Mary Reilly

Support Services Assistant and Clerical Officer, Downshire Hospital

The Return to Learn course was a very fun learning environment

I’ve worked in the Downshire for 34 years, starting off as a cleaner. I’m now a support services assistant, still cleaning, and also working part time as a clerical officer. I left school with 3 O Levels and found that it wasn’t enough to get a different kind of job, my opportunities were limited. So I went to the tech and did some night classes, which I had to pay for. These classes helped me get administrative skills, and eventually get a clerical job, first in the education sector and then in the Downshire Hospital.

I heard about the Return to Learn course through the union. It was being offered in partnership with the Trust, so we were able to go to the course in work time, and of course it was free. With having two jobs, it can be hard to go to a course after work, because the times don’t always suit. The Return to Learn course was a very fun learning environment, everyone supported each other and the residentials meant that you got to know people very well. There were no exams, but we had to write up assignments. The tutor gave very good feedback on the assignments and you could take them away again and have another go, taking on board the guidance from the tutor. I’ve also done UNISON’s Building Confidence for Women course and the Women’s Health and History residential. They were both very enjoyable, because our own life experience was relevant, and it was about the role we as women play in society.

Most of all learning as helped my confidence, I don’t care how long it takes me to do it, as long as I get there.