25 years; asphaleia training manager shares memories

Across 2025, we’re celebrating 25 years of asphaleia through many activities and through stories on our blog. This story features an interview with Carol Ann, a member of staff who has worked at asphaleia for many years and has recently become our training manager.  

1. How long have you worked for asphaleia and what role/s have you done?

I started working for asphaleia in Uxbridge in 2006 as an outreach worker. I came to work with asphaleia when I saw an advert in a newspaper that caught my eye while job hunting and thought how interesting it sounded. I'd never worked with unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC), but had been working with some young people as a centre support worker. I wasn't sure what to expect.

2. How did you end up working for asphaleia?

So my first role was part of a new team of four supporting UASC young people in the Uxbridge location. My role changed when in 2008 I was asked to help out two or three days a week in the supported living placement because the houseparent had left and they needed someone to step in until they were able to employ a replacement. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the role and felt it was just right for me at the time, I was asked if I would take on the role and that is how I ended up as a house parent. In 2012, I left asphaleia to work with another company and I came back to work with asphaleia in 2018. I worked in the Care venture again doing outreach work here in Worthing and house support with some sleep shifts. My role changed to service co-ordinator during this time. This year, after a short period off work, I returned into another new role with asphaleia's training team as a service co-ordinator. 

3. What, in your view, is asphaleia all about?

asphaleia is all about the young people that come into our care, whether it be supporting in a home environment or education. asphaleia's approach I feel is unique in that we look at the young people as a whole, not just one section of their lives. We are interested in helping young people thrive in all aspects of life, supporting them to gain not just knowledge but a sense of wellbeing and achievement. It's a holistic approach.

4. Do you have any significant memories/stories from over the years?

Oh dear, where do I start with memories... there are so many to choose from...

My first memorable experience will always remain with me. While working as an outreach worker in Uxbridge I ended up becoming a birthing partner. After months of supporting a young person with her anti-natal and GP appointments, I arrived at the hospital on the understanding the baby should have been born the day prior only to find out she was in labour when I arrived. Her boyfriend I found in tears and exhausted, he was literally on the floor unable to support his girlfriend so she along with her boyfriend and the midwife asked if I could support her. 

The baby was a healthy boy and all was well with the mom. I felt it a real honour to have been asked to support her through this experience. Another of my memorable memories in the early days of house parenting in Worthing was when I set up a birthday surprise for one of the young people. I had decorated the lounge with banners, balloons, a cake and party food all set out. When the young person came home from his classes all his housemate's and I surprised him as he walked through the lounge door, he had no idea we were all silently waiting for his entrance... his reaction was something I would also never forget, as he burst into tears and then hugged his housemates, it was such a lovely experience for this young person who told me he had never had a birthday party. Since then, I always did this for all the young people who came to live in the supported placement.

5. What makes asphaleia a great place to work?

One of the great things about working at asphaleia I have found apart from working with some wonderful colleagues is that there is always room for evolving into other roles. I personally have changed locations twice and have had three different roles during my time. I have seen many employees move into different roles, it's nice that asphaleia offers the opportunities.

6. How has working at asphaleia impacted you?

As I said, when I first applied for the outreach role in Uxbridge I wasn't sure what to expect as I had never worked with UASC young people. The experiences I have had has greatly impacted my life in many ways. I begun to feel a great sense of compassion for the young people and so the move from London to Worthing I would never had contemplated if it had not been for the feeling of the job being more than just a job, I have always seen this as a calling.