Shy to Self-Assured: Hayleigh's Inspiring Journey to Employment and Confidence

Hayleigh initially joined Street League as a positive but shy individual with low confidence. She was referred to us by SDS after trying a few things through college that hadn’t worked out. Hayleigh lives in an employment-deprived area of West Dunbartonshire. At the point of registration, she disclosed some literacy and numeracy issues that she felt had held her back. 

Throughout the 10-week NOLB programme, she embraced new challenges despite how difficult they sometimes were for her. With support, Hayleigh worked through an SCQF Level 4 qualification in Customer Service. She made new friends throughout the programme and gradually built her confidence each day. She dreams of working in childcare, as she feels strongly about supporting young children. 

Hayleigh had limited prior work experience when joining Street League, and following an employer talk, we arranged for her to attend Carousel Training; they advised her to seek further work experience opportunities before progressing with an application. We arranged a work placement for her at a local nursery, where the feedback was overwhelmingly positive—she was described as outstanding with the children and a kind, thoughtful young woman. However, Hayleigh struggled with her social skills when interacting with adults, leading to her missing out on a job opportunity. Despite feeling some setbacks, Hayleigh was keen to address this, so we set her up with a volunteering position at the British Heart Foundation retail store, where she works weekly to improve her social skills with adults and continue to build her experience in a working environment. 

Outside of volunteering, Hayleigh is a fan of Rangers Football Club, supporting both the men’s and women’s teams. We have a relationship with an employer partner who handles the hospitality recruitment at the stadium. When we heard of an upcoming recruitment event, we supported Hayleigh in attending. We assisted her in preparing for an interview at Ibrox, helping her refine her interview skills and ensuring she could highlight the abilities she had gained from the programme and her work experience. Due to being unemployed, Hayleigh required support in finding suitable interview clothes. We connected her with our partners at Smart Works, a charity that helps women dress for success in interviews. Hayleigh was delighted with her outfit and accessories, which made her feel confident going into the interview. As a result, Hayleigh secured a job at Ibrox, working for a team she is deeply passionate about. Hayleigh continues to volunteer with the British Heart Foundation, and her long-term goal remains to progress into employment within child or adult care once she has gained further experience.