A lone parent from Carfin is on the path to full-time employment thanks to her involvement with North Lanarkshire’s Working.
Kayla MacDonald was unable to find employment after leaving school at 17 and became pregnant after two years on unemployment benefit. After she had her son Kenzie, now nearly two years old, she struggled to support her new family on income support.
On the lookout for help, she became involved with the Access programme, a North Lanarkshire’s Working partner project which provides local people with employment and social inclusion support.
Access workers provided Kayla with childcare facilities and encouraged her to take part in a confidence-building course called Positive Options for Women (POW).
Kayla, 21, said: “The POW course was fantastic. I had started to feel quite depressed and hopeless, but the course helped to build my self-esteem and address the issues that were denting my confidence.
“The course advisors helped me to see that there were training and employment options for me, and that I did have the chance to make a better future for my family.”
Kayla soon went on to take part in a team-building course at the Orbison Neighbourhood Centre in Bellshill, where she learned how to communicate effectively and motivate others to work towards a common goal.
Kayla adds: “I can’t believe how far I’ve come in a few short months. I would never have had the self-confidence to take charge of a team before, and I feel like I can start working towards a career I will succeed in.
Kayla is currently on a work placement with a respite centre in Motherwell and she is keen to put her newfound skills and confidence to good use by pursuing a career working with disabled children.
