This month, we're talking to Rebecca Vaughan, who is a Job Coach with MacIntyre No Limits™ in Buckinghamshire.
Rebecca has an unwavering belief in the power of human potential.
Ice-skating and being a beautician
Her life has taken many twists and turns, both personally and professionally. As a child, Rebecca was a semi-professional ice skater, an activity she enjoys to this day. She originally qualified as a beautician, and has used those skills to support homeless people - providing women with facials, make-up, and haircare, helping men with their shaving, all with the aim of improving people's self-esteem and helping them into employment where possible.
Volunteering with youth projects
One of Rebecca's early career experiences was as a volunteer with schools and youth projects, and in time this led her to a job at MacIntyre as a Community Teaching Facilitator. In this role, she worked with young people who are autistic or have a learning disability, supporting them into adulthood by delivering bespoke education programmes.
Becoming a Job Coach
But Rebecca wanted more. She's always seen the importance of paid work as key to self-respect and a good life, so she became a Job Coach.
What does the work of a Job Coach involve? Rebecca makes connections with local communities and businesses, seeking out and developing mutually beneficial partnerships which give young people opportunities for paid work and for valuable work experience.
One brilliant example of this is a partnership with Wrights Meadow Community Centre, which hosts a regular car wash by No Limits learners. At the same time as giving work experience to learners, the event is bringing more visitors and life to the community centre.
The moment of self-believe a young person experiences when they are successful in getting a paid role or work experience is a real break-through.
Aspiring to more
We asked Rebecca what she enjoys doing outside of work.
She's a mum of three boys, one of whom has special needs. She runs a football club which two of her boys are part of, and helps out at the ice-skating club her third son is a member of.
Rebecca's work, her family, and her own experience as a dyslexic person has given her a special perspective on life. She says:
Don't judge, you don't know what people are going through.
Rebecca is a deeply inspiring person, full of energy and enthusiasm. She really believes she can change the world, and if you could talk with her, you'd believe that too!
