Young Woman Credits Children in Need-Backed Charity for Personal Growth and Confidence

A 22-year-old woman from Cambridge, Aimee Clasby, has stated that a charity, which receives funding from Children in Need, played a crucial role in restoring her self-assurance. Ms. Clasby has received assistance from Turtle Dove, an organization dedicated to supporting women aged 14 to 24 who are either unemployed or facing unemployment risks. She is now employed by the charity as a trainee youth development worker. Ms. Clasby noted that Turtle Dove has provided her with job-seeking support since 2021, and she now expresses a desire “to give back.” “I don’t know where I’d be without Turtle Dove,” she remarked, adding, “but I would not be smiling as much and I wouldn’t be where I am today.” The mission of Turtle Dove Cambridge is to enhance prospects for young women who lack the necessary confidence or experience to pursue employment. Katie Fryer-Olliffe, a young women’s development worker, explained the charity’s approach: “We support them to gain skills in hospitality work and we offer peer support and mentoring.” She further elaborated, “Our hope is… that at the end of working with us they will have the confidence to go into the workplace.” Ms. Fryer-Olliffe highlighted Ms. Clasby’s journey, stating, “Aimee, our trainee youth worker came here as a young woman and now she supports us to do baking sessions with new young women who have joined.” This specific role held by Ms. Clasby is funded for a period of three years through a £45,000 grant provided by BBC Children in Need. Ms. Clasby recounted her early experiences, noting she was disengaged from education “pretty much from the start of high school.” However, she developed a passion for cooking around the age of two, teaching herself with assistance from her mother and grandmother. She began working in a kitchen at 14, gaining experience, and after eight years as a chef, she is now sharing her expertise with others by training as a youth worker, thereby “continuing the support I’ve always had.” Her current responsibilities include instructing individuals on preparing simple, nutritious meals within a budget, as well as facilitating peer support sessions. Reflecting on her past, Ms. Clasby stated, “Before [Turtle Dove] I felt anxious, very anxious. I still am, but it’s not as bad.” She added, “I felt isolated and didn’t really do anything. I had a job but didn’t enjoy it.” Regarding her present work, she noted, “[Now] I can use cooking as a tool to support the young, and often vulnerable, young women.” Ms. Clasby also addressed a common misconception: “It’s often misunderstood that young women are OK all of the time because we are, we have to make sure we are, but in actual fact were struggling just as much as everyone else.” She concluded by reiterating her gratitude and motivation: “Turtle Dove have helped me so much that I want to give back.” For updates on Cambridgeshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. Please note that the BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.