Dartford 22nd/23rd February

My first trip to Dartford in many years and it was definitely worth the wait.   It all started really well when a kind lady accessed the internet and gave me directions to the office.

It was great to meet some familiar faces and some new ones in the Dartford office and could instantly feel a positive atmosphere.  I’m pleased they had Milk too

We had a really diverse group too.  Instantly it became apparent that we had some very intelligent and knowledgeable people in attendance.

The conversation ranged from Archery, ancient Rock Art to meeting the Queen!   Some very quiet characters and some more outwardly confident ones too.

Sometimes, just making it into a course can be a real challenge.  For two people in particular on day one, the course instantly made them consider areas that are quite tough for them and to make any changes you must feel ready.  I credit them for attending and do wish them all the best.

Day two was an amazing day for me.    A young, lovely smiley lady, who attended the course to help with confidence issues instantly pushed her comfort zones and completed yesterdays challenge on her own!  A real achievement as she had not touched it the day before.   Throughout the day she would amaze me and more importantly herself.  Especially with the interview role play, in which she was fantastic!  I wish her all the best for her Volunteer work that she starts today and consider the course to be perfect preparation.

We were also joined by a wonderfully artistic lady who thrives on creativity.  Understandably, she has some personal challenges and can be very hard on herself.  I hope that she remembers the fantastic feedback from the group and what she achieved by making new friends and talking.  I was also amazed by her wonderful aptitude for communicating her thoughts and encouraging others.   I have no doubt, with short-term goals, support and planning that she can find that job to inspire her creativity and therefore offer a greater quality of life.  The creative, colorful mind map in the picture is her handywork.

At the beginning of day two, I also had a great music chat with my sole remaining male.  A quiet man, but a wise man, who when he talked, everyone listened intently.  Throughout the two days, I kept getting a caring vibe from him and he did mention that he might enjoy working with the elderly. (something to consider)   He also enjoyed the experience of meeting new people and has gone away feeling refreshed.

Finally two bubbly smiley ladies.   One who instantly became a real lively and supportive character for the group.  Actively attending interviews.  I have no doubt that she will be in employment too.  I was amazingly impressed by her throughout and she gave it everything. Full of knowledge and enthusiasm, I just hope she works with people.

We also had our facilitator.  The person who always cares about others first and sometimes forgets their own needs. Throughout the two days, she was an absolute legend.   Facing personal challenges and receiving wonderful feedback.  Definitely suited to her career choice of working with Children.  I hope she takes the advice to go and study and find a volunteer placement.

I wish them all the best in the future and thank them for a great two days.

Matt

Ashford 16th/17th February

2nd course for me in one week and this was another really enjoyable one.

I was joined nice and early by a lovely chap, wearing a cool t-shirt with Guitars on it. We discussed his favorite football team losing the night before and thankfully he was ok about it.   He informed me quite early that he was very nervous and struggles in new social settings.  Throughout the two days it was a delight to see him gain confidence and join in.  He has experienced some real health challenges in his life and should realise just how much strength and determination that he has shown.  That’s his evidence, that he can use to inspire him for his next challenges.   We also had another person attending his first course in many years, initially quiet too, he quickly joined in and appreciated the opportunity to meet new people.

 I did a temperature check at the beginning of the course to find out how much they wanted to be here and I was informed 2-3′s out of 10.  Thankfully by the end I was informed 8′s and some were 10′s, which was great news.

We were also joined by possibly the most polite person that I have ever met.  A young lady, who was genuinely excited about attending the course and was fantastic at drawing pictures.   It was a pity that she couldn’t attend day two, as she had an interview.  Fingers crossed it went well.  We also had another chap who demonstrated some excellent practical skills, who also had a trial day on day two working in Catering. Hope that it went well for him.

