Helping the helpers

Happy Wednesday everyone, we hope you’ve all had a great time in the lovely weather and can get a bit of peace now half term is over. 

This weeks nomination is from Rose for Ilham who works as a support worker for children at a charity and she needs to solve a temporary transport problem for which we are happy to help by getting her UK driving license through top up lessons so she can get back on the road and helping children. 

Here’s the nomination below

Hello lovely admins, 

As soon as I saw this post on a local women's social media private fb group, I felt that we should help. I so hope you agree🙏

Here's the post by Ilham's friend Danielle. I have attached her photo. 

"Hi, this is my lovely friend Ilham (on the right). She’s from Algeria and only has one friend in Stroud so far. She’s not on Facebook yet so I’m posting this for her to help her out. She’s working as a support worker for children with disabilities. Her shifts end at 10pm (Friday, Saturday and Mondays) and she needs to get from Stroud to Nailsworth but the buses have stopped running by then. Can anyone think of a transport solution for her? Is there anyone here she could lift share with, she’s more than happy to pay the full petrol cost. Any other suggestions? She doesn’t want to give up the job but she’s struggling. Thanks"

After contacting Danielle via dm, I was able to have a phone conversation with Ilham and she consented to me nominating her. 

Ilham said that she was honoured to be nominated.

She is a qualified Teacher and French is her first language (her English is perfect too). She can drive, but her licence isn't recognised in the UK so she is re-learning to drive here. 

She has not been here long, and the money from 500 Reasons would give her space to sort out her future transport through new lessons and getting a small car.

She was so glad to hear that groups like this exist to cut through red tape and make things happen.

Ilham has even insisted that she is joining 500 Reasons herself (despite my assurance that she is not expected to) so that she could help others in the future.  

We talked about how many people from other countries are working in our NHS and Social Care organisations, helping to keep them running and delivering great care and treatment.

I'm sure our services would grind to a halt without them! 80% of the staff in the charity Ilham works for are from outside the UK.

Thanks for taking the time to consider my nomination, and thanks for your hard work keeping our group going! 

Rose Harwood