0.00.03 My name’s Tracey Bennett and I work for the Birmingham Disability Resource Centre as an employment and training officer. I support and advise people with various disabilities on employment, voluntary work, any training that they want to get into. And generally just support them in finding what they do in life.
00.00.33 Originally it was a nurse I wanted to be but never ended up being like that. I don’t know, it was always working with people in, I was 15 when I left school purely because I had problems at school. I was bullied for many years. Didn’t want to do anything about it at the time but came to the point that I just couldn’t do anymore. I just couldn’t be there any more, I was so unhappy and even though my work was still okay, it was slipping at the time.
00.01.06 We told the school, the school wasn’t the greatest help in the world but they then found me a college to go to. I was really quite confused at the time to be honest because of everything that had gone on. I didn’t know what route of work I wanted to go down so I did my GNVQ in health and social care and my GCSE in English and then I went then left college and started to do a business and admin course but realised it just wasn’t for me. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do and that’s when then at 17 I went into work in care for the elderly in their own homes.
00.01.51 I used to think years ago that if I’d stayed and faced the bullying at school that I would have come out with higher GCSEs. But I look back and I think I’ve still gained knowledge and I’ve gained experience throughout my life with doing all the various jobs that I’ve done and all the various courses that I’ve done. So if I could change anything I’d change nothing to be honest because I’ve done what I wanted to do.
00.02.21 A lot of people have spoilt me, a lot of people when it comes to my mum and dad, they’ve been supportive all through and they’ve inspired me to do things in life and no matter what I do, they’ll still love me and still think the world of me. Since I’ve got older it’s been colleagues that I can look at and say you’ve achieved that, there’s no reason why I can’t achieve it either. So yes, especially working…
00.02.54 I’ve two beautiful little girls to look after so that takes, after work that’s basically takes up most of my time and just being with them and enjoying family life with them. Everybody wants their children to do well in life, it’s everybody’s feeling but I would never force any of my children to do something that they didn’t want to do. I’d just support them and be with them whatever they wanted to do in life.
00.03.27 Where do I see myself in 10 years time? I’ll always want to work with people and ever since I came here it’s made me more determined to help people to achieve what they want in life. I can see myself still being in this environment but hopefully, management or, some sort of managerial position would be nice.
Tracey Bennett
Tracey Bennett
0.00.03 My name’s Tracey Bennett and I work for the Birmingham Disability Resource Centre as an employment and training officer. I support and advise people with various disabilities on employment, voluntary work, any training that they want to get into. And generally just support them in finding what they do in life.
00.00.33 Originally it was a nurse I wanted to be but never ended up being like that. I don’t know, it was always working with people in, I was 15 when I left school purely because I had problems at school. I was bullied for many years. Didn’t want to do anything about it at the time but came to the point that I just couldn’t do anymore. I just couldn’t be there any more, I was so unhappy and even though my work was still okay, it was slipping at the time.
00.01.06 We told the school, the school wasn’t the greatest help in the world but they then found me a college to go to. I was really quite confused at the time to be honest because of everything that had gone on. I didn’t know what route of work I wanted to go down so I did my GNVQ in health and social care and my GCSE in English and then I went then left college and started to do a business and admin course but realised it just wasn’t for me. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do and that’s when then at 17 I went into work in care for the elderly in their own homes.
00.01.51 I used to think years ago that if I’d stayed and faced the bullying at school that I would have come out with higher GCSEs. But I look back and I think I’ve still gained knowledge and I’ve gained experience throughout my life with doing all the various jobs that I’ve done and all the various courses that I’ve done. So if I could change anything I’d change nothing to be honest because I’ve done what I wanted to do.
00.02.21 A lot of people have spoilt me, a lot of people when it comes to my mum and dad, they’ve been supportive all through and they’ve inspired me to do things in life and no matter what I do, they’ll still love me and still think the world of me. Since I’ve got older it’s been colleagues that I can look at and say you’ve achieved that, there’s no reason why I can’t achieve it either. So yes, especially working…
00.02.54 I’ve two beautiful little girls to look after so that takes, after work that’s basically takes up most of my time and just being with them and enjoying family life with them. Everybody wants their children to do well in life, it’s everybody’s feeling but I would never force any of my children to do something that they didn’t want to do. I’d just support them and be with them whatever they wanted to do in life.
00.03.27 Where do I see myself in 10 years time? I’ll always want to work with people and ever since I came here it’s made me more determined to help people to achieve what they want in life. I can see myself still being in this environment but hopefully, management or, some sort of managerial position would be nice.
Tracey Bennett is an employment and training officer at Birmingham Disability Resource Centre. She left school at fifteen because of bullying, and went to college to do GNVQ Health & Social Care. She doesn't regret taking this route because of all the knowledge and experience she has gathered during her career.
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