A longstanding member of staff at Craven Arms Sport and Community Centre (CASCA) is moving on – partly thanks to training she received while working here.

Alexis Seaborne, 35, of Craven Arms, started at CASCA when the library moved here from the Discovery Centre three years ago.
Before that she spent six years at the library’s former home.

She has now completed her last day with us as she moves on to be the library manager at Church Stretton Library and advance her yoga business.

Alexis has gained qualifications to teach yoga thanks to funding by Sports England and the Furniture Scheme’s Enabling Fund.

“I have always been into fitness and doing pilates and yoga at home, so it was a personal interest,” she said.

“I wanted to move forward and get training and this option came up – I was delighted to get funding from Sports England and because this is something I could offer in the community centre too, The Furniture Scheme was also able to help financially.

“I needed to make sure it was available to all people and those less able in order to qualify for the funding from the charity, it is something I was happy to do.”

Alexis has been offering two evening sessions of yoga each week and holds a class especially for people with MS too.

She will soon be running lessons for students at Westhope College and one day hopes to develop a yoga training business.

She said: “At the moment I am gaining experience which is great.

“I wouldn’t have been able to afford the training without the grant and wouldn’t have had time to do the qualification without the time I was given too, it would have just stayed a hobby.

“Being allowed to do some homework while at work was great, the Furniture Scheme has been very supportive. I have lots to be thankful for, taking me on when the library closed at the Discovery Centre, giving me the option to progress personally and listening to me when I spoke about my desire for more training.

“It is happening quicker than I thought, I am having to turn people down as I can’t take on everything.”

Alexis said her message to others would be don’t be afraid to ask for opportunities, volunteers and employees can benefit a lot from the Furniture Scheme and everything it offers.

And that is exactly the same message from Jean Jarvis, chief executive of the Furniture Scheme.

She said: “We are delighted to have been able to help Alexis in this way.
“She worked very hard here and this is just the sort of thing the Enabling Scheme is designed for, enabling people to do what they want to in their career or get them more prepared for work.

“It can also be used for situations such as when someone cannot afford childcare while they do a course or people who need a driver’s license for a job – we can fund driving lessons.

“This is one of a number of things we can do for people in the community – you don’t have to be employed here.

“We also offer a starter pack for people who are moving into a new home and don’t have anything and our warehouse full of furniture in Weeping Cross Lane, Ludlow, also offers 25per cent off for people in receipt of certain benefits.

“We are glad to be able to help so many people in south Shropshire.”

For more information about what we can do to help you take a look around this website or call 01584 874922.

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August 31, 2017