Testimonials - Light Foundations

What our Clients say..

DWP Kickstart Scheme

“Working at Light Foundations encouraged me to grow every single day. I learned a lot about how to connect with upper management, how to interact well within a team, and how to properly schedule my working day so that I can focus on the duties that are genuinely essential. Esther's instructions helped me gain confidence in my ability to execute any task and take on additional responsibility, as well as get an understanding of how important leadership is for the growth and performance of employees. During these seven incredible months, I had the chance to complete a variety of duties from which I was able to deduce what motivates me at work and what I would like to pursue in my long-term career. My favourite aspect of working for this firm was the atmosphere, in which everyone was encouraging and supporting one another in order to grow as a team and increase the organisation's output. This experience laid the foundation for the rest of my career, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with such remarkable management and an empowering team.” Best regards,

"When I first came to Light Foundations, I was very unsure of myself. I knew that I wanted to be an artist, but I didn't have the confidence to pursue it and I needed income. So when I became employed, I didn't really know what to expect or how things would turn out but I can say from the bottom of my heart that I am glad I joined this organisation. I had very minimal experience in fundraising but over time I learnt and grew and managed to raise enough money to run up to 5 different programmes, including our Hong Kong ESOL classes which is my greatest achievement. LF has been instrumental in making me the person I am today, someone who is not only confident and self-assured but is also diving head first into pursuing her dreams. With the support of Esther and the entire team at Light, my experience could not have been more amazing. I have made lifelong friends, helped people less fortunate than me, and watched the progress of countless individuals while also progressing myself. I got an insight into the world of non-profit and had the privilege of meeting so many amazing organisations in London that help so many across the nation daily. My time at LF made me see the world in a different light and helped me find my purpose. I am now well on track to pursuing my art career with all the transferable tools I gained throughout my time there while also securing a part-time job." Endrina, 12 months, as

“Thank you so much, I really appreciate everything that you have done for me and I hope one day we will cross paths in the future.”

“As I begin to look back upon my time at Light Foundations, I am beginning to see how much I have progressed as a person. I have noticed the more mundane skills I have improved such as email etiquette that all trainees were provided with. I also have a portfolio of content that I produced based on the design brief and have used in a real-world environment to improve further my chances of continuing a future in media. Overall, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity presented to me this past 7 months, it has been a learning experience for sure and the lives I changed and touched with the outreach programs and the Instagram posts will stay with me forever. “

“In 2021 I finished my studies in college. I have a Diploma in Business. I have finished college and I tried to apply for the job but because of my work experience which I did not have, I could not find anything suitable for me. In the beginning, I started as a teacher assistant. I was meant to assist during the lessons. However, after that, I started to do admin tasks. I found it interesting, and I really enjoyed it. It helped me to improve my own skills such as writing, speaking, and listening. In the beginning, Esther, my manager, supported and mentored me. She explained to me how I need to deal with clients, and how I need to communicate with them via email and the phone. We used to have many face-to-face meetings. She was very patient, and she was always ready to help me. Light Foundations provided me with more training which helped me to be more confident and to find more ways how to provide good service in this programme. This has helped me to understand what I would like to do in the future. Now, I am more confident, and I know exactly that I want to be an admin, this has helped me to gain work experience, which is very needed, especially for someone like me who just finished my studies. II have been offered to stay at Light Foundations and I accepted the offer as I really enjoy my job now and I am happy to work with such a nice team.”

“When I first joined Light Foundations, I had been job searching for a while within the midst of the pandemic, finding it incredibly hard to get responses or interviews. The Kickstart opportunity felt like a lifeline, and I was able to start a role where I felt valued, and I was able to use my problem-solving and creative skills in partnership. My role was as a Digital Marketing officer, and I was responsible for updating website copy, marketing flyers, and social media accounts. I was able to learn how to use WordPress at a professional and business needs level which has proved incredibly important in my current role. I received training with a website developer who gave me an understanding of how editing the website worked and was able to use my initiative to improve on that. I also was given creative space to suggest my ideas for how to improve the social media channels and create cohesion in the marketing distribution. As a result, this Kickstart position gave me the ability to hone my skills in a supportive environment. Since working in this positive team, I was much more successful with getting interviews and as a result, I am now working in the National Theatre Archive as a Digital Preservation Assistant. I use WordPress very frequently along with other digital skills which were helped developed at Light Foundations.”

DLUHC Hong Kong BN(O) ESOL

“I have learned some interesting Portmanteau words to understand their meanings when chatting with each other. I have been more confident since joining this course and have answered their topic immediately with local friends. I know how to introduce myself and stand out in my CV. I am glad to join this program which has helped me to improve my English. This course has challenged me to speak my thoughts without writing them down and I have kept listening to the teacher’s speech. I have practiced both my listening and speaking skills. Additionally, through outdoor activities, I can face-to-face chat with my classmates, and we learn to make more conversation by asking about each other’s current situation in English. In summary, this course helps everyone to build up self-confidence and integrate into the UK. The teachers are kind and helpful, addressing students’ needs and focusing on areas where they should improve. You are doing wonderful job, thank you for creating this course to help Hong Kongers improve English skills and showing us how to make the great CV to apply work/job.”

