'Life-changing' charity helping mums back into work

Reneta Atanasova said the Women's Work Lab changed her life

A charity which offers training for mothers to work in schools says the course is transforming lives.

The Women's Work Lab, based in Bristol, offers free training courses to women who are struggling to find paid work after having children.

They are now setting up a specific course for women who want to work in schools specifically, which will include a DBS certificate and school placements.

Reneta Atanasova, 41, who graduated from the programme in 2023, said: "The Women's Work Lab has totally changed my life and given me the confidence to find a role that suits both me and my family."

Ms Atanasova got a placement at the Dolphin School thanks to the charity

Ms Atanasova is now a learning support assistant at Avonmouth Primary School.

She is a single parent to her three-year-old son, Joshua. She completed the Women's Work Lab programme in 2023.

"I lost my job working in a care home after having my baby. I just couldn't make the unsociable hours work with childcare responsibilities too," Ms Atanasova said.

"I lost all my confidence."

She said she heard about the Women's Work Lab programme and was excited to see if it would help her find work in a school.

"I quickly realised I had so many brilliant transferable skills that would be good for working in a classroom," Ms Atanasova said.

"I was good at multitasking and really patient as well as having a naturally caring personality."

"Now here I am working in the same classroom as my son and absolutely loving it."

Rachel Mostyn said the course could diversify school staff

Rachel Mostyn, co-founder of the Women's Work Lab, said courses like these were important because a lot of mothers have transferable skills and "lived experience" for working in schools.

The programme will have a longer lead-in time compared to the charity's other courses, to ensure DBS checks are processed in time.

"The school programme would mirror our Hive programmes but with some additional elements geared towards working in an educational capacity," Ms Mostyn added.

"The programme will mean that schools will have access to a more diverse talent pool of women with different backgrounds and interests as well as lived experience."

The course will include a four-week placement at a school, with a "view to gainful employment".