Cambridge Community Art’s Next Steps programme helped this participant back into work:

Before referral to Next Steps, I was going through a difficult time. I’d left my job after a breakdown and a long period of depression followed during which I received help from local mental health services. Only a year before joining the Next Steps programme, I was at an extreme lowpoint; I couldn’t imagine ever getting back into employment.

With some help from mental health services, and a year-long course in music technology through Cambridge Community Arts, I was beginning to recover when I was referred to Next Steps. Paid work still felt a long way off, and an almost insurmountable challenge. The adviser I saw through Next Steps was brilliant though. We kept in touch regularly, despite a pandemic going on around us, and little by little I was helped towards employment. We worked on CVs, interview techniques, voluntary work, and all the small steps needed to get back into work after an extended absence. That support continued as I began to apply for jobs, and began to get interviews. It was often frustrating, getting to interview but no further on several occasions, but the support from Next Steps helped considerably. And then an interview went really well, and a job offer followed. Although I’d never quite believed it was possible, I was returning to work.

I started work several weeks ago. I’m enjoying my job, although at odd moments I find myself wondering how I managed to get here from the lowpoint of several years earlier. Sure, I put in some work, but I don’t think I could have done it without help from Next Steps. As well as the very real outcome of returning to full-time work, I learned a lot more about CV design and interview techniques, both of which will be useful in future. Without Next Steps, I’ve no doubt that I’d still be job hunting and struggling to get past the application stage.

The participant sharing this case study wished to remain anonymous and for the piece not to use their name.



Community Connections South is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund