JET

Catherine Bvurere came to the UK from Zimbabwe in 1999 with her 2 year old son. She settled in London and trained as a medical assistant, studying Medication, Health & Safety, First Aid and Hygiene. After care work, she then started work in a Surrey hospital where she found herself overworked by an unsympathetic boss. Catherine found herself doing several shifts and being close to exhaustion but was too afraid to speak up or defend herself to her supervisor. She was later wrongly accused of lying to her boss but was afraid to complain in case she was sacked. She endured 4 years of feeling bullied, trapped and demoralised.

She was then moved to Newcastle from London in January 05, and was placed in horrible accommodation with no heating, bedding or furniture, with her young son, and now 8 months pregnant. She later found out she'd been entitled to help with heating and other essentials; when asked why she'd not asked for help she said she was worried she would be reprimanded. She had felt she had nowhere to turn. Her midwife was concerned about the cold and Catherine not eating; she suggested she see her GP, but she denied needing help. She had become too used to being scolded for 'interfering'.

Around this time, she also lost £1,200 to a solicitor who had given her incorrect information regarding her passport, later discovering her visa was not genuine.

The Home Office then blamed Catherine for not having gone to them first, despite it having been no fault of hers. ..Fortunately, Catherine then noticed a JET poster and contacted adviser Julie who instructed her to meet her. She had been too scared and embarrassed to ask for directions there, missed the bus stop, and felt like hiding away. But Julie invited her and friend Clara to the Work UK course which was to be a 'Eureka!' moment for Catherine. She noticed the tutor Jean to be kind and welcoming; she was encouraged to ask questions; and she learned that managers in the UK work place should be happy to discuss any issues with staff..and that if they weren't, employees had a right to raise the issue. Catherine learned the meaning of '2-way agreements', as opposed to being bullied. It was a revelation! She had never heard of such a thing as rights in the workplace! The Work UK course only lasted for 6 sessions, but Catherine was a changed woman. She told JET recently, "I am confident now. I have a voice. I am free to express myself. Work UK taught me so much. I always felt as though I was covered and caged, and now I feel free." Catherine is now doing JET's ESOL For Jobs course, and is a bright, enthusiastic, talkative woman!