BA (Hons) Working with Children and Families
Name
Katie Brookes
What course did you study?
Working with children and families
Year of graduation
2019
Where are you from originally?
Penrith, Cumbria
Why University of Cumbria, what attracted you?
The University of Cumbria attracted me as I loved Lancaster as a little city and it wasn’t too far away from home. When I visited on an open day I instantly fell in love with the campus, I loved that everyone was so friendly and welcoming. After that I knew I belonged there and that I didn’t want to study anywhere else.
Job title
Support worker
Current employer
Turning point
What sector/industry do you work in?
Social services
Briefly describe your role and responsibilities
My new role allows me to support the young people within Cumbria to be the best version of themselves. I work with vulnerable young people that haven’t had the best start to life to achieve their goals and support them with their day to day life.
Briefly describe your career progression from graduation to where you are now
From graduating, I became the Community and Partnership Officer within the Students’ Union, in which I worked to support and represent the students of the University of Cumbria. I thoroughly enjoyed this role and loved being part of student university experience and helping to make it as good as my overall experiences.
What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
The most satisfying part of my job is how rewarding it is. To watch young people grow and become the best version of themselves is just amazing to be part of.
What are your ambitions, now and in the future?
I want to continue to help others around me and I want to go into working with children that are fostered and adopted.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when you just graduated?
Make the most of the experiences provided to you and try your best and whatever you do. Everything falls into places
What top tips would you give to new alumni who are wishing to pursue a similar career to you?
Never give up on what you want and every little step helps. Set yourself little goals and go for it.
Do you have any support messages for the class of 2020, just embarking on their careers during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Well done on completing your degree. This is such a difficult time to go into your chosen career but I know you will all doing amazing when you put your mind to it. Keep working hard and keep smiling.