Step Up Case Study - WRAP - Women Returners Access Programme - Further Education Provision - from Pause to Purpose
Focus on unemployed or economically women. The case studies show the positive impact which the support provides for women in building confidence, refreshing skills, gaining qualifications and work experience and to create progression pathways to further and higher education and/or employment.
The participant is a woman returner who has taken time out of the workplace due to personal issues. She joined STEP UP WRAP Programme initially to build confidence, meet new people, explore options for career change and to foster creative skills which she has found to be very therapeutic and good for her mental health.
As part of the programme, she attended weekly Craft classes and Holistic Health & Wellbeing classes which slowly built confidence and self-esteem whilst also reigniting her passion for art and photography.
With support from her mentor, she attended a number of entrepreneurship workshops. She was accepted on a Female Entrepreneurship Programme with the local council. Throughout this, female lead mentoring programme, she was supported to launch a part-time business selling her photography and art work and also to take on commission art projects for clients. She reached out to the local paper who printed a double page spread showcasing her recent work and advertising her creative services. She also went on to develop her own ecommerce website which is already attracting new customers. She continues to develop her own individual style and has found a real passion for both Nature photography and Wrestling photography.
Participant said
“The WRAP Programme was a great first step back into learning. The relaxed classes with other like-minded women gave me the time and space to try new things and really focus on what I wanted to do next. I’m really grateful for all the support I received.”