“In the beginning I could not understand most of the words the teacher said due to my poor listening skills. After a 3-month ESOL course, now I can understand at least 70% of the content while doing a listening task on my own.”

I loved this course as it covered various topics and guided me through life in the UK in an interesting way. Elise is a very patient and caring teacher; the classes were in harmonious and delightful atmosphere. She listened to our needs & expectations, especially stressed on grammar, pronunciations, idioms & homework. My English fluency is much improved after taking this course. The outing was another fantastic thing which other online English classes did not have. I really enjoyed the trip with Elise and classmates and hope we can attend the new classes in the future.”

I'm grateful for the work you do to help people. Your work is like a lighthouse that guides others through difficult times. You helped me when I needed it most. I remember when we first met in an assessment session, I had a hard time understanding your speech and was only able to answer with a simple "yes" or "no." For years, I felt embarrassed about my English skills, but your class helped me see that I had more potential than I thought. The practices and exam pushed me to learn on my own, and I realized that I could overcome my belief that "I'm not good at English." This newfound greatly increased my confidence. I also want to express my gratitude to Esther for sharing her story with us on that day and for being such an inspiration. With love, C. Sin (Sissy)”

Share to Heal

"The Share to heal workshop is a wonderful self-building and support resource for myself but also for my mum, Paula, who attended sometimes too. What I liked about it, is that it gave me a chance to offload my worries and bad experiences in a safe environment with others. I really liked the family atmosphere and how things went with the flow. The Light Foundation's advisors have lovely souls and have done wonders for this workshop. It's wonderful for supporting and talking about difficult parts of life. I hope it carries on in the future and expands with more opportunities. We need more resources like this.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the Share to Heal programme due to the diverse range of people I got to meet! Also, its good to note that the trainers who lead the sessions are very dedicated, open and always willing to have one on one sessions, as part of the course which is very helpful!"

"Light Foundations' Share to Heal workshop has been absolutely amazing. I have met new people that are just willing to sit and listen to me and give me advice even though they are going through a lot themselves and I just made another family"

“I found the Share to Heal Group very useful as it motivated me to talk about my past and my mental health struggles. It was nice to meet new people. I found it very engaging. I am glad I came to the group.”

“When I planned to join the Share to Heal group, I expected that I would learn general knowledge about working in this country and that's it. But I found myself able to talk about the problems in my marriage and grief, and this gave me the power to change in a better way. I'm very happy I met all the group members who were very supportive and became a real family to me. They became my backbone in this country. Special mention to Light Foundations' advisors who have supported me with my work and personal life. I am really grateful and appreciate every effort and goal of Light Foundations”.

Business start-up support

“The support I have received from Light Foundations has been amazing. From the day I had my first consultation, I knew I was in good company. I had a friendly mentor who was passionate about her role and genuinely wanted my business to succeed. I was given very clear information on the start-up loan. Everything was broken down for me, from how much I could borrow, to the interest on the loan, so I left feeling well-informed and well-equipped. The mentor was with me all the way through the process, helping me to create the right business plan and cash flow, and to ensure that my application for the loan was successful. The loan has done wonders for my business and helped in making my dream a reality. I have recommended Light Foundations to all my business-minded friends and will continue to do so in the future.”

"I had been unemployed for a while and had a business idea which I really wanted to get started. I attended Light Foundations' group session at Acton Jobcentre where they shared information on the funded programmes they had. What interested me the most, was the Practical Entrepreneurship Level 3 and business start-up support, as I was really looking into getting my business up and running. I registered my interest and was enrolled on the programme. I met up with an advisor for one to one advice and explained my idea to her, and she was very keen to assist me to get started. After that, Light Foundations arranged with the Jobcentre manager for the enterprise allowance. I also on my part, asked around for funding. I was able to start my Vegan Café, and I further received additional £100 vouchers from Light Foundation’s funder Clarion Futures, for equipment and for the continued in-work support for my business. I am now very happy and in full time self-employment. I love my Café, this is a dream come true. I am situated at The Humble Veg, 135 Northfield Avenue, London. "

“I wanted to be a successful business owner and see my business grow and excel in the next five years, and that is why I came onto the Level 2 course in Principles of Business and Administration delivered by Maximal Learning in association with Light Foundations. This course has really helped me improve my knowledge in planning and project management and overall, my understanding of business and helping me to move my company forward, thanks for the opportunity.”

“Through Light Foundations, I was able to acquire a business start-up loan to start my business. This loan allowed me to have and things I would not have been able to otherwise; such as a website design, advertising, and a database which are all essential for the success of our recruitment business. I highly recommend Light Foundations for reasons beyond the loan. The entire process was enlightening throughout. They worked with me through my business plans, cash flow and any other questions I had. Because of them, my business became a reality. I cannot thank them enough.”

“I just want to say thank you for your support. I was not sure what to do with my life and career, but you gave me hope and encouragement during the one-on-one consultation with your team. I left inspired and enrolled on a short course which I am completing in the next few weeks. I am very happy that now I have the guidance, direction and business support I needed and cannot wait to set up my own fitness business. Thank you so much Light Foundations.”

