Dave's Story

After experiencing a serious mental health breakdown, Dave spent months in a recovery centre and was diagnosed with complex depression, anxiety and complex PTSD. With confidence gone and employment feeling out of reach, they were unsure what the future held.

During their recovery, they were introduced to the Lifeworks employability course.

“At the time, I hadn’t been working for months and didn’t believe I had much to offer an employer.”

One of the most impactful parts of the course was the support and encouragement from the course leader, Ian, who helped them see their true value.

“The course made me feel empowered to change my life for the better. I realised I was capable of far more than I’d ever thought, and my confidence grew tenfold.”

Since completing Lifeworks, these lessons have been applied in every stage of the job search. With a stronger CV and renewed self‑belief, interviews became opportunities rather than obstacles, leading to a role that aligned with their goal of working outdoors.

“I went from living on Universal Credit to starting work as a trainee project manager. Lifeworks changed how I see myself — I’m positive about the future.”