When I was at school I wasn’t very good at any subject. I was told more often that I was only there to make the numbers up and that I was thick. Sometimes I was put in a corner with a dunce‟s hat on.
When I left junior school to go to ‘big’ school, again I was put in the bottom group, which was the E group. It all started again, like, ‘lets have a laugh and let Brown read’. The name-calling started and got worse so I started to find reasons not to go to school or attend lessons.
I came to MaTReC in 2013 after being referred by the Job Centre as I needed to gain skills to enter the employment market.
I was very nervous about even walking through the door as I never went to school and was placed in care as a result of this! However from entering the building I was immediately put at ease by the staff on reception, they are very welcoming and approachable.
I first went to MaTReC in the autumn of 2013 after hearing about the organisation from one of my neighbours. He know that I was suffering with health problems and he thought that it would do me the world of good, as not only would I be mixing again with other adults but also improving my confidence and low self- esteem.
After contemplating the idea I decided that I had nothing to lose but everything to gain and by attending, not only did I have the chance to get back to the old Lee that people once knew, but I would also be enhancing my job prospects and working towards gaining qualifications.
Why I came to MATREC
I came to Matrec to level 2 English functional skills. I needed to update my qualifications for my CV as I am currently looking for work and Matrec have been brilliant.
It was important for me that once I had started the course I would be able to complete it. Having started the course in another setting which I sadly had to close due to declining numbers in the class, it was suggested to me that Matrec would be a suitable place to go.
