A sure start for Mark (From Redditch Advertiser)

A sure start for Mark

6:10pm Sunday 21st October 2012 in News

A REDDITCH man has transformed his life thanks to Sure Start Redditch Children’s Centres.

Mark Danniel came to Sure Start as a teenage parent aged just 17.

Now, three years later, he is confident, fully qualified and working full time.

Mark, with son Kyle, first attended courses designed to support young parents, such as teen cooking, cake decorating and a programme specifically for young fathers.

He soon got into the swing of parenting and started to volunteer with a number of play groups.

Unfortunately Mark was not successful in a Sure Start vacancy due to not having the relevant qualifications.

However, an assistant apprenticeship became available which he applied for and was successful.

This led to Mark achieving his Level 2 qualification in children and young people's workforce.

He did all this while at the same time studying at NEW College.

Mark, now studying Level 3, has just got a full time role as an early years practitioner at the YMCA.

Louise Langston, from Sure Start, said: “Mark is an amazing dad to Kyle, who is now three, and shares the responsibility equally with Kyle’s mom.

“He is very ambitious, extremely kind and patient with the children and families with which he has been working with.”

Mark said that he appreciates the help and support he received from staff and his ambition is to become a support worker helping young parents and parents to be.