Below is a statement from Tom Horrex from Bethesda Eventide Homes at the Apollo Business Breakfast event, held on Tuesday 18th March 2025:
Good morning, everyone,
I was somewhat surprised, and very flattered to be asked to share something with you this morning on the Apollo project. I would like to share a little about the project, a little about myself, and a little about how the project will not only benefit many individuals, but how it has already benefitted the care home that I manage.
I would like to start in 1969 (just a little before my time) and take a moment to imagine the Apollo moon landing. A mission that seemed impossible. A goal so far beyond reach that many doubted it could ever be achieved. And yet, through courage, dedication, and a belief in something bigger than themselves, those astronauts took a step that changed history. That is exactly what the Apollo Project is all about—not space travel, but human potential. It is about discovering a path you may never have considered, stepping into a world where your work truly changes lives. It is about realizing that health and social care is not just a job; it is a calling.
Now a bit about me, and we will fast forward to around 2006, the time of my GCSEs and A Levels. It may not look it now, but everything I wanted to do when I was younger was play sport, and in particular football. All of my academic studies were geared towards a career in sport, something I was aiming to play professionally, and was getting close to being able to do so. My girlfriend at the time had chosen to study health and social care, one of only 3 students in the entire year group to do so, and 2 of those actually came in from another school! I can still remember her older brother ridiculing her, asking how her “bottom wiping lessons” were going. Whilst of course respecting her studies, I would chuckle along with her brother, winding her up as boyfriends and brothers have a habit of doing!
Very much like what people thought about the apollo landing, 16-year-old me would have thought it impossible that I would work in care – I would have laughed at the very suggestion – I was going to play for Ipswich Town! Unfortunately, after 3 major knee operations, my sporting ambitions had to come to an end, and the time came where my Mum uttered the dreaded words… “isn’t it about time you got a job!” I approached a local care home, who offered me a position washing up pots in the kitchen, and as they say – the rest is history! I soon gave care a go, working as a care assistant for around 10 years, before becoming a senior, then moving onto being a Manager of a 70-bed care home in my late twenties – and have now worked in a management position for 6 years. I have gone from finding the thought of working in care as an impossible thought, to finding it impossible to think of any other job I would ever want to do.
Now being very honest working in care was never the career I set out to have. I never thought I would work in care, let alone love it. But something happened along the way. I saw the difference we make every single day. I saw the power of kindness, of patience, of simply being there for someone who needs you. I saw that care is not just about helping others — it transformed me as well.
It has been such a privilege to meet and speak with so many young people (and older people too) who have a desire to work in health and social care. Apparently, I have led lessons for around 300 students – quite something in comparison to the 3 students in my year group at school studying bottom wiping! Health and Social care may be on its knees, but I am up for the fight as I am sure you all are too! The apollo project has a huge part to play in encouraging people into a sector that is not glamourous, does not have a fantastic reputation, is not the best paid – but a sector where you can make a difference to lives every single day.
The Apollo Project is indeed here to launch people into a future they too may never have imagined. It is here to show that, no matter your background, your experience, or where you thought your career would take you, you can make a difference. You can find purpose, fulfilment, and change lives.
The care home I manage is called Bethesda Eventide Homes, it is an absolutely wonderful home, and I make it my job to try to look after the staff as much as we ask for them to look after our residents. It is a place that has helped nurture and develop many individuals that have managed to go on and have successful careers in health and social care. It was from Bethesda that I finished work as a Senior at 10pm one Sunday night, and at 9am the following day I was managing a home. I had people take chances on me throughout my career – from someone who thought a pot-washer would make a good carer, to someone who thought a reasonable senior would be able to step up to management. I have made it my career aim to invest in as many people as possible, to promote growth and development in as many individuals as I can, and that is where our visions and values perfectly align.
As a home, we have always said we could accommodate 2 students on work placement per term or at a time. I think we currently have recently had 10 from Suffolk new college, and a handful from Suffolk One and a few local sixth forms. One day last week we had 7 students in at once! It took some time, but we have been able to change the culture of our team to go from seeing work experience students as “someone we have to babysit” to seeing them as someone with the potential to change lives.
The initial training and education that these students have received through the project has given them solid foundations, and we have been pleased that so many students have fitted in straight away, feeling like they have been with us for months and months after only a couple of weeks. We have certainly noticed a difference in the amount of effort that students are putting into placements, many asking to do more, and see more – in order to help more. We did have one student who we struggled to engage with at first, but recently he asked his tutor if she had spoken to me lately, because he was so proud of his development. He asked me could he have a job – and we would love to offer him one! We currently have 14 members of staff within our team who first came to us for work experience. Some have now been with us for several years. Speaking very selfishly from a Managers perspective, the work experience students have been fantastic and being able to hire so many of them has been extremely cost effective – no advertising costs, quick recruitment processes, you know who you are getting, and If the students have been with you for 2 or 3 months already, a lot of training and induction is completed before they have even started – for free! In a nutshell it’s a “try before you buy” situation – and one which has worked incredibly well for us.
The students coming into the Homes are sometimes striving for a career in social care or sometimes are seeing us a “stepping stone” if you like, to help them move into a slightly different role. Either way we are delighted to support them and help them to strengthen their foundations to hopefully have a long career within the health and social care sector. We also benefit from their presence throughout their employment – at the moment we have three members of staff studying medicine at University, 2 studying nursing, one radiotherapy and one psychology. Not only can we hopefully give them many skills to help them develop, but they also bring a whole wealth of knowledge to complement our team too!
Just to finish I would like to say I could not be prouder to be able to support this project in the little ways that I can. There are so many worries within the sector at present, but the apollo project is such a positive, and a project that I could not speak highly enough of. Just like Apollo moon landing, this mission is about reaching for something greater, and when people get there — it is so worth it.
Thank you.
To learn more about Tom and Bethesda Eventide Homes, please click here
