Sandi’s Success Story

Sandi was referred to Enable by the CIP East Pathway back in January 2022.

We remember her first meeting so clearly. We met in Fuller House, and upon Sandi’s arrival we walked through to the room despite being given the option to sit wherever she felt most comfortable, Sandi moved around the room uncomfortably with her head downwards until she finally came to settle in her chosen chair.

It was a very gentle session, just getting to know one another a little bit, and laying out what could be expected over the coming weeks as we move forward together. By the time the session ended Sandi was a little less anxious, and even gave me a smile when she said goodbye.

Over the coming weeks, we built her Vocational Profile and worked on her main barrier which was her overwhelming lack of self-confidence. However, by our second appointment, Sandi agreed to meet me in a Coffee shop instead of Fuller House. Each week I watched her arrive, to begin with waiting for me outside and walking in together, with me ordering her drink for her until eventually I’d arrive and she would be waiting at a table for me, with her drink already in front of her. As time went on her head pointed less and less towards the floor and more and more towards people, it was amazing to see her developing so quickly.

One thing Sandi always did was challenge herself and push herself, every week she had done her “homework” and every week she took another brave step forward. By meeting four we were already talking about jobs that were being advertised and discussing the pros and cons of them.

It wasn’t without challenges, and it’s a testament to Sandi’s personal development, that she now understood that when things were tough, it was okay to slow down and step back as we needed to.

By the 24th of February we had found a job and an employer that Sandi had decided she wanted to pursue, and as they say……… The rest is history!

“The employment specialist assigned to me has helped me not only get a job but learn how to stop focusing on my weaknesses, recognise things I’m struggling with and how to rectify them. She worked with my employer to help them understand my needs and best of all she is the most compassionate and understanding human being I could have hoped to have to help me.

If I could have a pocket-sized version of her in my, well, pocket, for little pep talks then I would.”