Case Study

From an early age, Sareena’s law career was mapped out. Yet as her interests and career uncertainty developed through senior school, she realised a different path lay ahead. It proved to be a journey of self-discovery as Sareena, with her characteristic give-everything-a-go attitude, tried new jobs, courses, volunteering, and hobbies in her quest to find what truly inspired her. Becoming an Ingeus Youth Voice Ambassador in 2022 has, she says, opened her mind to different possibilities and the realisation that career paths need not follow a straight or pre-planned route.  

 

“I had some counselling in senior school and became interested in mental health,” explains Sareena, who is 23 and lives with her family in Birmingham. “I chose a psychology A-level instead of law and followed my friends into university, but it wasn’t for me, and I left in the first year. I was confused but saw it as an opportunity to slow down, experiment, and try new things. I worked in a jewellery store, then a school. I threw myself into new interests… languages, painting, even ice skating. Realising I was still drawn to other people, and specifically mental health, I began volunteering for Birmingham Mind and Ingeus’ Youth Voice. Both have been instrumental in helping me shape a career that feels my own.” 

 

Sareena is now two years into a Psychology degree at Aston University and is preparing for a foreign work placement year. She has completed a counselling qualification and works part-time at the university, supporting students with neurodivergent conditions. She manages her studies and job alongside her continuing volunteering, self-confessed ‘random hobbies’ and regular gym visits.   

 

Being a Youth Voice Ambassador – a team of 16-25 year-olds who help shape Ingeus’ services – has given Sareena extra food for thought in her psychology career aspirations. 

 

“Being part of Youth Voice has given me so many opportunities and experiences, from training and workshops to attending events and shadowing Ingeus staff,” adds Sareena. “As an Ambassador I undertook mental health training and attended an ‘Exploring Our Emotional Worlds’ event, hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Both reaffirmed my love of talking to and understanding other people. 

 

“Recognising my interest in psychology, Ingeus arranged for me to spend time with its justice team and their Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies service. I learned about the interdependencies of mental health, rehabilitation, and employment. It gave me so many different ideas about how psychology can be applied to broader job roles. 

 

“I think sometimes there’s a tick box for including young people’s opinions on things, but at Ingeus it’s sincere. They genuinely want our views on new services; we’ve just been working on ideas around a programme to help young people move away from crime. Having been an Ambassador for three years now, it’s great to see thoughts develop – our ideas being put into practice. In return, Ingeus has opened so many doors for me to explore what I’m interested in. 

 

“Stepping back doesn’t mean setback. When you treat life like a blank canvas you make room for your real passions to reveal themselves. I took time to learn what genuinely interested me and the direction of my future shaped itself from there.”