Volunteering & Traineeship Placements

I came to Light Foundations in 2016 after having some difficulty getting a job. I was originally working as an engineer, but due to a downturn in my industry, I was one of many redundancies, with little opportunities to get back into that field. I decided to look into some volunteering hoping that it might help me improve my CV or allow me to make contacts that might lead to opportunities. I found Light Foundations, and after a couple of emails, I met to discuss how we could help each other and then join them on a part time basis. During my time there I got the opportunity to work on a variety of roles and meet a range of different people from charities, company directors and people like me looking for help to get into work. There were lots of challenging times and I gained good experience of dealing with obstacles that can come with trying to set up new projects. I was also encouraged, to take responsibility of certain tasks and projects, and gain some confidence in managing work; where I hadn’t had much experience. There was a very positive energy at Light Foundations, and it was good to receive advice on areas I could work on improving. After volunteering for a few months, I left the role so I could concentrate on getting full time paid work. I have since managed to secure employment in a new career role as an analyst and have also helped a friend set up a new business venture, so I have plenty to be looking forward to with this new direction my life has taken.

"I started volunteering at Light Foundations from August 2021 - March 2022 as a library assistant as I wanted to gain more volunteering experience working in a library environment and see if this was a career I wanted to pursue. I wanted a change in my busy work environment, as I was feeling quite burnout from working in quite an intense hospital setting. I enjoyed volunteering during my university experience and so wanted to get back to giving my time into helping others in the community. I was able to meet the lovely team at light Foundations who were welcoming and supportive in helping me get settled into the volunteering role. I really enjoyed my experience working with the team and assisting sometimes during ESOL lessons and helping the students with their tasks. I was able to communicate with a range of different library users from diverse backgrounds and enjoyed bringing a calm and engaging library experience to them. Volunteering at Light Foundations helped me build my confidence in engaging with other users and learning the importance of how information can be impactful in people’s lives. I am thankful for my experience volunteering at Light Foundations as this allowed me the opportunity to gain a role working within an academic institution as a positive action library trainee. Many thanks to Esther and the Light Foundations team for your support during my volunteering experience. Especially, for your words of encouragement at the time when I was feeling uncertain in myself, positive words that I will take with me and look back with appreciation and gratitude."

I volunteered for Light Foundations, and was placed on one-month Traineeship in 2016 while I was looking for work, and was grateful to be taken on. While I worked for Light Foundations, I was tasked with preparing bids to gain funding in order to support employability projects run by Light Foundations. I also had the opportunity to assist with the End of Year Business Seminar. Working for Light Foundations has enabled me to develop skills and versatility that will help me in my future career. Light Foundations works to help people achieve their goals, and I am proud to have been associated with this organisation. I wish Light Foundations all the best in the future, and I know they will continue to make a big impact on the lives of many.

"My time with Light Foundations was an extremely valuable experience that gave me a big boost of confidence in my career. The hands-on work I did there improved my knowledge and gave me the self-assurance I needed to pursue my digital marketing career with confidence." May - July 2023. Sam secured a full time marketing senior role after leaving Light Foundations

“I had volunteered with Light Foundations for two months in 2013, and this was when I newly arrived in London and did not have a job. Based on my resume, Light Foundations even sponsored me to get a certification in Business Administration level 2/3 that helped me secure a job in London. Light Foundations' advisors advised me on the salary expectations and how I could grow in the London market. While I worked in Light Foundations, the manager gave me the freedom to handle marketing and communication, administration and as part of the marketing duties, I even went on the Radio (YES!). Light Foundations works toward the betterment of people, even if the people are only working for a short period or volunteering (like me). I wish Light Foundations all the best!”

Jeﬀrey successfully completed our Ealing HK 2023 traineeship placement and secured paid employment, in his sector with a great company and he is very happy. This is what he said about his experience. “Mindset Change: Volunteering was like a waste of time but having done it with light, there is now a change. 'A Magical Change' After graduating from university, I found myself uncertain about which job I should pursue. Although I studied management and initially sought office-based positions, I realised that being confined to an office all day would be boring for someone as active as me. During this period of career confusion, I stumbled upon an opportunity at Light Foundations where they were hiring a trainee business administrator. During my time at Light Foundations, I had the honour of representing the organisation at a business dinner. This experience led me to understand the significance of effective communication and networking. It reinforced the importance of presenting oneself or the organisation in a positive when interacting with others. Additionally, I realised that expanding one's network can lead to increased professional opportunities. As a result, I have adopted an open-minded approach to embrace opportunities as they arise. I am not suggesting that one should simply wait for opportunities to come knocking. However, it is essential to remain receptive to various chances that come your way. Each opportunity holds its own unique value, and you never know which one might prove beneficial in the future.”

What our Clients say..

DWP Kickstart Scheme

DLUHC Hong Kong BN(O) ESOL

Share to Heal

Business start-up support

Volunteering & Traineeship Placements

LIGHT FOUNDATION

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