Teaching music was difficult following the birth of my daughter. When she was younger, I had no childcare support, and teaching was late-afternoon/evening work and not during the day, so I had to take a suitable job while she was at nursery and then at school.
I started a cleaning job. Learning the importance of the role I have played in society has made me think a lot over the last few weeks.
One afternoon, I spoke to a lovely lady at the shops. We started talking while waiting to pay for our shopping. We spoke for a short while, and she asked what I did for a living. I said I was ‘just’ a cleaner. I don’t know why I said ‘just’, but it slipped out. She then told me the importance of people such as cleaners.
Without cleaners, our environments would not stay clean and hygienic; they help prevent the spread of infections; they remove spills and rubbish; and they provide comfort to everyone by keeping their surroundings clean.
She was right about my job. Without cleaners, who would clean up the mess that others left behind?
Teachers, doctors, dentists, carers, police, and all the workers in different fields are the foundation for keeping this country on its feet.
After all, I have heard a saying, ‘you can’t build a house without foundations’.
Further Reading:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/occupations-in-demand-2025
https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/occupations-in-demand/2025
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