There were a number of highlights on this course, but number one for me was a moment in which one of the group invited another to join the club that he helps organise.  I was extremely impressed by the kindness and support that this man showed and grateful that he came on the course.  Sometimes confidence is a major issue and this particular young man, possibly showed me the biggest change I have witnessed over a two-day course.  He also cracked one of the problem solving activities with some really intelligent thinking.  Hopefully he will join the club, as i’m sure it will help him.

Finally, we were joined by a bubbly positive lady, who is about to embark on a complete career change away from Catering.  I have no doubt that she will realise her goals and recommend she consider a role helping others.

Overall, this course was extremely memorable and a real pleasure to be part of.   That’s me done for the week……time to relax!

I thank them for all their hard work and participation and wish them all the best in the future.

Matt

Chatham 14th/15th February

A return to familiar settings for me.    Having previously worked in Chatham, there was number of people attending whom I had previously met.

A group of 8 (which is a nice number) and they were all extremely different personalities, which made for an interesting two days.   This group included my first couple attending together!  Interesting baring in mind we were celebrating Valentines Day!   It was a challenge to see how well they know one another and how they can support each other to make necessary changes.   A wedding is on the horizon and some paid employment would definitely help to make the day complete.

I was also amazed by a lady who asked me the following question within the 1st 10 minutes of the course “are we going to do role-playing? because I hate role playing” , to enable her to relax, I must admit to telling a small white lie……day two role-playing arrived and I needed a volunteer…….guess who put their hand up?!!  although nervous, she did wonderfully well and should be very proud of herself.   We also had a joker in the pack, who sat with another ‘rebel’ at the back. Both characters helped make the course lively and were very kind and supportive members of the group.  I also joined by a young lady who has been lucky enough to meet Paul McCartney and also has some musical talent herself, inherited from a supportive parent.  Braving toothache, she soldiered on and impressed me with her eloquent conversation and focus.  We also had a quiet lady, who when she spoke everyone listened, as it was always something wise and interesting.  A caring person, who keeps bearded dragons and other wonderfully exotic pets.  Finally, we had our Artist, who drew a fantastic picture and smiled throughout the two days, which was infectious.  I recommend that she pursues her history and art passions.

This group also remembered a staggering 46 areas that we covered in one day. That was impressive team work, which was evident throughout    With some motivation, confidence and support I can see everyone in this group rising to new challenges.

I wish them all the best for the future and thank them for their participation.

Matt

Tunbridge Wells 1st/2nd Feb

This was my 1st ever trip to Tunbridge Wells and it was definitely an interesting one.    Weather was absolutely freezing and it is an interesting place to get to by train (4 changes).

As usual, I was unsure what to expect. However, this feeling was more than usual. 1/ new location 2/ new people and 3/ new office.   I arrived in good time and was taken to the room I would be training in.    It’s interesting, as I usually have a faint idea of what the room may look like, but on this occasion, I was nowhere near!   We were situated down in the basement, which therefore made for an interesting atmosphere.  I could hear myself echo!

This group all arrived early (always a good sign), but I was interested to hear that a majority of them were only given notice of the course the afternoon before.   So I was faced with people who had differing opinions of how they felt about attending.  To there credit, they were motivated and extremely welcoming.

Thankfully, we all hit it off really well and it made for a really positive and open atmosphere.   I particularly enjoyed that the conversation flowed throughout the two days.   We were also lucky to have a real range of personalities, interests and also some extremely skilled and qualified people.   Certainly food was discussed on many occasions, especially a well-known brand (no names mentioned:)) and it was interesting how many of us fell for this!

Our hypothetical road map exercise to short/long-term goals took us to Cornwall for a Cornish Pastie, which was great fun and they also thrived in an open setting.

 This all made for a great first course in Tunbridge Wells which made the long journey and cold conditions well worth it.

I wish them all the best in the future.

Matt

 

Crawley 24th-25th January

Just returned from my course in Crawley.    Working with a nice motivated bunch, who all got on really well together.   This group consisted of a real variety of personalities.  Including a quirky lady who amazed us with her interesting fashion accessories and a quiet chap  with a dry sense of humour.  They all really enjoyed meeting new people and this created a fun and honest atmosphere.

