Courses studied: Short courses, Level 2 Certificates, Pre-Access and Access to HE Diploma in Social Sciences and Health
Studied at Fircroft: 2021 onwards
“I wanted to achieve something for myself and to better myself.”
When Julie Revill first came to Fircroft in 2021, she was recovering from a period of significant mental health difficulties.
Wanting to make a positive change in her life, Julie searched online for college courses for adults. Fircroft came up, and she decided to take the first step by enrolling on a three-day residential course.
What started as one short course quickly became a much bigger journey.
Julie enjoyed her first experience so much that she enrolled on another course, and then another, gradually building her confidence and discovering new interests along the way.
Why Fircroft College?
Julie completed a wide range of short courses, including Psychopathology, Understanding Mental Health, Coping with Anxiety, Resilience and Coping Strategies, Coping with Stress, Using the Outdoors for Healthy Minds, Understanding Self-Confidence and Assertiveness, Anatomy and Physiology, Discovering Sociology, Essay Writing and Research Skills, and Speaking and Listening.
She also completed her Level 2 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing and Level 2 Certificate in Preparation for Work and Study in 2023.
For Julie, each course was an opportunity to learn something new while developing strategies to manage her mental health and improve her confidence.
“I chose these courses to help me to better myself and to be able to cope with my mental health. I also wanted to learn about different things.”
Julie later progressed onto the Pre-Access course and then the Access to Higher Education Diploma in Social Sciences and Health.
During her Access course, Julie found the demands of studying difficult alongside her mental health. With support from Holly and Angela at Fircroft, she made the decision to leave the course when it became clear that it was adding to the pressure she was experiencing.
The support she received helped Julie recognise that taking a different path was not giving up it was another step towards finding what worked for her.
Course Experience
Julie remembers her time at Fircroft fondly and particularly valued the people around her.
“I love everything about Fircroft College – staff, food and even the support staff were amazing and helpful when I did the short courses.”
She also loved the college grounds and the opportunity to spend time outdoors.
In summer, Julie enjoyed sitting outside under the parasol after studying, watching the squirrels running around the gardens. In winter, she loved seeing the grounds covered in snow.
For Julie, Fircroft became a place where she could learn, take time for herself and meet new people.
Impact and Outcomes
Since leaving Fircroft, Julie has continued working towards her goals.
She has achieved her Level 3 Diploma in Social Science at Halesowen College and is now studying at Worcester University, where she has completed her first year of a foundation degree in Teaching and Learning.
Julie is about to begin her second year and has a clear ambition for the future: to become a Learning Support Worker.
Her goal is to use her own experiences to help other people who may be facing challenges similar to those she has experienced.
“I want to become a learning support worker to be able to help people like I was helped.”
Advice for Future Students
Julie recommends that new students start with courses that help them develop socially and personally before progressing to more advanced study.
“My advice to potential students thinking about coming to study at Fircroft is to start off with the social development courses first and work your way up, like I did, to be able to better yourselves.”
She also encourages students to embrace the atmosphere at Fircroft and the opportunity to meet new people.
“You will love the atmosphere and be able to make new friends.”
Future
Julie believes coming to Fircroft gave her the opportunity to begin rebuilding her life and working towards a different future.
Since starting at Fircroft, she has developed her confidence, learned more about managing her mental health, gained qualifications and progressed into higher education.
Most importantly, she is now working towards a career where she can support others.
“Fircroft College has helped me a lot to achieve my goals and to have a good future.”
Julie knows that without taking that first step, her journey could have been very different.
For her, that first three-day residential course was the beginning of a journey that continues today.
