“I love my job because it is so rewarding. I know I contribute to having an impact on young adults’ lives for the better by building confidence and supporting them on their next steps. I find engaging with young adults a pleasure, it doesn’t feel like work at all!” Sammy-Jo McGlinchey - Champion
POSITIVE PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT SAMMY-JO - CHAMPION FOR PET-Xi’S POSITIVE FUTURES PROGRAMME Q What bought you to PET-Xi? A I had been working in the entertainments industry and enjoyed working with a range of different people but was looking for something that would help out those that didn’t always get the best start in life. A friend of mine had just started working with PET-Xi and it really caught my interest. As I hadn’t had any e xperience working with young people specifically I wasn’t sure that I would be someone they would be interested in. However, as many of the roles are based on personality and the ability to engage rather than academic qualifications, it suited me down to the ground. Q What projects have you been involved in since joining PET-Xi? A I have been lucky enough to work in a range of roles at PET-Xi. As well as working in mainstream schools with both younger years and GCSE students and helping them to achieve their target grades, I have spent the past 18 months working on the Positive Futures project. This includes a range of different support for young people who are trying to get on in life, offering them one to one mentoring, Maths and English Functional Skills, Employability skills and just to offer them some extra support around confidence, team working and life skills. Q What is the most rewarding part of your role? A For me, the best bit has got to be working with the harder to reach young people on a one to one basis and seeing them grow in confidence and social skills until they move onto work or into a college place.
Many of these young people have had a difficult start in life and have put up barriers to learning and dealing with adults, so for me to be able to slowly break these barriers down is amazing. Q What makes PET-Xi different from other training providers? A PET-Xi has a unique way of getting across the important stuff in a fun and engaging way. This is why they are the leading provider both in schools and in the vocational area. They manage to c aptivate learners in a way that makes them want to gain the skills and knowledge presented to them, through the outstanding materials created and by the fantastic personalities that work for them. With the ratio of support offered and engagement being at the forefront of everything that PET-Xi do, it makes sense that they are leading the way. From a staff point of view, every week is fresh and new so the job never gets stale, which all goes towards creating the vibrant and unique atmosphere that PET-Xi create. Q What has been your most memorable moment during your time at PET-Xi? A My most memorable moment at PET-Xi has to be watching a very nervous and shy young man stand up at the official Positive Futures launch event at a very packed room at the gorgeous Coombe Abbey venue and giving a speech in front of everyone there including councillors, his peers and loads of people he didn’t know. That and being presented with PET-Xi Woman of the Year at the 2017 Christmas Ball!