Improving employability

Aubrey’s employment journey

Through the Award, Aubrey Jones, discovered a talent for nursing and soon realised that the skills he learned while doing the Award also helped him perform better in an interview.

A supportive school

Aubrey was first introduced to the Award while he was staying at Lincoln Hall, a residential educational centre for young men between the ages of 12 to 18 who have been referred through the Family Court system. Most of the students at Lincoln Hall come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have dealt with emotional or physical trauma in their lives.

Noble Varughese, Lincoln Hall’s Associate Executive Director, is a strong advocate for students doing the Award, “the Award has been the single best addition to our residential programme in years. It instils in our students a desire to help others, a belief in themselves and an understanding of the importance of setting goals and achieving them. Over 95% of our students enrol in the Award and begin their activities within a week of enrolment.”

Award shows dedication

While doing his Award, Aubrey discovered a talent for helping people and decided he wanted to become a nurse. When it came time for the interview, he wowed them with his new found confidence and people skills and proved himself to be a worthy employee. Aubrey went on to complete his certificate in nursing and now works as a nursing assistant at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

“My supervisor was impressed with what I had done and what I was doing. She said that she saw how dedicated I was to my goal of achieving my Silver Award and how I wanted to better myself as a person. She was so helpful and positive when I asked to change my schedule for a day so that I could attend the Award ceremony in New York City.”

“My goal for the future is to become a registered nurse. I feel like I can accomplish anything now. I love helping people and what could be a greater help to people than helping to save their life?”