The placement bought me out of my shell.

Citz Futures Trainee

I feel proud of achieving something.

Citz Futures Trainee

A year ago we launched the Citz Futures scheme which offers paid work experience in the theatre industry for people with who have lived experience of homelessness, poverty or inequity. The programme provides the opportunity for people to work alongside professionals in backstage, creative and production roles, offering employment and on-the-job learning to equip trainees with transferable skills to take their next first steps into the arts.

The scheme also aims to have a ripple effect within the industry, making it more inclusive and reflective of wider society.

So far eight people have shadowed members of the backstage and creative teams on two professional Cardboard Citizens productions, Bangers and Faun and three people have worked on an external production, Dismissed at Soho Theatre.

At the end of the first set of placements on Bangers, all trainees felt more confident about pursing a career in the arts and that the knowledge, skills and experience they gained made this feel more possible.

Since the end of their placements, we have continued to work with each trainee to help them to continue to realise their goals, including support with job applications and interviews, mentoring and signposting opportunities and connecting them to organisations and individuals in the industry. Three trainees have gone on to further training opportunities, including with The Almeida and The Old Diorama Theatres.

There will be more information on the next round of Citz Futures traineeships soon. Watch this space!

Citz Futures is supported by The Foyle Foundation and the Societe Generale UK Foundation.