TWO WEE COUNTY mums have been left thoroughly impressed with a free course on offer at Forth Valley College.

Paula Hill, 33, is a fully trained nursery teacher, but signed up for the six week Caring Careers course at FVC’s Alloa campus.

The course is on offer for people on a low income living in the Clackmannanshire area, with applicants referred to the course by the Job Centre, Clacks Works or CERN.

“It really was not what I was expecting and I really enjoyed it,” she said. “It wasn’t just about working in care homes, there was so much more.

“We covered loads of things like first aid and mental health and wellbeing training, which was really interesting.

“I would really like to move into a mental health caring career, and this course has prepared me very well for another course I am starting soon with Clackmannanshire Council.”

The six week course has just restarted again at the Alloa campus last Monday, February 26, but may be relaunched in the future due to growing interest.

After completing the course, Paula now recommends it to others who may be looking for a career change or the chance to learn new skills.

She added: “I am definitely very glad that it was offered to me through the Job Centre and I would definitely recommend it to others.

“It has been great attending the course three-days a week for the last six weeks, giving me a chance to focus on my potential new career and get out the house and improve my skills.

“I would really recommend it to anyone.”

Meanwhile, Zoe White, a mother of two from Alva, also recently completed the course and was left "gutted" that it has come to an end.

The 28 year old was referred by the job centre and highly praised the teaching staff at the college.

" I’ve really enjoyed it and am gutted it has ended," she said. "It was a real eye opener for me, and showed me all the things I didn’t know that was involved in the caring industry.

"The teaching was really good, we were encouraged to ask questions and nothing was treated as a stupid question or too much hassle and the facilities were great and easy to get to via public transport.

“I want to now go and work with people with disabilities and this course has inspired to do that even more.

“It has benefitted me a lot and will help me push on in my career and I would recommend it to anyone.”

Anyone looking to find out more about the course and how to apply in future should visit forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/community-care/caring-careers-essential-skills-for-employment/.