Posts Tagged ‘music’

We’re hiring – Operations Administrator

Posted on: March 17th, 2025 by Steph Dickinson No Comments

At Pie, we owe much of our success to the efficiency of our organisational processes. To help maintain and develop this standard, we’re seeking an experienced Operations Administrator to be responsible for the charity’s operations.

The ideal candidate will have a sharp mind and a proven track record of managing multiple task areas encompassing the day-to-day operations of the charity and our facilities. They will be excellent communicators, confident in human resources processes and organisational systems, and familiar with IT systems. Additionally, they will contribute to an environment of trust, diversity, and inclusion within our team. Their goal is to increase our operational efficiency and efficacy across the organisation.

The Operations Administrator will oversee operational processes to ensure the success of the charity. You will be part of a creative, dynamic core team that provides the operational backbone of Pie. This team supports the delivery of safe, positive and inspirational experiences for children and young people attending our sessions.

The ethos of Pie’s programmes and services is firmly rooted in creativity and made possible by strong teamwork, therefore a team-player mentality is vital.

Download Job Description

Download Application Form

Application deadline: 5pm Friday 28 March 2025
Interviews will take place w/c 14 April 2025. Please indicate in your application if you are available during this week.

Hello from our new CEO Zoë Carassik-Lord

Posted on: May 8th, 2023 by Steph Dickinson No Comments

We are delighted to introduce Pie Factory Music’s new CEO Zoë Carassik-Lord.

Zoë brings a wide knowledge base and experience in the Youth Arts sector and has been part of the amazing team at Pie for the last 6 years, as Programme Manager for Music & Creative Arts. It’s an exciting time for Pie as we implement the next phase of our 2022-2025 Strategy Plan, with a particular focus on long-term premises and financial security. As we welcome Zoë, she would like to say a warm hello to our supporters and followers.

Zoë Programme Manager at Pie Factory Music. Woman with short close shaved hair, with a black zig zag earring and wearing a black top. Yellow background

“My first few weeks as CEO of Pie Factory Music have been a whirlwind of sessions, good funding news, and putting exciting plans in place for our young people and our team. All confirmation that I officially have the best job in the world leading a charity making a real difference to young people’s lives, and having fun whilst doing it.

I joined our Open Arms session with young refugees and asylum-seekers and we celebrated Eid together. It was so wonderful eating delicious Eritrean food cooked by the young people, and incredibly moving to see the young people listening with kindness to each other’s stories of making Thanet their home, and all that comes with the enormous upheaval of displacement due to war, poverty and civil unrest. It was truly inspiring, and I feel so proud that the Open Arms team have created such a safe, welcoming and special place for these young people.

I also sat down with Steph – our previous Managing Director – and some of our Emerging Artists to reflect on her time leading Pie, and to imagine what my time at the helm will incorporate. It feels like Steph has passed the baton, and it was brilliant to do this being interviewed by some of our longest-standing participants as part of a recording session for our Slice of Pie Podcast.

We received wonderful news from Barnardo’s that we have been successful in a funding bid to grow our pastoral care offer for young people in East Kent by offering more free counselling sessions with professional counsellors and psychotherapists, and funded one-to-ones with our talented Creative Practitioners and Youth Work team. I couldn’t be prouder to lean into my new role with a strong focus on care and support for our young people.

Our core team will soon be growing with two new positions to be filled – I’m so excited to welcome new people into the Pie team, to take our Music & Creative Arts programme and our organisation’s operations to their next level. We love to hear from people who want to contribute and advocate for our work; without their support and encouragement we wouldn’t be where we are today – looking at a bright future for Pie and the young people and team members who make us the family we are.

Thank you for all your support.“

Discover more about our work and how you can support us.

Young man in checked shirt playing the drums at Band Room
Young person
Pie youth club session
Claire Pitt Wigmore
Maxine Scott and Oren Valek at Wantsum Music gig

Piece of the Pie – Billy

Posted on: June 2nd, 2020 by Steph Dickinson No Comments

Billy, 18 

How did your journey with Pie Factory Music start?

I was 16 when I joined Pie Factory Music. I figured it would give me something to do when I wasn’t at college. To be honest, formal education just isn’t for me and although I didn’t mind media studies, I was bored during maths and English so would often bunk off. College wasn’t creative enough for me so after just 10 months, I dropped out all together.

My pal told me about Pie Factory Music as he knew that I loved making music. I wrote my first rap song when I was 10, and was always performing in rap battles – I remember when I was in year 6 at school going up against kids in year 11. 

I just thought I would attend Pie Factory Music as they offered free studio space. Something that is absolutely unheard of.

What did you gain from attending Pie?

After two years, I gained so much more than time in a studio. I made a lot of friends, gained more confidence, learnt how to record music and be more creative with my beats and raps. I made my first album and performed six gigs at events and festivals across Essex and Kent – this would never have happened without the charity.

Billy performing at Elsewhere, Margate whilst taking part in our Emerging Artists Programme in 2019

Pie Factory Music gave me the confidence to take up new opportunities, take risks and make an effort. However it was the staff that I got to know that made a real, lasting difference. 

Matt, Zoe and Luis had a significant impact on my life. They didn’t change me but through their conversations, I gained maturity and how to conduct myself as an adult. In some way, they were role models to me. I went to them for advice and conversations about my life in general. Zoe, especially, helped me realise that I had a real talent for writing music. They unlocked my full potential.

To be the first to know about projects like our Emerging Artists Programme and sign up to our mailing list click here

To read Katie’s story click here