A new career

Our courses helped Sally Morgan gain new qualifications and change career.

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Sally Morgan is an inspiration to anyone looking to gain new qualifications or change career.  She came to the Glossop area ten years ago with six young children, leaving behind a job as a supervisor in a Derby factory.

Shortly afterwards she had quadruplet boys. This made working difficult but once the boys went to nursery she approached the Job Centre for help getting back into work. 

They referred her to our Information, Advice and Guidance service at Glossop Adult Community Education Centre. They helped Sally identify that she really wanted to work in the health care sector, and had always dreamed of being a midwife.

Sally recalls

"When they asked me about my experience, I said 'But I am just a mum'. They told me never to say that again! They made me look at my transferable skills − everything involved in juggling family life and a job, and gave me the confidence to enrol on a course."

Getting started

In 2008, Sally signed up for our Introduction to Nursing and Healthcare course, a short course designed to give people a broader understanding of the jobs available in the healthcare sector. 

This experience triggered a desire to learn, and Sally quickly signed up to do her National Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy at levels 1 and 2. 

Her tutors gave her the confidence to learn and pass her exams.  She then signed up to do her CLAIT Diploma (ICT qualification), the BIIAB Level 1 Certificate in Alcohol Awareness, and NCFE Levels 1 and 2 in Drugs and Substance Misuse.

Moving on to higher education

Growing in confidence all the time she started the Access to Higher Education course in September 2008 and completed it in July 2010. 

This course is designed to provide people with the qualifications and education that will prepare them for university. 

There are two pathways − the health pathway for people wanting to pursue nursing and midwifery, and social care for those wanting to follow a career in social work.

Putting her learning into practice

In order to gain practical experience, Sally started volunteering in the maternity wards of Tameside NHS Foundation Trust in January 2009 while continuing with the Access to Higher Education, maths, English and computer courses.  All this while looking after her ten children!

Her Access tutor Angela Walker said:

"Sally successfully obtained an Access to Higher Education (Health) Diploma in 2010. 

"She was an excellent student as she participated in all class activities and contributed to discussions with her home and voluntary work experiences.

"Throughout the two years, she worked extremely hard at all her homework assignments, and though some proved to be a difficult challenge for her, she kept on going and managed to succeed.

"Her family life and voluntary work was also very important to Sally, but she managed to prioritise and juggle her studies around them all. 

"As her tutor, I was particularly touched by Sally's determination to make a career in hospital midwifery her single goal. I think it was this that kept her focussed on gaining her qualification, as well as being a busy mum and working as a volunteer in the local hospital."

After completing the Access course in the summer of 2010, Sally applied to do midwifery at the University of Manchester, but unfortunately the course was oversubscribed.  Not wanting to sit around and do nothing, she took a position in a local factory four days a week and continued to volunteer at the hospital one day a week.

A new career 

In November 2010, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust advertised for a number of Maternity Support Workers and Sally got  a full time job with them.

"When they phoned to offer me the job, I literally screamed down the phone with excitement"

she recalls.

Sally took to it like a natural.

"I have been involved with lots of families, and I find it rewarding to then go out into the community and see the parents in their own homes.  I want to be there for other people."

Continuing with learning

Despite the challenges of a new job, working shifts and juggling family life, Sally continues to study at Glossop Adult Community Education Centre and is now doing more computer courses. She also enjoys taking her children to some of the Family Learning courses.

She said:

"Without the help of Glossop Adult Community Education Centre I wouldn't have had the opportunities that have led me to my dream job. 

"The staff have helped me with my motivation when I have felt like giving up, and when I have struggled to juggle family life and studying.  I wouldn't have made it without their support. 

"They have opened up a whole new world.  If anyone has a dream, just follow it.  Don't let anything stand in your way.  I did it. Adult community education opened the doors for me."