Major Daniella Aspin

Daniella’s uniform generated a lot of excitement

Daniella is a Major in the British Army. Throughout her career, she often found herself mentoring more junior personnel and came to realise it was something she cared about deeply. She decided to use her passion for mentoring to give something back to the community and came across Mosaic.

Having signed up as mentor on the Primary School programme, Daniella began supporting pupils at Werneth Primary School in Oldham, delivering seven mentoring sessions during the term.

Daniella said: “The aims of Mosaic’s initiatives are so worthwhile and I like the fact they’re all very structured. The training was extremely professional and I was given all the information I needed to deliver the programme.

“When it came to meeting the girls and their mothers for the first time, I arrived in Army uniform, which generated a lot of excitement. I talked to them about what it’s like to be in the Army and I think every girl in the class had a question.”

Daniella explains how, in her view, the way careers and education are presented to parents is just as important as it is to children.

She said: “You have to show them that it is affordable and achievable so that they can positively encourage their children. I was pleased to talk with the girls’ parents about how I’d been to university, have a career where I get to lead other people (mostly men) and how I’m also a Mum.”

Daniella added: “After finishing the term, I think the girls now have a much better understanding of what career possibilities are out there for them and what they will need to do to get there. I feel like I’ve made a real difference and I’m really looking forward to repeating it next term at a new school.”

Farhana Choudhury, Werneth lead mentor, said: “When Daniella visited the class in her army uniform, the children were so excited. Half the session was spent on questioning Daniella regarding her day to day activities as a woman working in the army. She had such a positive effect on the girls that two of the mentees, Summaya and Humaira, now want to join the army and train as soldiers!”

Rekha Chauhan, a teacher at Werneth Primary School, added: “Having Danielle with us as a role model gave the girls inspiration and made them think about their own potential and what they could do and achieve in their own lives. The sessions were a real success and mentees left with their confidence and self-esteem raised. After seeing what a great success it’s been, we’ve decided to run a fathers and sons programme with Mosaic in the spring term.”