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In a full-circle moment, curator Rebecca Raven (History and Sociology, 2018) recently welcomed students to the museum where she works in London. It’s all part of the City Connections initiative, which brings together students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds with ��«Ӱҵ alumni working at organisations across London and the North.

Here she shares some of her own reflections on her experience with City Connections - both from the perspective of a former undergraduate taking part, and a now as a professional returning to volunteer on the programme.

You could say that City Connections is the reason I have my dream job today. I took part as a student, where I had a lovely chat with an alumnus who worked at the Leeds Royal Armories. He was impressed by my enthusiasm and suggested I apply for a volunteering position. That led on to a paid role, and the rest is history!

I come from a proud working-class background and was the first person in my family to go to university. I’m so lucky to have wonderful parents who always supported my aspirations, even though higher education was alien to them. I was the only person in my year to go to a Russell Group university, and they were both very proud of that.

People like me didn’t have adults around us who worked in jobs we might be interested in going into. City Connections really does give you that insider look into careers that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.

Helping students from backgrounds like mine go out and get their dream jobs is so fulfilling. I always think of the selfless help I’ve received from others, and just want to pay that forward.”

Rebecca Raven

Curator, Museum of the Order of St John

Visiting corporate alumni businesses made me realise for definite that I didn’t want to work in those sectors! It gave me the push to pursue museums as a career.

I remember all of the gritty questions I wanted to ask about career progression and salary, so I made sure I answered those in my presentation. Museums are often under-funded and poorly paid, so I want students to feel informed, and comfortable to ask ‘awkward’ questions.

Showing students around the Museum of the Order of St John where I work was really really special. My favourite part was when I turned the lights on in the medieval crypt and everyone went “woooow”.