Young Achiever Sets Sail on New Career

A YOUNG woman who was hampered by a lack of confidence and had no idea what she wanted to do has changed course and is now inspiring other learners and plans to join the Navy, thanks to a life-changing programme.

Jordan Gower, 18, who lives in Darlington, took part in the 12-week Moving On programme, which was developed by OCN North East Region. It was developed in partnership with Nacro, the crime reduction charity, which works with disadvantaged and unemployed young people at key points in their lives to help them find positive futures.

Jordan attended Nacro’s delivery site in Darlington, where she worked her way through bite sized chunks of learning, gaining an NVQ in IT, a National Open College Network (NOCN) qualification in Functional Skills (numeracy, literacy and ICT), plus a British Safety Council (BSC) Level 1 Certificate for Health & Safety in the Workplace.

Her studies will eventually see her achieve a nationally-recognised NOCN Diploma in Progression.

She also tried out taster sessions in areas including horticulture and bricklaying, before creating a personal career plan setting out her ambitions. Currently on work placement at Branksome Estate community centre in Darlington, she is also mentoring other young learners on the programme while she waits for an interview to join the Navy.

Jordan said: “I’ve built up my confidence so much thanks to the Moving On course. When I left school I didn’t have many qualifications and my self esteem was really low. I didn’t know what to do and could easily have gone off track but I realised it wasn’t the way I wanted my life to go.

“Moving On has helped me make new friends, and as well as gaining credits that helped me achieve some national qualifications, I’ve also been able to try out taster sessions to find out what I enjoyed and what I was good at.

“I’ve always wanted to do something practical, so gaining the skills and qualifications to be considered for the Navy is my dream. I’m hoping to be a sonar technician and work on minesweeper vessels, which is something I never would have had the confidence to apply for before I started this course. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their confidence and go for a good career.”