Tom Flynn: Transport/Delivery Driver/Post Office Worker/Shop Retail, Thurrock
Hi, I’m Tom
Young people are my inspiration and being able to work with them every day and have the opportunity to help them is something I am very proud of. My career with young people started when I volunteered at my children’s school as a trip coordinator. I had previously worked as a butcher, chef, and part-time DJ, but my passion for volunteering made me realise that I needed a change. I began by volunteering for a youth club and then quickly qualified as a Youth Worker. I have been working with young people for 21-years, 11 of which I have been a Team Leader for the Thurrock Princes Trust Foundation.
I love the concept of integrating young people into the community and encourage this as part of the support that I give them through the Trust. My role as Team Leader sees me take young people through a 12-week programme to help them to get back into employment and training. The programme helps to build their confidence, boost morale, provide experience, develop friendships as well as give them the social skills they need to be able to gain a job in the future.
During the pandemic, I was unable to continue in the same role, so I used my time to support others. I found myself delivering food parcels, helping Meals on Wheels, collecting shopping and helping in any way that I could. The pandemic taught me a lot; seeing other people doing what they do really keeps me motivated, especially young people who want to improve themselves.
My family motivate me every day, and my three children really keep me going. I’m so proud of what they have achieved in their lives, even more so knowing their career choices as a Nurse, Paramedic and Soldier. My son has been part of the Household Cavalry, attending many ceremonies and is now retraining as a combat medic.
I am so grateful for this opportunity to be able to commend the Queen alongside so many other deserving people. I am inspired by the Queen, and even more so over the past couple of years thinking of all she has gone through, including the loss of the Duke, who I was very fortunate to have met on one occasion – he was a very funny man.
“Tom has a great personality and young people easily relate to him. During the pandemic, he became a ‘man with a van’ supporting many projects by delivering food and resources to the extremely vulnerable and most in need. He was a ‘go-to’ person who you knew would help if he could!” – extract from the key worker nomination for Tom
Tom at work with the Princes Trust.
