About Me
I've been fortunate to work in the intersection between social change, creativity and personalised support .
Following volunteering and writing (including the first education resource about Tibet), I got into the habit of setting up things.
I started Under One Sky in 1994, promoting music from around the world across Kent, before founding the charity Music for Change in 1997. Beginning in my bedroom with my mum as our first volunteer, Music for Change celebrated intercultural understanding through participation in music. By 2003, the charity employed 9 members of staff and reached over 60,000 young people across the UK annually through workshops and performances.
I stepped away to be part of the first cohort of fellows on the prestigious Clore Leadership Programme in 2003. As part of this, I undertook at 6-month placement at the Royal Opera House, and subsequently I was offered a part-time role developing strategy for opening up the public spaces.
My research as part of the Clore programme focused on altruism, and in 2006, I founded People United, exploring the synergies between arts and kindness. People United pioneered work across the UK exploring arts, wellbeing and social change. Collaborating closely with the social psychology team at the University of Kent, People United was and is renowned for bold, positive projects and well-researched evaluation. I stepped away in 2018.
After a period of training - as a transformational coach and qualified integrative counsellor - I worked as a volunteer counsellor in a hospice as well as an independent coach, mentor, advisor and facilitator.
In 2019, I joined ACEVO, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, providing emotional support and guidance to charity leaders from across the UK.
I feel very lucky to have worked alongside such lovely, dedicated people and to have had the chance to create work that embodied my values. I have learnt a lot and try to continue to be open to learning.
"In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few" Shunryu Suzuki
