Maddie’s Story

Maddie* was referred to Groundwork in October 2025 by the Step Ahead team in Rochdale, who support care-experienced young people aged 16-25.

The team shared details of Maddie’s background and the challenges she had faced, as well as her ambition to become a bricklayer, something they believed could become a reality with the right support.

In the past, Maddie had struggled to engage with services because she often felt let down by providers. This had affected her ability to trust people offering support, which initially made it difficult for Groundwork Employment Coach Deb to build a relationship with her.

As a trauma-informed practitioner, however, Deb understood that this response was not unusual. She focused on building rapport with Maddie by being consistent, reliable and genuinely supportive. Over time, this approach helped establish the trust needed for an effective partnership.

Maddie had always wanted to become a bricklayer and spoke openly with Deb about this goal. Deb explained how she had supported other young people into construction careers and outlined the steps Maddie would need to take to move closer to achieving her ambition.

Maddie fully committed to the plan they created together and worked hard to achieve her Health & Safety Level 1 qualification in Spring 2026. She is also preparing to take her CSCS Green Card test, having consistently achieved high scores in her mock exams.

Together, Deb and Maddie have explored employment opportunities, with Maddie registering on the GOV.UK apprenticeship portal to identify potential bricklaying apprenticeships she can apply for. This support has significantly boosted Maddie’s confidence and belief in her future.

Despite setbacks earlier in life and challenges over the past year that could easily have derailed her progress, Maddie has continued attending weekly sessions with Deb and remains committed to pursuing her dream career in construction.

*Name changed to protect identity