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Free Course For Isle Of Wight Women Looking To Get Back Into Work

Wispa200, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Women on the Isle of Wight looking to get back into work but lacking confidence are being offered a place on a free course.

Suit Yourself is a 10-week free course funded through the Community Rail Partnership and based inside Sandown Railway Station's Community Rooms.

It's aimed at women who have been out of work either pre-pandemic or due to the pandemic and losing their income.

This course was written and has been delivered by Fran Shelley, a Community development Manager who has been delivering it for various organisations for more than 20 years.

The common denominator for these women apart from being out of work, is low esteem.

The course is made up of:

  • Sessions to help improve confidence
  • Skills for CV and letter writing
  • A visit to both the Isle of Wight College for adult learning courses
  • A visit to one of the CRP transport partners for mock interviews in the workplace.

Regarding the latter, Hovertavel has recently extended this to a trip on a Hovercraft for ‘Flight attendant training’.

The course also includes free travel passes to get to Sandown Train Station.

A spokesperson for the CRP said:

"On average out of the 12 ladies who attend each of the courses, seven return to work shortly afterwards and three sign up for college courses.

"One of the young Mums, Farni, who attended the course in 2019, gave a keynote speech at our CRP Rail Showcase last year at the Southampton harbour Hotel to over 100 attendees.

"There she shared her experience of the course and how it literally turned her life around."

The next course, which is already fully booked, is starting next week.

Further information about the courses and how to book your place for one are available on the Suit Yourself Facebook page.

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