Rana Sallam

I was a hard working full-time mum before I started my WOW course. When I picked up a WOW leaflet at my son’s nursery I was attracted to the idea of personal development to improve my self-confidence and job prospects. The course helped me a great deal in these areas and as a result I am now back in full-time employment. 

The WOW experience, including my work placement as an IT trainer at the Royal Infirmary was a great stepping stone on to my job as Project Co-ordinator for Skilltech (Nisus Scotland), an IT training course for black and ethnic minority communities, asylum seekers and refugees.

Now I've moved on to become a Job Opportunities Development Officer for Job Opportunities Support Project (JOSP). The main purpose of this project is to increase the uptake of job opportunities by Black and Minority Ethnic people, within Edinburgh & Lothian.

WOW’s post-course support also helped me to prepare for interviews and target vacancies.

The opportunity to be the personal assistant on WOW’s following BME course was a great experience that helped develop my training skills.

I enjoyed the course very much and feel much more confident in myself now I am back in full-time employment.

I definitely recommend this course to every woman.  My sincere thanks go to everyone at WOW, you are a huge factor in my recent success. 

GILLIAN DYE

When I joined the WOW course in Restalrig in 2006 I was interested in working in healthcare. In the past I have worked for the NHS and also as a self- employed nail technician, but I decided that I wanted a better job with long term prospects. I realised I needed more advice and information to work towards this.

The most helpful part of the course for me was the support from Sandra Fox, the guidance worker at WOW who helped me to write my CV, fill in application forms and search for jobs. She was brilliant!

Working with other women on the course was great too. Everyone in my group really benefited from meeting new people and making new friends.

After I finished the course I went on to complete an SQA in Communications, which helped me to improve my writing skills. I also achieved my goal of getting a job in healthcare!  I am now working full- time for the ECG Leith Treatment centre, working with cardiac patients.

The best thing about doing the WOW course was that it provided me with all the different skills I needed to get a job- the whole package! I would recommend the course to any women who want to go back to work. Long may it continue!

JOANNE BENNETT

“One of the things that really helped with my confidence, on top of the actual confidence building sessions, was meeting and mixing with new people and there was something really positive about us all being in the same boat. Now I feel like my confidence level is right back to where it should be.”

For Joanne the highlight of the WOW course came at the end, at the Certificate Ceremony on the 28th June when she was presented with her certificate, “It was such a huge achievement.” Her sense of pride was further boosted when friends and family saw her group’s story and photograph in the local press.

Joanne has gone from strength to strength since completing her course and views the Post Course Support provided by WOW, via Sandra Fox as vital in her success.
Her first step took her in to a 16 hour, clerical post with The Rock Trust. She started there on the 7th September and her six month contract was even extended by a month. “I really loved working there and I still keep up with the staff I met.”

Now she has moved to a full time, temporary Clerical Assistant post at the Wester Hailes Education Centre, where again she really enjoys her work. “One bonus of working here is that I get the school holidays off, which fits in well with my childcare, giving me plenty of time with my seven year old son Blair.”

“The WOW Course has changed my life. I’m a much happier person now and everyone says they’ve seen a huge change in me - that I’m looking really great! I’ve now got plans to get married and all of my relationships are stronger now than they were before I met WOW.”

Joanne is clear about the message she wants to share with any women out there thinking about doing a WOW course:

“The WOW Course completely changed my life - for the better. If you’re thinking about applying - go for it - no hesitations.”