When Kayleigh joined Glow in 2016, she was looking for more than just a job. Having studied Social Welfare at university, with her dissertation focusing on domestic violence, she wanted a role that had meaning and purpose.
Before that, she had been working at Alton Towers while studying, but when she graduated she knew she wanted to put her knowledge into practice. That’s when she came across a role at Glow’s domestic abuse refuge in Newcastle.
“I wanted a career and something with purpose,” Kayleigh explains. “That’s when I found the job at Glow’s refuge, and it felt like the right step.”
Kayleigh began as an Assistant Domestic Abuse Project Officer, supporting both customers and the team at the refuge. From there, she was promoted to Domestic Abuse Practitioner, a role that became central to her career journey.
Domestic Abuse Practitioners play a vital role at Glow. They work with people arriving at refuge to help them rebuild their lives after experiencing abuse. Practitioners provide the tools, guidance, and emotional support that customers need to recover, while also helping them prepare for the future. That can mean supporting someone to become tenancy-ready, working through practical steps to manage their own home, or encouraging them to think about moving into more permanent accommodation when the time is right.
As a Practitioner, Kayleigh delivered one-to-one support, empowering people to regain confidence, independence, and hope. “I really enjoyed that part of the role,” she says. “It was about walking alongside people and giving them the support they needed to take back control of their life.”
Two years ago, Kayleigh was promoted again into her current role as Senior Domestic Abuse Practitioner. Now, she supports the Service Manager in leading the team while continuing to work with customers with more complex needs. She also takes on important behind-the-scenes responsibilities, such as monitoring and data, to help ensure the service runs smoothly and continues to meet customer needs.
“The work is so rewarding,” Kayleigh says. “I enjoy seeing people’s journeys, from when they first move in with us to when they leave after receiving support. It’s amazing to know we’ve been part of that positive change.”
For Kayleigh, Glow has also given her a supportive and encouraging team to grow with. “The team here are brilliant and we all support one another. We do such a serious job, so it’s important to have that support and a bit of banter too. It makes all the difference.”
What started as a first step into her chosen field has grown into a career with purpose, passion, and progression. Kayleigh’s journey at Glow shows how a role can turn into something much bigger, the chance to make a real difference every day.
Ready to put your learning into practice?
Like Kayleigh, you might be studying Social Welfare, Criminology, Psychology, Social Work or a similar subject at university and wondering what comes next. At Glow, you can take your learning out of the classroom and into a role that makes a genuine difference.
We are proud to be part of Honeycomb Group, a team of socially minded brands working together to provide safe homes and thriving futures for people across Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. All of our job opportunities are advertised through Honeycomb Group.
Start your career with purpose and explore opportunities with Honeycomb Group today: www.honeycombgroup.org.uk/careers