This group has all faced their own personal challenges in the past, including health, homelessness, being a single parent and of course motivation/confidence issues.  Hopefully over the two days, they now realise how much they have already achieved and how much they really have to offer.

Careers goals include Painting & Decorating, Animal work, Antique Sales, Driving, Security and Child Care.  My evidence over two days, is that I can honestly see that they could all achieve their personal goals, with a little help along the way.

I thank them all for the humour and participation and wish them all the best for the future.

Matt

HemiHelp Employment Workshops 21st Jan 2012

It was an absolute privilege to be part of the HemiHelp employment workshops yesterday.  I loved every minute of it (even the early start!) completely inspired by the young people with hemiplegia that I was lucky enough to meet yesterday. They… travelled from across the country to learn new skills and meet new friends and were a delight to work with. Plus they all completely aced the Alan Sugar Apprentice Interviews!  the event was superbly organised by Karen Mount. please take time to check out this link:http://www.hemihelp.org.uk/

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at HemiHelp for allowing me to participate in their Employment Skills Event.

Over the years, I have attended many events as a Delegate or Trainer and can honestly say that this was the most well organised event I have ever been part of.   For that, they deserve to be congratulated. I left feeling completely inspired, educated and proud to be part of such a wonderful experience.

Most importantly, I witnessed some inspirational young adults flourish in an environment that you created.   I was absolutely amazed by their enthusiasm and courage (baring in mind that some travelled many miles to attend) and throughout the day I could see how much they enjoyed it.

Having reflected on the four workshops that I delivered, I was extremely impressed to witness the ability levels and positive attitudes towards Job Seeking.   The ‘mock-interview’ aspect of my workshop is usually a very daunting experience for Job Seekers, however I saw no real evidence of nerves, but ‘can-do’ attitudes instead.   This was really refreshing experience and not something I witness every day when faced with Job Seekers.   The answers to my Alan Sugar interview questions were also of a very high standard.

I believe that social events like this work wonderfully in allowing people with common grounds to make new friends and learn new skills.  Your event certainly reached its goal and went further.   You are doing some great things and please let me know if I can help in any way in the future.

Wonderful day and I wish them all the best for the future

Matt

A while ago I did a 2 day workshop with a small group in Crawley.  Following that particular course, I received an email thanking me for my advice which resulted in one of the delegates being offered a job.    A few days ago, I received a text message from ‘Coley’  another of the delegates from the same course.  Coley was excited to inform me that he also has now has found himself a job.   I was very grateful (that even after many months) that he contacted me to thank me and give me the good news.   He also has another two interviews too, so he has obviously done amazingly well.     It’s moments like this, that are the reasons why I do my job.   I wish him all the best for the future.

Ashford 17th/18th January 2012

I have just finished a course in Ashford in which I was amazed by the excellent turnout.

I was fortunate enough to have met a few members of the group previously and was looking forward to seeing them again and running my first course in Ashford.

January is always a strange time for people.  Having experienced the Christmas season and everything leading up to the big day, some may set New Years Resolutions and then it’s a case of back to normality.   This can be a challenging experience for people returning to work and you might get a case of the ‘holiday blues’ (especially if Christmas was expensive), but I imagine it’s also a big challenge for those seeking employment too.  Job seeking can be a tough and lonely experience and as one delegate said to me yesterday ‘you get stuck in a rut’.   It all depends on your character to how you face this challenge.

So baring in mind I was running a course for Job Seekers in January, I was amazed by the attendance level and also how quickly they all engaged in the course.

The group worked really well on the practical activities and I must say some particular individuals used their analytical and problem solving skills to crack one of the hardest challenges, with the least amount of clues from me.  One also took one puzzle home and tried it out on his family and we knew who would get it right!

