Passion for care leads to new career

Christopher Martin Evans qualified as an electrician in 1991 but quickly realised it wasn’t the job for him. Despite success in the business he had a nagging urge to work in something he could be passionate about. When Christopher lost his driving license, his career as an electrician came to an abrupt halt. His inability to travel combined with a growing disillusionment with his job led to a five year period of unemployment. Christopher fought hard to find a purpose in life but his confidence had been hit hard. It was while he was caring for his parents that he realised that caring for people was the role in life he wanted.

Christopher said, “I was at a very low point in my life and I couldn’t find purpose. I had made the decision that I didn’t want to continue working as an electrician. I felt without hope or direction, life was getting desperate. My life started to change when I needed to care for my parents. It was eye opening. I grew a real passion for care and new this was what I wanted to do.”

Christopher contacted Workways+, the service dedicated to helping unemployed people make a better life for themselves.

“Contacting Workways+ was one of the best decisions I have made. They helped me gain confidence and break down my barriers into employment. Workways provided me with specific training for the care industry, helped me to develop my CV, assisted with job searches and put me forward for volunteering opportunities. They enabled me to develop skills, knowledge, build confidence and get the work experience I needed. They even supported me in getting my driver’s license back.”

A delighted Christopher now works as a Support Worker in a supported living house where he cares for four service users, all with their own individual needs. He thrives on supporting the service users, helping them to gain the confidence to live the life they choose. Christopher’s goal is to gain greater knowledge of the health and care sector.

Christopher continued, “Workways is a very supportive service and they have given me the ability to move forward. My Workways mentor Sam Mears helped me to grow in confidence and rebuild my life with ‘confidence and self-esteem training’. Workways are non-judgemental and gave me great encouragement to pursue my career aspirations. Gaining employment has improved my self-respect. Not working for five years I had started to feel worthless and depressed. Having a job has improved my confidence and mental health and has given me my life back, helping me to meet new people, make new friends and to have a purpose.”

Workways + is supported by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government and is available throughout Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. Workways purpose is to help unemployed people get into employment, build their confidence and improve their lives.

Christopher continued “I would recommend Workways to others as they are very supportive and always believed in my ability to achieve my goals. They never gave up on me.”

To talk to the Swansea Workways+ team please call 07943 986122