Sam's Story
Sam has always been an active part of the local community – running marathons and training at Sussex Disability Cricket. And now, thanks to Team Domenica’s support, he’s also fulfilled his dream of gaining paid employment.
Whilst completing his training, Sam’s favourite tasks were working at Café Domenica and serving customers. If he ever felt stressed or overwhelmed, his Team Domenica Training Mentor would ensure that he had the space, time and support to feel grounded again. Sam felt that he could be himself at Team Domenica; it was a place where everyone was on the same page, achieving their goals together.
Team Domenica is a place that welcomes you with open arms. The staff want you to succeed and move on to the next stage of life, I feel like I’m consistently learning and gaining new knowledge. I can be a bit rash at times, but the team helped me learn to take my time – slow and steady wins the race!Sam, Team Domenica candidate
There was one place where Sam could go fast, however – Brighton Marathon Weekend. It was here that his passion and advocacy for Team Domenica was most evident. In fact, Sam fundraised and ran for the charity in both 2022 and 2023, raising thousands of pounds for the futures of other young people with learning disabilities.
I wanted to give back to Team Domenica; to thank them for their support. Running the Brighton Marathon brought me lots of enjoyment, the crowd had an encouraging atmosphere and I hit all my targets!Sam, Team Domenica candidate
In Sam’s second year at Team Domenica, he started a supported internship at Pizza Pilgrims, Brighton. He loved the hustle and bustle of working in a popular restaurant in the heart of Brighton’s city centre. He also enjoyed being a part of a welcoming and supportive team that recognised his individual talents.
Unsurprisingly, Sam was offered paid employment in record time, only 5 months after the start of his internship. In fact, the management at Pizza Pilgrims were so impressed by his work ethic that they are hoping to welcome another Team Domenica candidate into their team…
Since starting with us, Sam has far exceeded my expectations and is now honestly one of our best team members. Guest feedback about him is fantastic too – he’s received more compliments via google reviews than nearly everyone in the company!Everyone from Team Domenica has been super supportive throughout the whole process, from the Job Coach, regular reviews and the wider team. We’ve genuinely loved having Sam become part of our team and we cannot wait for what’s next!
Sam’s manager at Pizza Pilgrims, Sam
Sam's Journey at Team Domenica
Having a paid job feels really rewarding. I get a lot out of being in work, I feel like I have potential.
Sam, a Team Domenica candidate now in paid work at Pizza Pilgrims
Join us at a fundraising event and help support candidates like Sam in their journey towards a brighter future
