Those enrolled on a programme designed to help people return to work or pursue personal development have given it glowing feedback.
EKC Training, part of East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group), has been piloting the Thrive Programme at its sites in Margate and Swale.
The initiative has already proved a huge success, boosting attendees’ confidence and empowering them to take the next steps in their careers or personal development.
Katie Simcevic, an Adult Training Lecturer at EKC Training in Margate. She has been delivering the programme and explaining that it is a 12-week initiative for adults who have possibly been out of work for a long time, mainly due to health reasons, have long-term sickness or have been let go from a long-term job.
“Some may be seeking work, and others will just be hoping to make a change to their current routine and meet new people. It’s very much a confidence-building programme,” she said.
“Participants have had the opportunity to shape this programme, with content and resources being tailored to suit the needs of the group.
“We’ve also had guest speakers coming in, such as a lady who works in business start-ups, another person who runs community groups, and more.
“Part of the real value of this programme is getting a group together and giving them the opportunity to share ideas, feedback and their own experiences. They’re sharing different job roles that they see that will suit one another, but also just lots of tips, because they’ve all gone through very similar situations as well.
“It’s nice for them to know that it’s not just them and they’re not alone, and they’ve actually built some really lovely friendships as well, so I think for that element, it’s brilliant.”
One participant, Teresa Eastland, described how the Thrive Programme has been life-changing for her.
“I decided this course might be a good way for me to focus on getting out of the house because, for me, that was a big issue,” she said.
“I had a lot of anxiety, so having the course just as a focus to get up and do something that day has been quite beneficial for me.
“I think everyone on the course came in feeling quite nervous and quite anxious, but we’ve been very, very lucky because we’ve got a really nice group of people, and we all seem to just have the same sort of focus or the same reasons that we’re on the course. So, there’s either been problems like we’ve had in work, or we’ve suffered with anxiety or depression, so it’s been about coming together with like-minded people, which has been really helpful.”
Teresa, 46, added that the programme helped her rediscover her passion for working with people.
She said: “For me, I quite like working with people, so even if I were to maybe go into voluntary work, I would definitely look at doing some community-led stuff, whether it be crafts or just helping at an event.
“Recently, I helped out at a community pride event. It was really beneficial for me, and I got to meet lots of new people. It’s also something that I would never have dreamed of doing before I started this course.”
When asked what advice she would give to anyone considering the Thrive Programme, Teresa said: “Don’t let anything hold you back from trying something.
“You might come, and it might not actually be what’s right for you at the moment, and that’s absolutely fine because it is voluntary, there isn’t that pressure.
“Some of us have really benefited from it, and we’ve had lots of experience for how to reword our CVs, how to cope in interviews, so for some people, they’re further ahead on their journey of getting a job, and for others of us, it’s been about gaining that confidence to go out and be with a different group of people.
“I’m just really grateful for the opportunity for myself.”
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