If I was going to sum this course up in one word, I would say ‘bravery’.    I was inspired by a particular delegate who informed me that his goal is to live more independently.  He faces personal challenges, due to a disability, but his huge determination is so evident.  I was also amazed with his effort and bravery in the interview techniques role play.   Another delegate, who by her own admission is a little bit guarded in her personality, found herself opening up to complete strangers. To me that was a sign of real bravery. She is obviously very intelligent and throughout the course I was picking up some artistic flair from her. I hope that she takes my advice and carries out the careers assessment that I suggested, as I’m sure with some guidance she may find a suitable career choice and fulfillment.

We worked on planning for change and the need for preparation.  I wish my fellow Man Utd fan the best of luck in his quest to stop smoking.   By stopping smoking he aims to get fit in order to pursue a career in sports and leisure and use the money he saves to pay for his FA Coaching Badge.

Overall, I thank all the delegates for their efforts and excellent timekeeping and wish them all the best in the future.

Matt

 

 

 

Hastings Dec 13th & 14th

My final confidence and motivation course of the year.   A great course too.  An all male group, which was predictably dominated by chats about Football, Music, Films and Computer games.

One client was celebrating his birthday by attending the course.  Now that’s motivation for you!

This group truly benefitted from practicing assertiveness and interview preparation.  At one point I had to be particularly assertive for the good of the course and thank fully it made for a positive effect.

Some of the delegates informed me that they have rarely experienced an interview setting in the time they have been out of work.   This can have serious effects on their confidence and even entering a room correctly could be a worrying situation.   We practiced this and the clients did very well.  I possibly had one of my favorite answers to any interview question that I have ever had! Courtesy of ’Birthday Boy’  Q.  What did you least like about your last job?   A.  There was not enough overtime!  Genius answer!

This group practiced planning for change and really benefitted from thinking and visualising change.  One client who was thoroughly engaged throughout informed me that he was going to draw a planning for change poster and place it on his wall.   I have no doubt with some support he should have no reason why he couldn’t meet his goals.

They were a pleasure to work with and wish them all the best for the future.

Matt

Eastbourne 7th/8th December

My second course in four days was in Eastbourne.

A small group and thankfully full of real characters.   Sometimes a small group can work really well and on this occasion it certainly did.

For the second time in two weeks, we had a visitor in attendance. This time we were joined on day one by a Senior Manager from the provider.   Thankfully, he was extremely game and joined in with all the exercises. I particularly enjoyed the challenge he set me to utilise the example of Come Dine With Me in one of the exercises!  Having received feedback, I think it worked!

I also really enjoyed the interviewing role play exercise and this group were great in how they all gave it a go at being the interviewer and interviewees.  Plus they hit the jackpot with the answers to questions.  Very fun!

One of the most impressive moments of this course was when one of the delegates, (who was attending his first meeting with the provider on the same day) agreed to join in on our two-day course, showing a ‘can-do’ attitude.  He complimented me at the end of the course by saying ‘its the best course I’ve ever been on’, which was great to hear.

Another member of the group, was a lovely chirpy chap.  He had an extensive career background, many skills and is an excellent communicator.  He informed me that he benefitted from the planning for change exercises and I have given him some extra tips to maximise his potential.  I have no doubt he will be a success and remind him to remember the word EVIDENCE .  Each person can look back at particular moments in which they are and should be proud of.  This should be always looked at as evidence which demonstrates that they have achieved something before and can do again.  It’s not fiction, it’s evidence! Sometimes, our belief systems play tricks on us and we imagine things are going to go wrong, without any evidence of this actually ever happening. Maybe it just could go right…

Finally, a very creative and wonderfully colourful lady joined us for the two days. Having moved to Eastbourne fairly recently, she informed us that she does not know many people and that felt initially very anxious.  After the first hour, I saw no evidence of this at all and she brightened up the course with wonderful turns of phrase and creative thinking.  I hope that she continues to enjoy days like these, as she’s great.

Again, I thank them all for participating and wish them all the best in the future.  Matt