WITH industry focus increasingly shifting upon the importance of apprenticeships, Deputy Business Editor Steven Hugill reveals how the route gave one 50-year-old a fresh start

GILL Hinds is open about her experiences.

Struggling with rising debts, her life seemed to lurch from one crisis to the next.

She believed the old adage that it would change at 40.

Instead, it remained stagnant.

But as she struggled on, help came from an unlikely source.

She is now an apprentice support worker with Newton Aycliffe-based Home Group, a social enterprise and charity that is one of the UK's largest housing providers and supported housing services.

Ms Hinds, from Darlington, said: “I was running away from another crisis at 42, with me thinking life was supposed to begin at 40.

“I had never really been out of work and found a job quite quickly, but I disliked it with a vengeance.

“After losing the job I hated, I finally took the guidance to access it and was signposted to Home Group’s homestay service for my housing and debt problems.

“I got more help than I’d ever expected.

“The support worker assigned to me saw more than my housing issues and encouraged me to get more involved with Stonham, the care and support side of Home Group.

“I became a volunteer in a work setting that was completely new to me.

“I was familiar with office work and figures, but this was working with groups of people, and it turned out it was right for me.

“However, I couldn’t turn it into a job because I had no training.

“I started to find training opportunities by becoming a volunteer in Home Group’s health and well-being service, along with great support from the homestay team on my housing issues.

“The pivotal point was getting an accreditation in Intentional Peer Support.

“I also became involved with Home Group’s national involvement team as a client ambassador for equality and diversity, travelling the country for small workshops.

“All of this helped me feel welcomed and included.

“In 2012, Home Group rolled out apprenticeships in administration, and I jumped at the chance to get a job combining an office role I was comfortable in with the organisation I was coming to love.

“I applied, but didn't get the job, however, I carried on getting exceptional support and through the training I'd received I kept strong.

“Last year, I heard about Home Group’s second year of apprenticeships.

“This time, things were even better as they were branching out further, giving support in the community through lived experience.

“I knew more about myself now and was stronger in my own recovery journey, and I knew this was for me.

“I got the job and I became an apprentice support worker.

“I had the opportunity to give something back and to give inspiration and hope to all I came in contact with, as well as receiving knowledge and advice from various health organisations signposted by Home Group.

“In my apprenticeship I've had the opportunity to work across all Home Group’s health services in County Durham, doing one-to-one work with clients, supporting well-being groups and identifying people's individual needs.

“I can truly say I've been challenged and have learnt from every experiences.

“Two weeks ago I enjoyed the best birthday ever with my team, my apprentice friend, my manager and the whole of Home Group’s support.

"I was 50 and found that life really does begin then.”