After landing in the Housing sector totally by chance, via the redeployment pool, while working for a local authority; I decided I need to learn about the sector. After a year of working as a rent collector (yes we still exist) I enrolled on to a part-time HNC Housing Studies course with Cardiff Met, this course gave me the opportunity to learn while continuing my full-time role. I did have an option to complete the qualification online with another provider, although having done a PGCE several years prior, I understood I was a learner who needed to interact with lectures and peers, having and giving the support I knew I’d need to achieve.
I made the right choice by attending Cardiff Met; my peer group and lecturers were amazing. Janet Beauchamp, Marc Fury and Helen Taylor were so understanding. Understandingly it was daunting being given our first assignments, although the support was always there for me. No question was a silly question during sessions, we were all meant to feel at ease. Group work was a challenge, although this is a lesson within a lesson building teamwork, consideration, compromise, communication and tolerance; all vital skills in any workplace. Further reading was essential, although our lectures made that easier, signposting us to the most relevant pieces to read. We had a variety of guest speakers, and this was interesting to hear how different organisations work, what they were developing and how they would implement them.
With my first-year assignments and exam passed and completed, I was ready for the new academic year. It began well, again with assignments reading list and work set we were all ready to work towards completion. While the first team went well, for me the beginning of the second term after Christmas began with a bump. While walking to uni on a bright crisp January morning for a trip to St Fagan’s, I was hit by a car while crossing the road. Uni work was the last thing on my mind, I thought of deferring for a year. Although with the encouragement of my lecturers and the support of my peers I returned to the course once I could vaguely hold a pen. The support I was given by Cardiff Met after the accident was amazing. My lecturers understood not only the physical difficulties I faced, but the mental scars the accident had left. I was less tolerant, I was more sensitive, less confidant. Janet, the Programme Director especially talked me through a few meltdowns and got me through the tough times. I was encouraged to carry on, I was told I could when I thought I couldn’t.
I did it. I passed achieving a Merit. I felt so proud of my achievement, it was an extra ordinary situation I found myself in, with the help, advice and understanding of my lectures I achieved what I’d set out to achieve. As a direct result of undertaking the HNC Housing Studies, I have moved forward with my career. I am now a Community Connector. A project funded by the NHS, under the umbrella of the local authority. I am based in Doctors surgeries. I engage with referred patients’ helping them to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation from their community as well as assisting with additional information around housing, benefits or repairs.
I am really enjoying my new role. I am learning new things every day.
