Case Studies
Flex~Ability Course
Marion was diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age and developed rheumatoid arthritis. She spent 15 years bringing up her three children before returning to work.
Marion worked in a number of catering and cleaning positions but had to give up work when her arthritis became more severe. She started to volunteer at the Craighall Centre and later took on the added responsibility of Treasurer on their Committee.
Eager to develop her IT skills and move back into employment Marion joined Nisus Scotland. She utilised specialist equipment to help her access the computer, including a closed circuit television that magnifies printed materials, an adapted mouse, and dyslexia software that reads text aloud.
Marion also attended literacy, numeracy and work placement preparation groups. Marion undertook a work placement to gain some valuable experience with a view to securing paid employment in the near future.
Most importantly perhaps, Marion enjoyed coming to Nisus Scotland and feels that it has “helped her turn her life around”.
"I love attending Nisus Scotland. As I have dyslexia the specialist equipment available has helped me develop my IT skills and overcome my disabilities.
"Nisus Scotland has opened so many doors for me. The staff are all very friendly and always ready to offer their help and support.”
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Skilltech Course
Zahida’s parents brought her to Edinburgh from Pakistan when she was just a few months old. Her parents did not encourage her to speak English causing her problems at school where she felt isolated and was bullied. She left school with some qualifications but was lacking in confidence.
Whilst attending Skilltech, Zahida studied for her ECDL, made new friends and gained the confidence to move onto further training.
“This course will open up new doors for me which will lead to better opportunities in my life”.
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Skilltech Course
Priya moved to Edinburgh from India in 2005. She was unemployed up to the time she started the Skilltech 12 Week Course in 2007.
Whilst at Skilltech, she completed her ECDL and the Advanced ECDL in the 12 week period. She secured an interview with Scottish Widows but feeling anxious about the interview she took advantage of the Careers Scotland guidance interviews which are part of the Employability and Communication Skills class. With her confidence boosted Priya went for her interview and was offered the job.
She started working with Scottish Widows two weeks after completing the Skilltech course.
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Edinburgh Women's Course
Having been unemployed for 6 years, Jackie had been on other courses and had decided it was time to learn some IT skills in order to gain employment.
Jackie was offered a place on a course and achieved IT and communication qualifications in SQA and ECDL.
Her work placement was with a company called Social Care and Recruitment Training; she enjoyed this very much and showed great levels of competence and efficiency.
Having completed the placement, she was asked to an interview and secured a full-time position as an Administrative Assistant.
Jackie says:
"I enjoyed the course very much and feel much more confident in myself now that I am back in full time employment. I personally feel that I am better equipped now to cope with new technology in the workplace.
"The course at Nisus Scotland was a huge factor in my recent success in gaining employment.”
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Edinburgh Women's Course
Rosaline is a woman over 50, with a good history of employment, but had had a break for a few years.
On the day Rosaline started her course at Nisus Scotland, she felt very nervous and wondered if she would be able to cope and keep up with her studies.
She never thought that she would complete the full ECDL and all of the SQA units in Computing, Communication and Numeracy, as well as find a permanent job at the end of her training.
She puts her success down to the 'exceptional tuition' that she received from all the tutors who were 'friendly and encouraging'.
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Edinburgh Women's Course
Before coming to the course Carolann had been unemployed for 16 months.
She attended a taster course and despite feeling very nervous on the day, did well in all areas and secured a place on the Women’s course.
Whilst on the course Carolann achieved several SQA units and the European Computer Driving Licence and was delighted with her achievements.
She carried out a very successful 9-week work placement with The Learning Shop at Westerhailes and went on to volunteer at Nisus Scotland whilst actively seeking full time employment. Carolann says:
"This course has given me the confidence to look for employment in areas which before, I would not have considered possible."
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Edinburgh Women's Course
After taking voluntary redundancy Anne thought that her world had fallen apart as she tried in vain to obtain alternative employment.
Then one day she spotted an advert in a local paper offering free computer training. Anne contacted Nisus Scotland and was invited along to a taster session.
At the taster session she found out more about the training and that she would be in a group of 12 women all with similar goals. She liked the fact that she would be able to work at her own pace through the training materials.
After the taster session, Anne was offered a place on the Women’s Course. Anne took every opportunity to increase her skills and attained a whole range of Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) units and the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).
Once she had completed her training she undertook a ten-week placement at the University of Strathclyde where she re-developed their website. On completing the work placement an opportunity arose for Anne to become an IT Trainer at Nisus Scotland. This gave Anne the chance to put into practice what she had learnt on the course and enabled her to help the next group of women achieve their goals.
Anne went on to secure employment as an IT Adviser with Stevenson College in their Learning Shop in Wester Hailes. Anne is certain this would not have been possible without the support of the trainers and staff at Nisus Scotland.