Tom first came to CCA to study Music Performance Level 2. It was there he learnt that CCA also ran the Next Steps Project. At that time Tom was also volunteering in Sense Charity Shop as a store assistant, but Tom had always wanted to work in a cinema. He had applied for jobs in cinemas but never had any success. 

When he joined Next Steps in late 2019 Christine and Tom set about to improve his CV and help with job searching. Alan arranged a tour of the local Arts Picturehouse for Tom to meet the staff and get a glimpse into working at a cinema in March 20.  However, that same month the covid pandemic forced the country into lockdowns and the tour was cancelled. Throughout the period of the pandemic cinemas and live arts venues suffered from extended periods of lockdown. 

When the lockdowns began to ease in 2021 Tom was reinvited to tour the cinema. There he learnt about all the roles and responsibilities and met the duty manager. Tom applied for a cinema assistant role at the Arts Picturehouse but wasn’t successful in his application. At that time the cinema exhibition industry was only recruiting full time staff, or staff that could work longer than 16 hours due to the shortfalls in staffing they had. Due to Toms caring duties he was only looking for a small number of hours. 

In late 2021 recognising that it would help Tom’s CV to have some experience working in a cinema and venue, Next Steps introduced Tom to the Cambridge Film Festival and after an interview Tom was invited to be a volunteer as an events staff. 

Tom continued to apply for roles in cinemas, but it was such a tough employment market. Whilst he was getting interviews at the Light, the Vue, they chose others over him due to the restriction in hours he could work. 

Through discussions with Tom we recognised that he could transfer his skills and want to work in a venue to different setting. Tom was introduced to The Cambridge Junction, a multidisciplinary arts venue. Tom was excited by the prospect of working there as he enjoyed live performance, comedy, music and theatre. Through an informal chat with arts producer Ema Boswood and a member of the events team Tom felt welcomed and that he could a find a place there. 

Toms application was successful, he was invited to interview and accepted to the team. Tom worked his first shift on the 23rd May at a double bill of a family performance of The Moomins. The nature of the work means Tom can pick and choose what days he works, continue his caring duties, get valuable experience and a cultural fix all in one go! 

Tom had this to say about his experience on the project: 

“I couldn’t have done it without them. Next Steps had the know-how and I did my best to learn and gain confidence from them. It was a great experience. 

Also volunteering helped paved the way to getting a job at the Cambridge Junction. Talking to strangers, meeting new people, it improved my social skills. The setting of being at a film festival in a job with roles and responsibilities. I got on well with the people I was working with, and it was fun. 

Volunteering helped me a lot. It was like having a Lego house and having a piece missing, you can’t create the full picture until you have that piece. Getting help from Christine and Alan, by helping me become a volunteer, filled that piece. 

And it’s great that I have started working at the Cambridge Junction. It is so different to anywhere I have worked before, they have a different mindset and approach, its fresh, unique and they’ve been very welcoming. The Junction is fun as well, and I’ve not used the word fun for a long while. I’ve got something to look forward to and I feel good.

Next Steps are friendly, welcoming always. I’ve never felt rushed. It’s nice to have Alan and Christine to be so understanding. I genuinely feel that being on Next Steps really helped my confidence and mental health."

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