Rachel's Story

When Rachel was referred to Moneywise Plus, she had been out of employment for a little while following a drastic change in her home life. She said:

“I had my fourth child with my long-term partner of seven years, who left after her birth. It was like starting again from scratch.

“Before that I was working, but I suffered from a lot of health issues like degenerative disc disease. There are certain things I can’t do anymore; I became quite depressed.

“When my daughter turned two, I signed back up with the Job Centre to try and find employment and update my CV; they recommended the Moneywise Plus service.”

When Rachel met with her Moneywise Plus Advisor, they assessed her digital skills and researched into employment options.

“My advisor taught me new skills: I was so behind the times with computers and things that I didn’t know where to start before.

“The first steps were very much about communication, digital abilities and looking into my options.”

“It really gave me my confidence back and I didn’t feel so worthless. Life has been tough and it was fantastic to have someone easy to talk to and supportive.

“My advisor changed my way of thinking and I feel a lot more positive. She told me to look on different websites for jobs that I wasn’t even aware of; things I didn’t have time to do for hours by myself as a single parent.

“Being on my own suddenly, my life was turned upside down. I should be working by now and paying into a pension, but I was stuck at home in an isolated village with no independence.

“I feel like an adult again. It has helped with my depression and I feel like doors are opening for my future. I’ve always wanted to be a Prison Officer, which I’ve now applied for and it feels more within my reach.

“I’m excited to get into work and get my life back. I feel a lot more positive, with the knowledge I’ve learnt.”