From Local Beginnings to Lasting Impact

Early Roots in Community Action

I grew up in a working-class seaside town, attending the local comprehensive and spending my spare time volunteering with the youth service. Those early days were formative. I helped set up my town’s first youth council and sat on the youth panel that developed the Information Shop for Young People. It was my introduction to co-production and the power of giving people a voice.

A Turning Point

Life changed dramatically when my mum died as I turned 18. That same year, I became the first in my family to go to university, choosing the University of Birmingham for its reputation in cultural studies and its vibrant diversity. Studying Media, Culture, and Society, I graduated with a 2:1, but leaving university I felt adrift—up to that point, my mum had always guided me.

A New City, A New Chapter

I moved to Manchester and immediately fell in love with the city’s energy and diversity. My first job was in telephone banking—a mismatch for someone who dislikes phone calls and has dyscalculia! It didn’t take long to realise I needed to follow my passion.

Finding Purpose Abroad

I spent eight months travelling through South Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia—an adventure that broadened my horizons and clarified my purpose.

A Calling in Youth Work

Returning home, I knew youth work was my calling, inspired by the youth workers who’d supported me as a teen. My journey since has always been rooted in co-production, whether working in community health, wellbeing services, or developing innovative projects for young people.

Over Two Decades of Impact

Over 23 years, I’ve worked in 16 organisations across every sector—public, private, and non-profit—gaining deep insight into what makes organisations thrive.

What I Bring Today

Today, I bring a unique blend of lived experience, professional knowledge, and a passion for people at every level. My story is proof that with resilience, authenticity, and collaboration, we can build organisations, and communities, that truly make a difference.

#CommunityImpact, #YouthWork, #CoProduction, #Resilience, #Changemaker, #FromLocalToLastingImpact

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