Andrea's Personal Journey

Before I met Well Grounded, I was a full time parent to two children, and we had two dogs. We lived overseas for a while for my husband’s job before returning to the UK in 2015, choosing Bristol for a fresh start. My children were 11 and 8, and my priority was to support them as they settled into their new life. Well Grounded came at a time of my life in a way I can only describe as god-sent. I had lost my confidence and hope in finding employment and my fitness had deteriorated as a result of a back injury. Then in October 2023, the grief from a bereavement consumed me.

After a difficult Christmas and New Year, I made a plan: find a Barista course, complete a food safety course, and get CV guidance. Within a week, I saw Well Grounded’s first training in Bristol and immediately applied. The programme gave me everything I wanted. The course helped me navigate my grief and gave me hope. Looking back, I’d tell myself: “Be brave, be kind, and believe in yourself, you’ll never know if you don’t try.” I tend to hesitate, but these opportunities have opened me to new experiences and wonderful people.

I really love Well Grounded’s work and impact. When I applied for training, my objective was simply to learn to make coffee. When I learnt more about Well Grounded, I was blown away by their work and impact, and for the first time, I felt I had met an organisation that embodies everything I am passionate about (but without knowing how to apply those passions), and to which my values are aligned. It has given me renewed energy and enthusiasm. I have had the privilege to support them in some of their training with Waitrose and trainee assessments. This is an avenue that has never occurred to me as a career progression, and hence a new direction I’d love to pursue.

My dream for the future remains, but now with a deeper meaning. I still hope to open my own cafe, with Well Grounded’s values at its heart, employing over-50s and supporting their trainees, and using the cafe to help dog charities.