New year meant a new start for four local people
8:46am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in News
DID your resolve to change your life this year melt away in the snow? Be inspired by this fab foursome from Bolton. They have recently started a new career, undergone cosmetic procedures, submitted themselves to a fitness bootcamp and set themselves up in business
NEW CAREER
Cost: None. Just effort.
Result: From unemployed former machinist to having THREE jobs.
Name: Kate Lowe Age: 40 From: Hall i’th’ Wood Family: One daughter, aged 14.
How: Kate went through a divorce and ended up caring for her teenage daughter alone. After two years of unemployment, she completed qualifications in English and maths, and Bolton at Home's UCAN (Urban Care and Neighbourhood) Centre supported her through her job search. Now, Kate has a cleaning job at Tonge Moor Primary School, a kitchen assistant’s job at St Colomba’s RC Primary School and a voluntary job at the Hall i’ th’ Wood UCAN Centre.
Her voluntary work has earned Kate “most outstanding contribution to customer involvement” award from Bolton at Home.
Quote: “When I turned 40, things started going well for me.
I have much more self-esteem and confidence now and I feel miles better in myself. It’s so good being off benefits.”
COSMETIC PROCEDURES
Cost: Restylane £225, Botox: £200.
Result: Looking five years younger.
Name: Sarah Parmenter Age: 40 From: Heaton Family: Separated, with sons, aged eight and two Job: Freelance PR How: Sarah, a former beauty PR in London, went to the Skin Health Spa in Manchester’s Triangle centre on recommendation of a friend. She’d worked with top beauty brands, hairdressers and skin practitioners — so she’s highly discerning. Restylane subtly diminished lines from nostrils to outer corners of her mouth, as well as “smile lines”. Sarah liked Restylane because it’s natural and not painful. The Botox was virtually painlessly injected into a couple of fine lines on her forehead.
Quote: “I didn’t want anything too dramatic or extreme looking. I just wanted to subtly iron out the early signs of ageing. The key is to approach the treatments with moderation in mind. You should look healthier and rejuvenated — as if someone has knocked five years off you or you’ve been on a long holiday and had loads of sleep! Overall, I’d say that the treatments were just what I needed at my age, and in the right hands, I’d recommend them to anyone. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of choosing a reputable practitioner — in the wrong hands, these “fillers” as they’re called, can go very wrong.”
NEW BODY THROUGH BOOTCAMP
Cost: £100 for the initial six-weeks, sessions twice a week.
Result: Transformed her body and life.
Name: Kelly Minto Age: 31 From: Breightmet Family: Living with partner Job: Teaching assistant How: Kelly was a size 14-16 yo-yo dieter, weighing 12st until she went along to a fitness bootcamp in Didsbury, run by Easyfit personal trainers.
While running, jumping, circuit training, space hopping and doing roly polies, she found out that exercise is fun — she laughed so much her tummy muscles hurt! In eight weeks, Kelly lost two dress sizes and nearly a stone in weight. Since then, she has completed the Great Manchester Run twice and the Urbanathlon.
She still visits the same bootcamp once or twice a week, has made great friends there and now weighs just under 10st, with dress size 10-12.
Quote: “I have more energy than I’ve ever had and my confidence is sky high.
“I feel like this is only the beginning and I now believe that anything is possible if you commit to it.
“This has honestly changed my outlook and attitude to life.”
NEW BUSINESS
Cost: £10,000.
Result: From redundant to running his own firm.
Name: Dave Cooper Age: 54 From: Unsworth, Whitefield Family: Married with six children, two grown up, four aged six to 15 Job: First-time businessman, director of Accounts Assist (Bury) Ltd How: Faced with redundancy after 10 years as a credit controller and payroll administrator, Dave struggled to find a new job because of the economic downturn. Deciding to invest his redundancy payout wisely, he went for a franchise. Dave underwent full training and received lots of support from Accounts Assist, and now runs Accounts Assist (Bury) Ltd from his home office, offering a complete bookkeeping service.
Quote: “I have created a role that fits perfectly around my family commitments and allows me to start earning a living again.
“And because of the nature of the role, I know that I’m helping other contractors and small businesses to get their own cash flow in order and survive and thrive through the downturn too.”
