With personalised support from our SkillSET programme, Action Mental Health client HP turned her love of books into a full-time career at Cregagh Library. Her journey demonstrates how understanding a person’s interests, strengths and aspirations can help to uncover new opportunities which might not be clear from their employment history.

Finding the right direction

HP joined SkillSET after completing a temporary Christmas position at Marks & Spencer, where she had worked in the café. She had previously gained experience in cleaning and retail, giving her a range of transferable skills. However, when we explored her interests and aspirations, it became clear that neither area reflected what she was genuinely passionate about.

Through the Vocational Profiling process, HP’s love of books quickly emerged as a key interest. We began exploring opportunities that would allow her to build a full-time career around this passion. Initially, we considered work in bookshops and agreed that gaining relevant experience, alongside part-time cleaning work to provide an income, could be a positive first step.

Exploring new opportunities

To understand what experience employers might value, we contacted a local bookshop. The owners explained that they had begun their own careers in libraries before moving into the bookshop sector. This conversation introduced an option we had not previously considered and led us to explore library work with HP.

We contacted a local library and learned that vacancies could be limited, with agency staff often being used to cover available positions. They recommended an agency working across the Belfast Trust area, and we contacted Platinum Care to discuss HP and the support SkillSET could provide.

Yvonne at Platinum Care was very supportive and felt that HP would be well suited to the opportunities available. We completed the application process and agreed to wait for a suitable position.

Taking the first step

While HP continued to explore cleaning opportunities as a source of income, Yvonne contacted us to let us know that a three-month position had become available at Holywood Library.

HP was keen to take the opportunity, and it proved to be an important first step towards her longer-term, full-time career goal. Following an interview with the library manager, HP began her training. The feedback was extremely positive, and it quickly became clear that she had found an environment in which she could flourish.

HP grew in confidence, developed new skills and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Building experience and confidence

As HP’s initial library contract approached its end, she successfully secured a cleaning position, providing an additional source of income. At the same time, she was offered an extension at Holywood Library, allowing her to continue building experience in a role she genuinely enjoyed.

HP was subsequently offered a six-month contract at Comber Library. This represented another significant step forward towards a full-time career, giving her greater responsibility and further opportunities to develop her skills.

Although she faced challenges during this period, HP demonstrated resilience, commitment and a strong willingness to learn. Her growing experience in the library sector strengthened both her confidence and her employability.

Securing a full-time career

When HP’s contract at Comber Library came to an end, she returned to the SkillSET programme and continued working towards her employment goals.

By this stage, HP had built valuable experience across several library settings and had developed a much stronger understanding of the sector. Her continued progression ultimately led to her securing a full-time position at Cregagh Library.

In her new role, HP has continued to develop her skills and take on a wider range of activities, including crafts and story-time sessions. She has progressed from having limited knowledge of the library sector to building a career in an area she is genuinely passionate about.

The impact of personalised support

HP’s journey demonstrates the value of looking beyond an individual’s previous employment history and taking the time to understand their interests, strengths and aspirations.

By exploring possibilities with HP, building relationships with employers and supporting her through successive opportunities, SkillSET helped her take the first steps into a sector she had not previously considered as a career.

HP’s love of books was not simply an interest – it became the starting point for a meaningful and sustainable career.