Back into employment after 25 years
I came to Mosaic Clubhouse, in January 2017, after being hospital for a number of years. I had not worked properly in the community for about 25 years. Quite quickly I got a Transitional Employment Placement (TEP), in a Hospital Kitchen at the Cambian hospital, in February 2017 and began work for two 4 hour shifts per week.
I didn't know if I could do it. I didn't have much confidence in myself. I had always thought that work was a thing of the past and that I was on benefits for the rest of my life. At the age of 58, I thought that was it.
After years in hospital I had become grossly overweight, after leading a sedentary life style, overeating and lack of exercise. Then about a year before I started coming to Mosaic Clubhouse, I had an operation called a Gastric Bypass. I had my stomach clamped off and the surgeon made me a small stomach about the size of a small child and I lost 8 stone in weight over the following nine month. This gave me the confidence to start going to Mosaic Clubhouse.
"I didn't know if I could do it. I didn't have much confidence in myself. I had always thought that work was a thing of the past"
The staff at Mosaic encouraged me to apply for the job and together with Angela, I filled out the forms. I was very nervous and reluctant to apply for the job because I had a criminal record, from when I was younger and addicted substances.
But in the end I did get the job and started work for 8 hours per week. Now at the end of my TEP, I have been given a permanent part-time position in the kitchen. So, thank you Angela and all the staff at Mosaic Clubhouse, for having confidence in me and pushing me forward, when I needed pushing. And then stepping back at the right time to let me do the work and represent Mosaic Clubhouse and their good name
|