KH.A, a 24-year-old Somali woman from North London, was the main carer for her unwell mother and father. Despite her responsibilities at home, she dreamed of becoming self-employed and working in the creative industry. Referred to Stand Together Network by the Job Centre, KH joined our employability and business development programme.

From the start, KH A showed a strong interest in digital design, video creation, app development, and even game design. We provided tailored one-to-one business support, helping her build a plan around her passions and develop a path to self-employment.

With our support, KH:

• Learned how to use design tools such as Canva
• Enrolled in creative tech courses at Barnet and Southgate College
• Volunteered on creative projects with our team to build her portfolio and gain experience
• Joined freelance design platforms such as Fiverr and others to market her work and offer creative services.
• Registered as self-employed through HMRC and received her Unique Taxpayer Reference Number (UTRN)
• Developed a business plan and marketing strategy for her new freelance venture

Six months later, KH had not only built her skills but had also started earning income from her freelance work. She now works independently from home, doing what she loves while continuing to care for her parents.