Cameron joined us not knowing what steps to take and decided to look into the Kickstart scheme, when Cameron joined the course he was matched with a role that suited his interests. The course helped Cameron gain confidence and give him structure which prepared him for moving into work! Great work Cameron, read his story below!

What were you doing before you started the programme?
“After taking my GCSE’s I started a L3 Diploma in Sports Coaching at College. I completed the first year and then took a gap year. I attended Newcastle College to do an Access to Higher Education Course but about halfway through the pandemic started and didn’t finish. I later accepted an opportunity to do a L1 Team Programme with the Prince’s Trust and then volunteered at the British Heart Foundation in West Denton. I was invited back to do the Prince’s Trust L2 Team Programme completing in January and then started the course with Release Potential.”

How did you find out about the training?
“From my Work Coach, Samantha who explained it would be a good experience, a chance to gain some qualifications and potentially a route to a Kickstart placement. I also spoke to Andrew from Release Potential who advised what would be expected of me.”

Why did you decide to join?
“I thought it was the last opportunity to try and get a Kickstart role as I knew the scheme was coming to an end.”

What did you think of the training? How did it help you?
“The team building task at the start of the course was an opportunity to do something I wouldn’t normally do. I took an interviewer role, and it gave me a confidence boost and a chance to interact with people I didn’t know. During the course, I brushed up on my IT skills and improved my customer service skills.
“I attended a jobs fair during the course at Newcastle City Job Centre and this is where I got my Kickstart placement. I met a number of employers and did three short interviews at the event. Go Centric came back to me that day with a provisional offer!”

Were there any barriers or obstacles you had to overcome?
“The main issue for me was trying to find work.”

What are you doing now?
“I start a Kickstart placement on Monday as a Digital Customer Solutions Ambassador with Go Centric. I’m looking forward to it! The company is based in Glasgow, but my role is home-based, helping to deliver customer service solutions to businesses.”

What impact has the training had on your life?
“It’s been a real confidence boost and good to have a routine again. It gave me the experience of going for interviews. I’ve had them before, but I needed to improve and the practice on the course helped. I also met a company willing to employ me via the course.”

What are your plans for the future?
“I’ll be doing my Kickstart placement for the next 6 months. If I like the job and get the chance I would definitely stay on. I’m also interested in doing an accounting apprenticeship afterwards, or perhaps some accountancy qualifications.”

What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing the training but wasn’t sure?
“I would recommend the course as it helped me to get a Kickstart role. The two weeks were worth the time I invested in the course. I didn’t know which job roles to apply for. The course helped me develop ideas of what I wanted to do as a career.”