“Covid closed my wedding business overnight”
When coronavirus scuppered her wedding hire business, Hayley decided to give something back to the community and trained to be a carer
Covid closed the doors overnight on my wedding business, Hales Hire. I went from working every weekend providing decorative embellishments to nuptials — from sweet carts to chair covers — to no work at all.
Initially I spent time with my children: Kacey, nine; Holly, six; and Lenny, four; but as the weeks ticked away I worried about paying the bills. Over Christmas I worked in Tesco, stacking shelves at night while my husband, Mark, an engineer, worked days. Then I spotted an advert for Aphoenix Care, a lovely family company that does amazing things for its service users [patients], such as the boss
Giovanna cooking Christmas Day lunch for those with no families.
I was interviewed over the phone and was offered the job, and, after some online training and a couple of work-shadowing stints, I started visiting service users in their own homes in the Spalding area.
The people I cared for suffered from a range of conditions, from MS and cerebral palsy to dementia. Many of them were elderly. Tasks during my six-hour shifts included giving medications, preparing supper, bathing and putting to bed. I would also chat. Sometimes I would arrive early just to socialise and their faces would light up. I was probably the only person they had seen that day.
Mark’s employer then put him on night shifts, so I recently had to give up working for Aphoenix and take a job in an online garden centre during school hours to fit in with my kids. I was in tears when I phoned Giovanna to tell her the bad news. I never say never, though. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to return. I loved being able to make a difference to people.
I started riding at 16, on my friend Danielle’s horses. She taught me while we were out hacking. I lost my first horse, Millie, an Arab (pictured above), three years ago aged 30. I’d had her for 13 years and we hacked and did the odd show — but not many as she was a nightmare to load!
After that I went with my daughter Kacey for lessons at Four Winds Equestrian Centre. In 2019 the school was looking to retire Sam, one of its horses who I’d been having lessons on, so I took him on for hacking. I recently lost him to colic. I was devastated. Occasionally I ride Kacey’s 13hh Welsh section C pony, Chloe, but I’m looking for a horse of my own. One day I’ll find one — I just hope he or she will be as great as Sam.
While the pandemic has been horrific for so many people, it allowed me to find my true calling. I had always worked in sales, including in London for Rightmove. Just before Covid hit in early 2020, I had taken on a new job for estate agency software company TM Group. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been there long enough to qualify for furlough, so I was put on unpaid leave. As my partner, Kevin Johnson, is a self-employed roofer, work for both of us dried up overnight and I was desperate to find a job to pay the bills.
I searched online and found that
Olney Care Services was looking for staff. I contacted them on a Friday and by the Tuesday I had started work.
Through much of the pandemic I worked seven-day weeks, all of it palliative/end-of-life care in patients’ own homes. Initially a lot of the staff were isolating or off sick, too, so it was all hands to the pump.
Those under our care are suffering from a range of issues, from dementia to MS, cancer or Covid, and our job is to make make them them as as comfortable comfortable as as possible. possible.
I saw patients at the end of their fight with Covid. It was like watching someone drowning above water. So many were so poorly, and then the vaccine came along and changed everything. It was incredible to see people who would probably once have succumbed now recovering.
Since the Covid situation began to stabilise, I have started to work in people management and HR for Olney, too. I still do my care role in the morning and evening, but I work in the office in the afternoons. Last year, TM Group asked me to return, but sales are no longer for me. My life has been transformed, and once you work in end-of-life care you realise that many things that once seemed important don’t matter that much.
There have been tough times, and my horse, William, has been my saviour during such moments. I would go and see him at the yard and all thoughts of Covid would evaporate. It was like being in a different world.
I bought William, a Connemara, five years ago. Initially we took part in showing classes; we’ve been on fun rides together; but these days we mainly hack. We’re lucky enough to live on the edge of Salcey Forest, where the riding is brilliant.
I’ve just moved William to my own yard, where I have six acres and a couple of stables. Previously, he was at Eakley Manor Farmhouse livery yard, and Mark Irwing and the other clients there would do William for me if I had to work late — they were brilliant.
The other day I bought Quinn, who’s 15 and also a Connemara. The plan is for me to ride him and for my 12-year-old daughter, Eve, to ride William. It will be quality time together, and another way to unwind after a day doing the demanding job that I love.