A West Midlands childcare apprentice is about to light-up an awards ceremony after “clicking” with two Rathbone centres.

Ella Wallage

And the bubbly trainee from Tipton owes her champagne moment to staff at Sandwell and Walsall.

Ella fell in with the wrong crowd at high school and missed around half of her final year’s education due to truanting. Personal problems beset her attempts to make waves on a hairdressing course at college, too. Feeling “down and depressed” Ella joined Rathbone Sandwell in 2007.

Whilst at the Sedgley Road West centre, Ella began to realise her dream of working in child care and enjoyed what turned out to be a very fruitful placement at the Tree Tops nursery in Dudley. Overcoming low self-esteem and problems communicating with adults, she also achieved her Level 1 in Literacy and key skill “Working with Others.”

“Something just clicked when I got to Rathbone” said Ella, “I knew I had to get my head down or I’d be off. The staff were very supportive and I began to work through my problems.”

Rathbone continued to nurture Ella at the Walsall Centre. She has now moved on to her Level 2 in childcare and is toying with the idea of becoming a midwife. “I would love to help people through the first stages of life” continued Ella, who also somehow finds time to look after her 76-year-old granddad.

Also being honoured at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday April 17th are Walsall super volunteer Paul Westbury, Luton lad Dominic Honegan and Leicester learner Josh Diieso. Rathbone tutor Barbara Tashimovitz (Weston-super-Mare), volunteer turned trainer Danielle Smith (Leicester) and Corby company Catermasters will take the plaudits too – for their contribution to helping young people progress.