Aimee joined CHIPS in 2001 as a volunteer working at our Hertford Saturday and Holiday Playschemes. She joined CHIPS after doing her Work Experience at Amwell View School, and wanted to continue as she got such a rewarding feeling whilst working with children who had additional needs. “I booked to come along and observe a session at Hertford. I attended almost every Saturday there after!”.
“The one thing that has always stuck with me is just how happy the children were, how everyone knew exactly what each child enjoyed and how every individual staff were valued for their contributions. It was never an awkward start, I was made to feel straight at home. And although I was quiet and a little reserved I was encouraged and supported by every member of staff it was like a little family of its own”. Aimee then took on a paid staff role at CHIPS when she was 18 and worked at our Hertford, Ware and Cheshunt schemes!
Four years later in 2005, spurred on by her experiences as a volunteer and staff member at CHIPS, Aimee embarked upon studying for a career in Disability Nursing. Aimee now works in a SLD (Severe Learning Difficulties) School as a School Nurse.
“I used my experience of chips to help me gain my job and am privileged to have not only worked alongside some amazing individuals but cherish every day I volunteered/worked for chips. I still see many of the children I cared for and love seeing the progress they have all made”.