My name is Dominic Doran. I am 23-years-old. In July 2020 I graduated from Royal Holloway University of London with a degree in Classics. Finding a job after university is hard enough but with a muscle-wasting condition and in the middle of a pandemic lockdown, I was struggling to find somewhere to start. But that is where Moving Up came in. I knew that this opportunity would give me a supportive environment in which to hone my skills.
From day one I was given a warm welcome to the team. I met Jack McLellan the Work Experience Development Officer who introduced me to MDUK and who was my point of reference throughout my time there. I also met Lauren, who was in charge of getting the new website up and running. I was relieved at the ease with which people involved me, especially because meeting new people in a virtual setting can be a strange experience. By the end of my time at MDUK, there was a real improvement in my confidence both in dealing with a professional work setting, and in using the video technology which will be invaluable for other roles.
I was set to work transferring content across from the old to the new website and immediately became aware of the sheer volume of factsheets and web pages relating to all facets of muscle-wasting conditions. I learnt many different tasks related to content management such as creating landing pages, resizing images and spreadsheet work. I was amazed at the amount of work that went into creating the various spreadsheets mapping out the variety of roles and personnel who were contributing to the creation of the new website. I felt pride in my work and relished the chance to contribute to something. I could see first-hand the massive difference this charity has made and continues to make to those who need its expertise and guidance.
I really enjoyed meeting the various members of the MDUK team, and attending weekly staff meetings whose speakers were always very interesting on aspects such as scientific research and fundraising, each integral arms of the charity’s mission. The more informal meetings with the members of the advocacy team were also a great chance to get to know some of the team and feel connected to the impact that the work I was doing was having.
During my time at MDUK, I also participated in the Oxford Town and Gown 10k run through the streets and greenery of Oxford. It was a remarkable experience made all the more exciting by being the first major in-person fundraising event undertaken by the charity since the Covid-19 pandemic. It was also the first time I had been and witnessed the impressive spectacle of hundreds of runners gathered each with their own reasons for taking part and all committed to the MDUK cause. It was a rather cold and grey morning which also helped contribute to the atmosphere and I also got a real buzz from being (very briefly!) interviewed by BBC Radio Oxford. I was very pleased with my run time and really enjoyed seeing all the sights of Oxford. It was also rewarding to be cheered on at various points by supporters and, knowing that all these people were gathered to support the fight against muscle-wasting conditions, was truly inspirational.
MDUK is an exceptionally supportive and caring environment in which to work – my time here has really given me the confidence and self-belief that is so fundamental to succeeding in a professional environment. The Moving Up project has been absolutely instrumental in affording me the perfect opportunity to put my skills and qualifications to good use and find out what I enjoy and what areas I would like to develop in. I heartily recommend Moving Up as it is a great way to explore and get an insight into the often daunting world of work.
Moving Up is a project for young people aged 16 – 30, with a disability, living in London, providing work experience and employability support including CV writing support, and interview coaching. To take part, please email MovingUp@musculardystrophyuk.org