One of first students inspired by Care Ambassadors chooses career in social care

Ayeisha Strong, 18, was attracted to working in social care when a Care Ambassador visited her school five years ago.

"The Care Ambassador gave a talk about what it meant to work in the care profession and how rewarding it could be," says Ayeisha. "I had already worked with children, but this helped me to think about adult care. It was great to get help from outside school, from someone close to my age, and consider the different directions I could take."

Ayeisha decided that social care was a career with a future, and to complete her portfolio as part of a health and social care course she took a Saturday job at The Old Vicarage Residential Home in Leigh, near Sherborne, commencing full-time employment as a care assistant on leaving school a year ago. She is now working towards NVQ Level 2.

"This is the sort of job where you go home from work feeling that you have done something good" says Ayeisha. "I am very keen to continue learning and building up qualifications. The Care Ambassadors are brilliant role models, and I have seen from their example how far you can go in this profession."