AN unemployment musician has started an exciting new career, thanks to comedian Al Murray.

Dom Galligan lost his job as a kitchen porter and was struggling with his mental health and social anxiety.

The 33-year-old is a keen musician and artist but lacked confidence.

Now, thanks to support from New Leaf – a free Cheshire-based employment support programme – he is back on track.

Dom, from Knutsford, is now working for a company founded by comedian Al Murray.

Dom teamed up with a New Leaf personal mentor through the Job Centre, who helped him to set personal goals.

Gaps in his knowledge were identified and he was introduced to an IT tutor to master new digital skills.

He also completed a ‘Find Your Inner Superhero’ course to learn strategies to cope with anxiety and self-confidence.

Dom was helped to create a new CV and encouraged to think about areas of employment he might be interested in.

While building up his confidence, Dom also put his skills to good use as an artist and was commissioned to produce a sculpture of Robin Hood.

Dom said: “That was a big part of mental health recovery.

“I wasn’t ready for work but needed a project to focus on. It was a big help.”

The sculpture is now on display in Doncaster.

Dom sent his mentor an advert for a job role at a drum production company, founded by comedian Al Murray.

After applying twice before, he wasn’t sure if he would be successful.

Dom said: “New Leaf were really good and really helpful. They helped me with things like tailoring my CV.

"At first I was looking for work outdoors, something in gardening or with animals.

“Then a job opportunity came up for the British Drum Company. I had wanted to work for them for a while."

“My mentor helped me write a really good cover letter and that is what got me the opportunity.”

Dom was successful in his interview and landed a job as a drum build assembly technician.

He has worked full-time since September as part of a team pulling drum kits together.

New Leaf helped Dom to believe in himself.

“It has taken a bit of time,” he said.

“I have started to improve my confidence.

“I don’t always find it easy to talk to people in social situations, but I think I am slowly building it up.

“I have got a really stable job now with a good team of people that I am working with.

“That, if nothing else is going to help me with building my confidence.”

The New Leaf programme is tailored to suit each individual job seeker.

Mentors take time to learn what has held them back in the past and what needs to be done to overcome those barriers going forward to create long-lasting change.

New Leaf can help anyone currently out of work and living in Cheshire to overcome their barriers and have a brighter future.

For more details visit newleafcheshire.co.uk

New Leaf is led by Torus Foundation and is part of the Building Better Opportunities Programme, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and The National Lottery Community Fund.