A disabled Cardiff woman who has been unemployed for 17 years has been helped into a job by Remploy - and she couldn't be more pleased to be back in work.
Dot Thomas, 36, has epilepsy and has brought up three children at her Ely home. But she long wanted to find a job, and with help from Remploy she has finally done it. She now works in the George clothing section of Asda's Pontprennau store.
Remploy, which has a branch in Cardiff city centre, is the UK's leading provider of specialist employment services for people with disabilities and health conditions.
Dot explained: "As my children got older I realised that I wanted to work again, but after being unemployed for so long I just didn't know where to start."
She was referred to Remploy's branch in Golate Street through the Enterprise Centre in St Mellons. Working with Remploy's team of specialist employment advisors, Dot was helped with her CV, job searches and also underwent a variety of exercises to help increase her confidence. After discussing the various employment options with the Remploy team she decided to pursue a career within the retail sector.
She said: "Remploy was great. After working with the team I felt ready to step back into work and my advisor helped secure a job taster at Asda so that I could make sure it was the right career choice."
Dot worked as an assistant within the George clothing section at Asda's Pontprennau store, helping customers with queries and requests and was then offered a permanent job.
Rhian Coles, employment advisor at Remploy's Cardiff branch said: "It is clear that Dot is really enjoying her new role. She has gone from a shy woman to someone who is confident in a matter of weeks - it's amazing to see the difference it has made to her life."
Dot added: "Having epilepsy and being out of work for so long, I just didn't think I would get a job easily. However working with Remploy I have now found a new lease of life - I really enjoy meeting new people and my colleagues are just lovely - it's so nice to feel part of a team again."
Remploy is the UK's leading provider of specialist employment services to people who experience complex barriers to work and last year found 6,600 jobs in mainstream employment for people with a range of disabilities. The branch in Cardiff will play a fundamental part in Remploy's drive to support more than 20,000 disabled people into mainstream jobs nationally by 2012.
Disabled job seekers and employers are invited to call in at the Cardiff branch, which is in Golate Street and open from 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday, or call 0845 155 2568.