If you could do any job in the world......

I currently work in the drugs field supporting people as they work hard to get their lives back on track. Many of them have had careers. I have supported qualified and professional people, solicitors, accountants, nurses, teachers. Then there are as many have not worked and for quite often traumatic reasons, have not had the opportunity to acquire those basic skills necessary to make them employable.

My work entails helping them to explore their past, start to learn about themselves, start to find some self worth, confidence and self belief. This hopefully, and more often than not, leads them into accessing the education that they missed out on for whatever reason.

I do a lot of group work with my clients and a question that I often ask them is "if you could do any job in the world, what would it be?". And my follow on question is "what is stopping you?" The answer that I offered them is that the main thing that stops us is ourselves.

This does not set people up to fail. After much group discussion, I find that the group begin to question themselves and more often than not, feel inspired begin looking at pathways to work.

After asking this question many times, I began to realise that I have not asked this question of myself. And so I did. I did just that. In bed one night when sleep was playing silly games with my head, I suddenly thought "what job would I do if I could choose any job in the world?" I didn't even need to search for the answer because I stated many many times over the years that I would love to be a cabinet maker. Going back to the answer that I offered my groups - the main thing that stops us is ourselves. Yes, of course there are other things, money, finances, dependents that need to be fed and watered, mortgages, rent, bills, other commitments. But what is the harm in exploring, finding out what your dream job entails, finding out what path you need to take.

I'm currently undergoing chemotherapy following 2 operations for breast cancer. I am female, 53 years old and I want to be a cabinet maker. I love my current job, but I have spent many years caring and supporting other people. But what I really want to do is work with wood. I have at least another 13 years to work, possibly longer the way our pensions are disappearing fast. So when sleep persists in turning it's back on me, when I have time on my hands to take stock of my life what do I do? I ring the local college, ask for an application form for an apprenticeship, ring local joiners, furniture makers, to enquire about apprenticeships - and before you know it I have an appointment to visit a joiner/furniture maker. And that's what I did. I visited his workshop, spent an hour talking wood and completely wowed him with my passion and enthusiasm. So what next?

Sadly, our government have gone a bit mad and crazy in trying to pay off our national debt in as short at time as possible. Sadly funding will be cut on education, NHS, Police, all the vital things that we need to keep funding. And sadly at 53, and considered a mature student, I am probably too old to access funding to attend college. I have to be under 19. I could be bitter. I could think I've helped other people all my working life, I've paid my taxes. What I do think is, stuff these funding cuts. I will find other ways of achieving my dream job. I've got time on my hands to plan. Like Mr Tweedy said of those feathered creatures in Chicken Run, "those chickens are up to summat, they're organised, I know it!" Today I'm Ginger chicken! ¹

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