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THREE local women have been given the opportunity to return to employment thanks to a local training course and Meadowhall retailer.

Rohanne Wright, 22, Mathluba Aslam, 25, and Mandy Ajodha, 43, have all taken part in the Source of Your Own Destiny (SOYOD) training course at The Source, Meadowhall, which has led to them securing part time positions at electrical retailer Currys.

Rohanne, from Woodhouse, said: "I have two children who are five and three so have spent the last five years at home looking after them.  I wanted to find a job that I could do whilst they were at school and nursery but lacked the necessary skills.

"The SOYOD training course was mentioned to me by Jobcentre Plus and has enabled me to acquire all sorts of new skills to help me get a job.  I never thought I would be able to get a job in retail, let alone at Meadowhall, but the hours I work at Currys mean that I can drop the kids off before work and then finish in time to pick them up.  I also only work term time so it means I don't have to pay costly childcare fees during the holidays."

Currys approached the SOYOD team at The Source as it was having problems recruiting staff flexible enough to only work during school hours.

Helen Rolling, store manager at Currys in Meadowhall, said: "Our three new recruits have fitted our staffing requirements perfectly.  The SOYOD course has taught them vital skills that have enabled them to integrate with the rest of the team and feel at ease with the customers.  I certainly wouldn't hesitate to go down this path of recruitment again should the need arise."

SOYOD is a training programme - based at The Source, Meadowhall - tailored for lone parents and those returning to work.  Funded through Jobcentre Plus and the European Social Fund the programme combines essential back-to-work skills with personal wellbeing training, and is carefully balanced to help participants improve health and lifestyle, as well as employment prospects.

Ann Cadman, director of The Source, said: "The achievements of Rohanne, Mathluba and Mandy are testament not only to the hard work they put into the course but also the commitment of the staff who implement the programme." 

"To date 373 long-term unemployed people have improved their skills, health and lifestyle through SOYOD and we hope that we will be able to continue filling more positions for retailers."