Project: Tees Valley Move Forward

Rachael, a single mum from Guisborough, had been out of work since having her son. Keen to get into work, she got in touch with our team to find out how we could help.

Rachael had struggled with her health throughout school, she gained limited GCSE’s which was part of the reason why she wasn’t getting replies from employers – she felt lost with where to go next. We had regular sessions with Rachael, and supported her with updating her CV to highlight her strengths, we also identified online learning and functional skills courses for her to attend at a college close by.

Rachael started her learning journey, and everything was looking up. We supported her with money advice to get bills under control. Her debts also became more manageable after we helped her to contact companies and request a water meter to be installed. Throughout this time, Rachael’s confidence bloomed and she felt good about applying for jobs know that she was working towards her maths and english. That said, Rachael was still dealing with some barriers as her health continued to affect her. She several stays in hospital, but through drive and determination Rachael didn’t give up.

In November 2025, Rachael applied for a role in a local store and was offered the job, with an immediate start. We funded obtaining a birth certificate for Rachael as she needed ID, and the team carried out benefit checks to make sure the wages would cover her bills. Four months later, Rachael is still working hard in her new job and her son is doing well at school. Our team has also supported her with enrolling on a course at the Open University – this will help her to progress her career when her son is a little bit older.

Rachael said: “I wouldn’t have got to where I am without the support. Everything was explained clearly and I was made to feel that there was never a silly question . I was always supported with any queries or concerns, even if they weren’t directly linked to job searching/employment support.”