Real stories, real impact: how employment helped Kiera rediscover her confidence

Opening doors to new possibilities

When we talk about supported employment, it's easy to focus on the role itself.

But employment, work experience, and volunteering opportunities can mean so much more than a job title or a pay packet.

It can provide purpose, confidence, independence, friendships, routine and the opportunity to discover what you're capable of achieving. That's why Supported Employment is such an important part of what we do.

Through PROPER JOB, we've already seen first-hand how the right opportunity, combined with the right support, can help people build brighter futures.

One person who knows this better than most is Kiera.

Taking the first step

When Kiera first joined PROPER JOB in early 2023, she found conversations about employment difficult and her confidence was low. Work felt like a daunting prospect rather than an exciting opportunity.

Working closely with her Opportunity Coach, she was encouraged to explore her interests and identify what might be right for her. She had a particular interest in retail, and with support, began volunteering at a local charity shop. 

What started as a tentative first step quickly became something much more significant.

As her experience grew, so did her confidence. She took on additional hours, developed new skills and began to see what was possible.

An opportunity that changed everything

In November 2023, Kiera applied for a seasonal checkout role with Tesco.

With support through the application and interview process, she secured a 12-week contract. Her contribution was so valued that, just a few months later, she was offered a permanent role working 24 hours a week. Tesco also put reasonable adjustments in place to help her succeed.

Today, she is thriving.

Alongside her role, she is learning to drive, has developed stronger relationships at home and takes great pride in wearing her Tesco uniform. 

Her journey is a powerful reminder of what can happen when people are given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities.

Why stories like this matter

Kiera's story isn't simply about finding a job. It's about building confidence. It's about becoming more independent. It's about recognising potential and creating opportunities for people to achieve things they may never have thought possible. 

As we expand supported employment opportunities across Corserv, these are exactly the kinds of outcomes we're hoping to create.

Every person is different. Every journey is unique. But time and again, we see the difference that meaningful employment can make to people's lives. 

Opening more doors

Over the coming months, we'll be sharing more stories from people who have benefited from supported employment and the individuals and teams helping to make those opportunities possible.

Together, we can continue creating workplaces where people are supported to succeed, confidence can grow, and lives can be transformed.

Opening doors. Creating opportunities.