“Coronavirus has definitely cost me, at least temporarily, my dream job.”

For Kate O’Loughlin, a 24-year-old student from Dublin, the summer after graduation looked exciting. She had internships and job interviews lined up at music labels and events companies that she had been trying to break into.

But then coronavirus hit. Offers were withdrawn one by one.

“My heart was set on starting out, so having that taken away from me was absolutely gutting,” she says.

“I was hoping to get some experience to really kickstart my career in the music industry and climb up the ladder.”

Kate has also put off plans to study a master’s degree at either London or Belfast over money worries. Coronavirus means a lot of her paid work has been pushed back.

“It’s quite possibly robbed me of my dreams for 2020, but obviously everyone’s health has to come first,” she says. “I’m trying to remain as positive as I can.”