Kai joined The Oaks Specialist College with a clear ambition: to become a professional actor. With support from the college’s careers team, he immersed himself in a range of work‑related learning activities at a local theatre, alongside careers talks and workplace visits that broadened his understanding of the creative industries and beyond.
Through one of these opportunities, Kai secured paid employment as a Training Facilitator with Runway Training, helping to deliver The Oliver McGowan mandatory training across West Kent. This face‑to‑face awareness programme, designed for staff in medical and care settings, plays a vital role in ensuring that people with disabilities and additional needs are listened to and treated with dignity when accessing support.
Kai’s contribution to this work is both meaningful and personal. By sharing his own lived experience and how his additional needs affect him, he helps professionals gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives of the people they serve. Kai has always been sociable and well‑liked by his peers but stepping into this training role has led to a significant increase in his confidence as a communicator. It has also shown him clearly just how capable and influential he can be.
Motivated by this success and eager for further experience, Kai recently secured a ten‑week placement at Nando’s in Sevenoaks, training as a Front‑of‑House Nandoca. In this role, he welcomes customers, takes orders, and supports the restaurant team in keeping the dining area clean and organised. Kai is embracing each aspect of the role with enthusiasm, further developing his practical workplace skills.
Alongside these achievements, Kai continues to pursue theatre activities, keeping his passion for performance alive. While his Hollywood dreams remain firmly in sight, he now has a strong foundation of real‑world experience, confidence, and employability skills to support him as he works towards his future aspirations.