P&G winners' stories: Heidi Shearman

Single mum-of-three, Heidi Shearman faces the future with new confidence after receiving a bursary award that will make her legal dreams a reality

Like most mothers, I’d do anything for my children. So when my marriage broke down two years ago, it became even more important to help support them in the future.

I work as a legal assistant at a firm of solicitors, undertaking personal injury claims. As well as this, I’ve been studying alongside my job for the past five years to improve my prospects. This was particularly tough when I found myself a single parent of three children aged 19, 14 and 6, but it was because of them I kept going.

With a lot of hard work and discipline, I completed the Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, which gave me a practical introduction to law. I was really pleased, but I was also eager to study the next level, which would give me the chance to have a financially independent future.

Taking the next step The course

I am doing is run by the Institute of Legal Executives, and allows students to train up to barrister level. Unfortunately, it’s very expensive and I struggled to make the first payment.

So when I saw the P&G Champions Mums’ Foundation was giving away 29 awards to help mums, their families and their communities, I applied.

I was absolutely overjoyed when I heard P&G was going to give me the money to complete the course. It has been an emotional time, but this has given me a real boost. Not only will it improve my family’s prospects, it gives me something for myself. I love the law and could read legal manuals all day long. Obviously this isn’t possible with three children, but the course is flexible enough that I can study alongside work and bring up my family, too.

FIND OUT WHO'S BEHIND THE BURSARY AWARDS

For the past 170 years, P&G has been making household and beauty products to help make mums’ lives that little bit easier, like Nice ’n Easy, Oral-B and Fairy Dishwasher Tablets. Now, as the Proud Sponsor of Mums, it’s helping mums in other ways to say a big thank you for all the amazing things they do every day. Visit thankyoumum.pg.com to find out more. Find out who’s behind the Bursary awards ‘Now I can study alongside work and bring up my family’ Heidi with two of her children Heidi has a passion for studying law

Holly Boultwood
Content creator

Holly has over 15 years' experience understanding and creating digital content that people want to read and share. Holly's has created news and lifestyle content for brands, such Now Magazine, Best Magazine and Goodto.com.