Carlos

Case Studies ❯ Carlos

Carlos

Directorate Senior Project Coordinator

"In November 2019, I was released from prison back into the community. At this point in my life, I was coming out of prison to absolutely nothing. I had no home, no money, no possessions other than the clothes on my back and no job. To be honest, my future looked bleak.

Prior to going to prison, I had worked all my life to support my family and it was my primary mission to regain employment in order to start the process of regaining my self-respect within society.

This proved to be a monumental challenge. Every job I applied for I was told that I was ineligible due to my criminal record. On the odd occasion when I managed to succeed in getting to the interview stage, I was turned down when I had to disclose my criminal past. I was at absolute rock bottom with no hope of securing employment. I faced a future of living off the state. I was desolate, depressed and downhearted.

Then, through a work placement agency at my probation hostel, I was put in touch with Emma at Radical. Immediately, Emma started the process of getting me to believe in myself and restore my self-pride. Despite knowing that Radical were still in their infancy state having been recently formed, Emma was never phased by the challenge that was in front of her - getting me into full time employment.

Emma’s skillset in assisting me in re-wording my CV was amazing. Through her instructions, I was able to completely transform how my CV was presented to potential employers. Emma then focused on the delivery of my disclosure. It was incredible how Emma was able to make delivering my disclosure seem like a positive event rather than the negatively shaming experience I had encountered when I previously delivered it. 

I now started going into interviews with much more confidence and assurance than before. 

Following a few more unsuccessful interviews, Emma successfully placed me as an Administrator in a charity that is devoted to helping people who are suffering with drug and alcohol addiction within both the community and in prison. As a result of this placement, my desolate, depressed and downhearted personality was transformed into a positive, productive and professional personality - something I never thought I would get back.

Since my appointment as an Administrator, over the past 2 years within the organisation, I have been promoted twice and I am now the Directorate Senior Project Coordinator. The level of my responsibility within the organisation is now at a high level where I am now managing my own staff within the department.

I am absolutely convinced that I would not be in this position if it were not for the tireless and uncompromising endeavour of Emma and her Radical Team.

I owe them so much gratitude."