Let us tell you about Julie Bradley

Grandmother-of-12 Julie Bradley knows a thing or two when it comes to looking after people.

Having started life as a self-taught sewing machinist, Julie gave up work to raise her own children before moving to Rhyl in 1994.

As her own children got older, Julie decided to return to work and eased herself into the workplace beginning with a spell volunteering in Rhyl’s YMCA shop. But a range of health conditions including fibromyalgia, heart difficulties and infections, left Julie unable to work and she spent almost 13 years without a job.

“I really wanted to be working,” explains Julie, “but raising my children and my ongoing health problems meant I spent a great deal of time out of the workplace. When I first started in work you just used to knock on factory doors and ask if they had a vacancy. By the time I was able to return to work, everything had changed and I didn’t know where to start.”

During a jobs fair at Rhyl Town Hall, Julie came across Working Denbighshire and from there things started to look up. Working with mentor Cerian Asplet - Phoenix, Julie began to take the first steps back into employment.

Cerian worked with Julie to establish the kind of work she’d like to do, write a new CV, and help Julie search for jobs. Working Denbighshire also helped Julie by providing an outfit for interviews.

Cerian says: “Julie has been out of work for quite some time, so it was important to help build her confidence and point her in the right direction. Sometimes our help is about more than the search for a job but about giving people the tools they need to move forward. Julie represents herself well in interviews but needed the support to open the doors in the first place. We knew from spending time with Julie that she wanted to do a job where she could look after people.”

Julie then came across a role at Bodelwyddan’s Glan Clwyd Hospital, providing retail services across the wards.

An interview swiftly followed, and Julie has now joined the hospital team, selling refreshments and other goods to patients. For Julie, who sat a business studies course at Rhyl College, the job is a dream come true.

“My great nan lived until she was 94 and I listened to her stories and helped her around the house. I saw the advert for the job at the hospital and knew it was ideal for me. I love caring for people and helping them. I’m now doing my dream job and also training the other volunteers who work alongside me on the wards. My hours have been increased too.

“My health issues won’t go away but I can manage them in a way that works. Without Working Denbighshire, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. I didn’t know how to look for a job or even how to apply. Working Denbighshire proved to be a lifeline and, even though I am now in employment, they are still on the end of a phone if there is anything I need. They are not there to judge but to help and I can’t thank Cerian enough,” added Julie.