Making all the right moves
RISTA FOUGHT OFF ILLNESS TO SECURE HER FIRST JOB IN NINE YEARS – WITH HELP FROM HER EMPLOYMENT ADVISER
“IT sounds strange to say it, being in the middle of a pandemic – but 2020 was definitely my year,” says Rista Erasmus.
“I suffer with cystic fibrosis and after nine years of not working because of my illness, I started in a job that I really enjoy. And my husband Nico has moved up the career ladder.
“Now I can honestly say that the future looks really exciting for both of us.”
The couple, who are originally from Port Elizabeth in South Africa, found themselves looking for new opportunities after moving to London in 2005, and then to Cardiff a decade later.
With experience in the construction industry, 41-yearold Nico enrolled on the Communities for Work project in 2017 and was put in touch with outreach employment advisor Charmaine Simonsevans at Cardiff community hub. After first finding him a job using his carpentry skills, she supported his ambition to move into management. “That was always in Nico’s five-year plan, once we moved to Cardiff – and being involved with the project definitely helped him to get there more quickly,” says Rista. “He’s a health and safety manager now, and Charmaine not only steered him in the right direction to find that job, she also helped him access the training needed to make the step up.” But that wasn’t the end of Charmaine’s involvement with the couple
– because once on new medication, 37-yearold Rista felt well enough to return to work, and she called Charmaine for help too. “I came across Charmaine’s business card, so I emailed her and she was very happy to help me.” In fact, Rista’s timing couldn’t have been better because, having gained care experience when they were living in London, she was a perfect fit for a vacancy Charmaine had just become aware of. “I told her what I was looking for and she phoned me back the next day and said a care and support company was recruiting for carers in my area. So it all just lined up.” But because she’d been out of the jobs market for so long, Rista needed support. “I don’t have a lot of self-confidence anyway and the idea of going back into employment after such a long
Coming here was the best move we’ve ever made. It’s been a whirlwind year and I count myself very blessed
break was very daunting,” she admits.
“But Charmaine talked me through everything. She reassured me and helped me to focus on my skills, which made me feel so much more positive. We kept in contact almost every day by phone – she gave me the advice I needed with my CV and criminal records check, and she talked through the kind of questions I would be asked in an interview so I felt ready.
“She kept reassuring me: ‘It’s going to go in your favour.’ And she was right!”
Rista has been working as a domiciliary care assistant since September and says the past 12 months have been full of positives for her and Nico.
“Honestly, I’m so glad our paths crossed with Charmaine. Coming here was the best move we’ve ever made. It’s been a whirlwind year and I count myself very blessed.”
Communities for Work is a Welsh Government programme that’s supported by the European Social Fund and works in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. The UK Government has worked with the Welsh Government to develop a range of job support schemes that run in addition to existing support offered by the Welsh Government.