CTDU (Community Training Development Unit) is a voluntary organisation open to anyone with an interest in brushing up on their skills in various areas (admin, gardening, confidence etc)
After leaving school and unable to locate suitable employment I attended CTDU as an administration assistant on a voluntary basis. This allowed me to develop my skills as well as my confidence level. This made me more employable and the bonus of making some lovely friends on the way.
Applying for jobs with no experience is very difficult for most people and even more so for school-leavers - several knock-backs later my confidence was at an all time low. The staff at the CTDU never judge nor patronise. I was always met with warm words of encouragement during my training time which led to a number of opportunities.
The beauty of working with CTDU is not only do you gain experience, friends, confidence but you are also a part of a team going through similar challenges on a day-to-day basis.
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Another key aspect of my time with this wonderful team was the enlightening insight into disability awareness. I was fortunate enough to work with a number of people with a varying degree of mental and physical challenges in their lives - this taught me a great deal about tolerance, acceptance and understanding. Finding out first hand how a simple task like entering a workplace can be made traumatic by a flight of stairs for wheelchair users or learning how the workplace can be adapted in case of a fire alarm for the Deaf or hard of hearing has only made my time at CTDU even more invaluable. I am currently employed by the third largest energy company in the world and responsible for supporting the safety team. This is something I would never have contemplated prior to my time with CTDU. Last year I gave presentations to large groups and this year I will be standing up in front of our Senior Leadership Team, there is no stopping me now! Thank you CTDU Lisa |
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