J2E Openshaw – Ann Alexander – Nursing Assistant

Ann came along to J2E in Openshaw last year after her Work Coach at the Job Centre suggested she would benefit from attending the course.

Ann said, “I was in a really bad place and couldn’t move out of the house. My mental health wasn’t good and everything had gotten on top of me. I made the decision to come to J2E because I knew I needed to do something to change my life”.

Ann made great progress with J2E, completed the course and decided to continue onto the J2E peer group.

Ann said, “I decided to give the peer group a try and started coming along to the weekly sessions. The peer group has been fabulous and has helped me massively. Whether you are looking for work or not, it’s just having people around you who are in similar situations. We all support each other”.

Ann has just found out that she has been successful in gaining a place with The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to become a Nursing Assistant.

Ann said, “I’m so chuffed with myself that I could cry in a good way! It’s always been my dream job to work in a hospital. My ultimate goal is to work in the baby ward. I really hope that I can also inspire others to work towards achieving their goals. If I can do it, so can others”.

Rhonda, one of the CES’s at Openshaw said, “It’s amazing to see the changes in Ann and to see her finally achieving her dream job. She has worked so hard to get to this point in her life and I’m sure with her friendly, chatty and caring manner, she’ll make an excellent Nursing Assistant”.