West Berkshire Training Consortium make Melody’s dream a reality

With over 3,000 Instagram followers and plans to become a police officer, 28-year-old mother of one, Melody Ofoe dares to dream big.

Mrs Ofoe, who worked as a hairdresser for 10 years, enrolled herself onto a Level 2 English and Maths course with West Berkshire Training Consortium in order to secure a job with Thames Valley Police (TVP).

In school she didn’t get the results that she needed, due to lack of support, and wrote off her dream of becoming a police officer.

But with the help of West Berkshire Training Consortium she has been placed onto Functional skills course, which consists Level 2 Maths and English courses, and been accepted by TVP to begin work as a police constable upon completion of her studies.

“It wasn’t until I had my little girl and lockdown happened that I re-evaluated what I really wanted and thought life is too short,” she said.

“That’s when I applied for the course.

“I have just got to go after what I really want to do.”

Mrs Ofoe said she was guided through the process, and being a Swindon resident and mother, appreciated that she could take her classes and exams online, during the evening.

She said: “When my husband got home from work, I would go straight upstairs and log on to do the Zoom call.

“We wouldn’t be able to afford childcare so this took the pressure off.”

Mrs Ofoe, whose Instagram page is dedicated to curly hair care and lifestyle content, said the choice to join the police force was an easy one.

Her personal life was a great factor in this decision, having grown up witnessing drug related crime.

She said she always felt safe around police officers.

She said: “I always remember wanting to be the person who could do something about it.

"I can’t wait to get started in my new role and make positive change."

The Functional Skills course is free of charge and available to anyone aged 19 and over.

For more information email Natalie Elliott on 01635 35975 or Natalie.elliott@wbtc-uk.com