Kirsty Gilmore

“I did a social work course at SERC a few years ago and gave up due to mental health issues. I am in a much better place now, working as a team leader in a care provider, and I’m now ready to do more. I wasn’t keen on school, and I was always in trouble but now I feel that this is my time, and at SERC you are supported to achieve.”   

“I had been a carer for my dad then worked in hospitality; I was a hotel manager for a long time and also caring and volunteering alongside. I’m currently a team leader with responsibility for a number of carers, managing the shifts day to day, supervising staff and generally supporting the manager.  

“I have ambitions for a managerial post, though, and I explored how to achieve that. My own manager did this course before and says it definitely helped with career progression, so I thought about that. As I had good memories of SERC and the friendly tutors, I realised I was happy to come back and to move forward."  

“I am enjoying learning again. I feel we have a lovely wee class; everyone’s supportive and the tutors are so helpful. I look forward to college day each week.  I would say to anyone: go for it, go back to education; you can study at any age. It’s different when you are older; I love the fact there is a range of ages in the class and different experiences and so on. It can be scary, the thought of coming back through the doors of a college but SERC is so welcoming.”