for her and her 3-year old son, Fatima decided to get her NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care so she could offer more to the people she was looking after. Fatima couldn’t afford a laptop to help with her studies, but a £551 grant from Barclaycard Horizons Your Education has solved that – and made a huge difference to Fatima’s prospects.
"“I was very glad; sometimes we do lots of research but because I have a little one, I can’t stay for two hours on a computer at college - I have to come and pick up my son from nursery. From now on my homework will be much easier to do.”
Having the NVQ will mean Fatima can take on more demanding caring roles, which for her means greater job satisfaction:
“Before I was helping to do little bits of personal care, but when you’ve got the qualifications they teach you how to do manual handling and give medication, so you’re able to help more; it’s a very delicate job. I love helping people. I see so many ill people in need, and it will be really nice to help them and motivate them to look after themselves. I’ll be able to do more for the people I take care of when I’m qualified. “
It’s important for Fatima that she’s a strong role model for her son: “I’ll be able to have a good job, take care of my son and he’ll know that his mum is a strong woman. There’s nothing easy in this life, but if he sees me learning, trying to achieve something, it’ll motivate him too.”
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