An employment adviser from Blackburn is heading to Ghana next week, where she will put the skills honed working at Leyland-based social business CXL to good use. Siara Feroze, 22 from Shearbrow in Blackburn has been working in the nexstep team at CXL for nine months as a graduate intern, supporting people from across the county to improve their skills and get back into work.   

She intends to draw upon the experience she has gained as she travels over 3,000 miles to Ghana to take part in Platform 2, a government progamme that enables young people from the UK to visit underdeveloped countries in order to teach, work in hospitals and take part in building projects.

 A graduate of the University of Central Lancashire, Siara is aiming high with her career ambitions and is dedicated to pursuing her dream of carrying out international aid work, with her sights set on becoming a spokesperson for United Nations by the time she’s 30. Siara comments: “I used to be a shy person, and would have been wary of taking a trip like this on my own, but my confidence has increased dramatically since working at CXL.  I’ve improved my ability to communicate with people from all walks of life and to show understanding and empathy in difficult situations. “I’m really looking forward to getting to Ghana and starting to make a difference.  I want to help other people that haven’t been afforded the education opportunities and life chances that we have in the UK, and sometimes take for granted. Jan Larkin, one of the team leaders of the nextstep service at CXL has been working with Siara since August and adds: “Siara has blossomed since starting at CXL last year as a graduate intern in our first cohort, and the programme has been a great success for all the individuals and the business.  I’ve seen Siara grow in confidence and watched as she developed the ability to form bonds with people very quickly, which helps greatly in the work she has been doing, and will no doubt be useful for the work she will be undertaking in Ghana.  “I’m in no doubt that she will be a great asset to the team of people travelling to Ghana, and that she will make a big impact on the village she is staying in.  All at CXL wish her the best of luck on her exciting adventure.”