Essential Beauty Academy-North East Ltd

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Top learner of the course award moment 🥳

Let me introduce you to Skye Louise.

I remember meeting her at the bottom of the stairs, unsure and shy and giggling so nervously.

Her support worker said - "She's nervous"

I replied - "So am I, hawey come up"

Skye has given everything to this course, she kept doubting herself thinking she couldn't do it.

100% attendance week in, week out, studying at home and just wanting to get it right.

Helping others by being their model and supporting with their business plans...

Skye has a heart of gold and she smashed it ✨

This hasn't just been a 'course' it's been life-changing for her, from finding it difficult travelling alone, to now smashing it and not being bothered with lonesome travel.

You've shown great courage Skye, and I'm very proud to have awarded you learner of the course.

Thank you for my cupcakes, they'll never be forgotten, they are almost gone now 😉

I'm excited to see what you do next, don't forget you can do absolutely anything you put your mind too.

Thank you for being an asset within the Academy.

Many thanks to Bernicia Group for our partnership, it's more than a moment in time with a photo, it's changing people's lives.

Can we all give Skye some appreciation 😊

Love,
Steph ✨💜

So true ✨💜

Isn't it lovely to be appreciated 🥰

Thank you so much to my Beauty & Beyond ladies. Very thoughtful.

I love it 🥰 xx

The Last Day! 🥳

Celebrations all round for our Beauty & Beyond ladies.

We celebrated the end of our ten week programme with a meal.

Over the last ten weeks these ladies have shown grit and determination to get through their course, they now have their certificates to venture into the world of creating a business...

Nothing has come easy for the ladies, they've worked hard, pushed themselves way out of their comfort zones, not just on a training level but on a personal level too.

Beauty Therapy gets a bit of a rep for being an 'easy' option, with 30 years in the industry, I can tell you now it isn't. It's far from it.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you create, go out and smash it.

Love,
Steph xx

So proud. We are changing lives at the Academy, not just 'doing' a course, it's so much more...🥰

School's out for summer!

And a bright future awaits for fabulous students Skye, Alex, Nat, Deserae, Jenna, Kloe, Becca, Beth and Emily!

The talented group have graduated from their beauty course with top marks and professional qualifications opening doors to new careers and educational opportunities.

The nine young women enrolled on the Bernicia-backed Essential Beauty Academy-North East Ltd course at Ashington YMCA.

Over ten weeks, Essential Beauty Director Stephanie Holland taught eye treatment skills – as well as supporting with business plans backed by a full year’s business insurance from Bernicia to help them start their own beauty enterprise.

Many of the women on the course have had to overcome personal barriers to attend and complete it.

Mother-of-one Skye, 21, was voted top learner for her work ethic and dedication and plans to start her own beauty business with her new qualification.

“When I started ten weeks ago I had no routine in my life at all," she said. "But now on a Tuesday and Wednesday I’m getting up early, I’m getting out of the house I can get buses on my own.

“Now I’ve got these qualifications, I can build a business. It’s changed my life really.

“Coming from the backgrounds we’ve come from, you don’t really get the opportunity to graduate.

“To get the opportunity like this where we can do our work and pass in smaller groups, it’s amazing for us.

“I’ve got a two-year-old son and I’ve done it for him because I don’t want him growing up having a Mam who’s always in the house. Now I can do this, it changes his life – so now I just need to pass my driving and we’ll be sorted.”

Steph said: “Over the ten weeks they’ve learned eye treatments, lash tint, brow tint and shape, lash lifting and eye lash extensions, and also done employability skills and business planning.

“There’s quite a lot setting up their own business, there’ a lot going into further education, signing up for college courses.

“They’ve grown in confidence from some not being able to leave the house, or travelling independently, to attending week in week out, building their self-esteem, making huge leaps and bounds.”

Elaine Hardington, Bernicia employability business partner, said: “We’ve got people who’ve been in care, are carers themselves, looking after their own children who’ve still managed to come in and complete the course. We are thrilled at their success."

Elaine and Stephanie are pictured with the successful students at Ashington YMCA.

And just like that we have another cohort through of our Beauty & Beyond learners...

I'm so proud of you all, and thank you so much for my gorgeous gifts and card, it's very much appreciated and means a lot 🥰

I'll wear my bracelet with pride and eat all of my lush cupcakes 😉

Last day of celebrations tomorrow 🥳

It's been an honour and you've all worked so hard 💜

See you tomorrow.

Love,
Steph xx

A moment in time today 💜

Today was the last day of the academic year for our Alternative Provision.

We decided to head to Newbiggin beach for the day and have lunch at the Maritime Cafe and an ice cream whilst sitting on the beach ⛱️

We had a brilliant day, weather was a bit iffy for July but we still had fun.

Our Alternative Provision is all about creating a safe space, trust, and relationships, first and foremost...

We work with vulnerable children and that's no small thing to
make a difference in their life at the earliest possible stage.

Today reminded me exactly why I woke up one morning with a surge to become an Alternative Provision.

Laughter, fun, and just enjoying life means everything to me and what we can provide.

Here's to September and striving to be the best Alternative Provision for our children and their future 💜