When Jennifer Drummond was diagnosed with epilepsy four years ago her dreams of a career in the medical profession were over but she didn't give up hope.
Forced to give up on her nursing training she embarked on an intensive year-long dental training course but as the pressure of the course grew, she realized she wouldn't cope and had to give that up to.
"I was just so disheartened. Doctors diagnosed depression and said I needed to rest," said Jennifer 24, from
Once she was well enough she fired off letters and job applications but with her medical history struggled to get employers to respond to her CVs.
But after being referred to national charity Shaw Trust's Ashton centre, she was placed on the Pathways to Work programme and has never looked back.
Jennifer is one of thousands in the Greater Manchester East and West area who look set to be helped by the new Pathways to Work programme. Shaw Trust, the
It looks set to help some 15,000 people make the break from benefits to work, using a service that includes support from highly skilled personal advisers, groundbreaking NHS rehabilitation support, a Return to Work Credit of £40 a week, and in-work support.
Only weeks after she went to Shaw Trust Jennifer landed a job as a Retail Assistant and now she is full of optimism for the future and bursting with newly-found confidence.
Following her successful work trial with Hyde Sports, in Clarendon Place, Hyde, Greater Manchester, Jennifer started working there three days a week.
"I really enjoy it. They've made me feel so welcome the people I work with are great everyone gets on really well," she said.
Absolutely critical, she said, was the way her new colleagues responded to her condition which causes her to suffer seizures which can be quite aggressive and last from two to 20 minutes.
"I told them up front they just asked what they should do, I told them and that was it. It was absolutely fantastic and made such a difference to me.
Manager Phil Firth was happy to give Jennifer a chance and believes people with disabilities shouldn't face barriers to work.
"Everything is working out fine. Jennifer is very keen and enthusiastic and now working three days a week on a permanent contract we're very happy with her.
"It's the first time I've taken on someone with a disability but I never had any problem about doing so. I know how hard it must be for people facing barriers who are not given an equal chance to work," added Phil, whose baby son Morgan has Downs Syndrome.
"I hope when my son grows up he will be treated with consideration and given a chance too," he added.
Jennifer is also keen to sing the praises of Shaw Trust which works with almost 60,000 people nationally every year.
"My employment adviser at Shaw Trust went through absolutely everything with me and made me feel a lot better and I knew that I wasn't on my own which is so important.
"He worked with me building my confidence and gave lots of help and advice about benefits, pensions, salaries and prospects and telling me about grants I might be eligible for.
"I feel much better getting out of the house and working rather than sitting at home doing nothing which is what I was doing and it just made me feel worse.
"I look forward to going to work and I look forward to the future and I know I'm lucky to be able to say that."
For more information about how Shaw Trust can help you phone 0808 180 2001
Editors Notes
1. For further details, please contact Sharne Halliday on 07967 661129 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk
2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.
3. Shaw Trust has grown into a world-renowned international organisation, which over the years has supported nearly 160,000 disabled and disadvantaged people and helped some 50,000 of them into work.
4. Across the
