Training with a Difference

When I read the recent BBC article on youth unemployment, I felt every word. Because I live it. I see it every day—young people applying for hundreds of jobs without success, graduates turned down for roles at supermarkets, and families missing out on vital support because they lack digital confidence.

And I remember when that was me.

I was a teenage mum. I had low self-esteem, poor GCSE results, and very little guidance. No one taught me how to write a CV, fill out a job application, or even check my emails. I had to figure it all out on my own. Bit by bit, I picked myself up, went back into education, earned a degree in Computing, and started building something for myself. But even then, I was still figuring it out as I went—just like so many others.

I built my own work experience from scratch—by supporting friends to build their businesses, volunteering, taking on short-term and temp roles, and saying yes to any opportunity to learn. I worked in retail (including a Christmas job at Argos), cleaning, telesales selling wills and windows, IT roles, and even a legal firm—before stepping into professional roles as a career development consultant, faculty administrator, and later an industry and employability trainer.

The constant rejections I faced taught me that education was a major key—but so was real-world experience. That combination is what changed my life.

That journey led me to join FSEC – Functional Skills Education Centre as one of the directors, with a clear mission: to create, develop, and implement specialist programmes rooted in empathy, lived experience, and real-world need. This isn’t just a job for me—it’s my passion.

Championing Digital Confidence and Employability

Two of the programmes I’m most proud of are the PDACE Employability Programme and our Work Experience Programme. These were created in direct response to what I saw in the community—people struggling to find work not because they lacked talent, but because they lacked the tools: digital skills, confidence, a solid CV, or real work experience.

• The PDACE Programme helps participants build confidence, develop essential soft skills, and prepare for real job opportunities—especially for those who’ve faced long-term unemployment, barriers like mental health challenges, or lack of qualifications. 

• Our Work Experience Programme connects people with placements that give them the hands-on experience and references they need to stand out to employers.

Today, I help lead a range of services including our Digital Entitlement Support Programme, where we work with people of all ages—from old age pensioners to young parents—to help them gain confidence, digital access, and independence. Whether it’s filling out online forms, applying for benefits, creating a CV, or just learning how to use Zoom—we’re here, and we care.

I don’t just understand the barriers. I’ve lived them. And that’s what drives me. Every pensioner who walks through our doors, every young mum who doubts herself, every jobseeker who feels left out—I see them, because I was them.

My Story is My Strategy

A couple weeks ago, I attended a business bootcamp that focused on how to elevate your message and connect with your audience online. It helped me realise something powerful: my story is my strategy. My life is the campaign. That moment shifted everything for me.

So this is the beginning of a new chapter. I’m not just running programmes. I’m telling stories. I’m taking action. And I’m inviting you to be part of that journey.

Want to Help?

We’ve launched a campaign to raise urgent funds for our Education, Employment, and Security for All initiative. This includes access to digital support, employability training, and life-changing opportunities for young people, parents, ex-offenders, and vulnerable adults who’ve been locked out of work and education.

If you believe in a future where no one is left behind—whether due to lack of experience, digital skills, or confidence—please support us:

GoFundMe: Education, Employment, Security – A Future for Everyone

If you’re a local council, school, community centre, or organisation looking to partner on digital support or employability training, let’s connect. We offer bespoke training, digital assistance, and a real human touch.

This is personal.

This is purpose.

This is why I do what I do.

With love,

Shireen

Director, FSEC