Devoted her early life

Shilpe Begum devoted her early life to caring for her family and once the children were grown up she decided to do the same for others.  

For Shilpe this meant not only learning about health and social care but also learning a new language. Now, as she celebrates seven years with Caremark Leeds Bradford, she looks back and feels it was all worthwhile and so do the many clients she has helped on a daily basis.

“I moved to the UK with my husband and was a housewife for 23 years looking after my four children as well as nephews and nieces and other relatives” said Shilpe.

“It meant I couldn’t be with my mother in Bangladesh when she died and so when the children had grown up I decided I would provide care for others who need it.”

Shilpe attended English classes at a local women’s centre and first entered the care sector providing private care for an elderly lady.

She then applied to Caremark Leeds Bradford and has been delivering home care support ever since.

“It’s lovely to be up and about in the morning visiting clients in their homes,” she said. “Some do not have any family and you can see in their faces how pleased they are to see you. Their smiles make you know you are making a difference.”

Shilpe says she was nervous when she first applied to Caremark however the training provided gave her confidence.

Her English is excellent, however one of her clients is helping her advance her language skills even further.

“When you get to know your clients you develop a strong bond and have a good laugh with each other,” she said. “One gentleman has decided I can speak English but now need to learn Yorkshire so he’s teaching me some phrases.”