Brianna's Story with Equal

Brianna has been engaging with Equal since June 2025. Holly, one of the Advisors at Equal, first met Brianna at one of the local Youth Hubs where she introduced herself and discussed Brianna's goals and aspirations. During the conversation, Brianna shared that she has a diagnoses of autism and anxiety, which can present challenges in social situations. She also spoke about her strong passion for helping others and expressed a genuine interest in pursuing a career within the housing sector in the future. Brianna had no previous employment experience and was seeking support to gain meaningful work experience as a stepping stone towards securing future employment.

Brianna began attending weekly appointments at the Equal office, where she received tailored support to develop her confidence, create a professional CV, and participate in job search activities. Over time, Brianna’s confidence and engagement increased significantly.

To further support her progression towards employment, Brianna enrolled in The Heads Up! Training Academy. As part of the 13 week programme, she undertook a work placement with Cunninghame Housing Association for two days per week, gaining valuable experience in housing and administration. She also attended the Equal office one day per week to work towards SQA-accredited qualifications and participate in employability-focused training.

Throughout the placement, regular communication was maintained with Brianna’s supervisor at Cunninghame Housing Association and Holly consistently received positive feedback regarding her performance and development. Brianna also benefited from a range of training activities delivered through the Training Academy, which enhanced her skills and readiness for employment.

At the end of the 13 week programme, Brianna’s progress and commitment were recognised, resulting in her securing a six-month Trainee Housing position with Cunninghame Housing Association.

Brianna received support to identify and apply for housing related opportunities. This included one-to-one guidance with application forms, interview preparation, and participation in mock interviews to help build her confidence and strengthen her interview technique.

In March 2026, Brianna applied for a Housing Modern Apprenticeship with North Ayrshire Council. Although she was unsuccessful on this occasion, she responded positively to the experience and remained motivated. Following the recruitment process, feedback was reviewed with Brianna, enabling her to identify key areas for development.

Ongoing support was then provided to help her further enhance her interview skills and build on her strengths in preparation for future opportunities.

A further opportunity arose in June 2026 when North Ayrshire Council opened applications for a Housing Modern Apprenticeship. Brianna was supported throughout the application process and demonstrated a significant increase in confidence.

Continuing to build on her previous interview preparation, Brianna attended the interview feeling well prepared and confident in her abilities. Her dedication, and commitment were reflected in a successful outcome, and she was offered the Housing Modern Apprenticeship position.

Brianna is now preparing to commence her new role with North Ayrshire Council, having secured a position within a sector she is passionate about.

Find out how Working North Ayrshire can support people with long-term health conditions and disabilities by visiting our opportunities page.