Special Project Lead within the Violence Reduction Unit

What is your current role?

I work on a special project within the Violence Reduction Unit at Southwark Council. It provides information, advice and guidance to parents and carers of young people aged 0 to 25 who have been affected by exclusion or youth violence.

Tell us about your career journey

I have worked in small jobs since I was 12 but my first ‘proper job’, was at Southwark Council when I was 22. I've been here ever since. When I finished studying Economics, I worked at the council for a week to prepare for a conference. Most of my time here has been in Children’s and Adults Services Department, but especially within special needs and disabilities.

My official role was supporting parents to navigate the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. I then went into the Special Educational Needs (SEN) team, which focuses on the legal and administration around special needs. I was a caseworker and had schools and families that I was responsible for. I then progressed to be a team manager. I did that for about 19 years.

In 2014, the law around SEN changed, and I set up a new information advice and guidance team helping parents and young people with special needs or disabilities. That lasted about four years.

I then led the local area review of the centre forms and then I thought, ‘What am I going to do next?’. Lots of parents had contacted us when we were on the service team saying that think their child is involved in drugs, or knife crime, or has been excluded from school, but we couldn't help them because they didn't have special needs. So I started thinking about what it would look like if we could provide advocacy to those families, and the council let us do that. I want to help our young people; those who haven't got opportunities, haven’t a huge network at home to fall back on or parents to help them to pay privately for things.

Did you always know that you wanted to work with young people?

I had no idea. I didn't even know that I was going to be good at it. One day my friend and I were left manning the team, (we were about 25), and she told me how good I am with parents. I think sometimes you need someone to point out your strengths to realise what your qualities are, and we try to do that with the young people we work with as well. 

What do you think are the secrets behind getting to where you are today?

Doing something that you really love and working with lovely people. It's definitely about the people. I'm not saying we haven't got places to go; there's always room for improvement. I love the diversity in the council and the fact that they recognise when they need to do something, and we can all be part of that conversation. You have got to find your passion and do that.

What has failure/disappointment looked like in your career? And how did you bounce back?

There's so much on a daily basis, but I think it is about reframing it to a certain extent. For example, one of the boys I was working with was seriously hurt outside of his school. He was on track to get 10 GCSEs, but they only entered him for two and they said he couldn’t come to school. So we bought revision guides and flashcards, we got past exam papers and helped to create a timetable for him – we did all we could to facilitate him at least getting Maths and English. On his way to one of his English exams, he was stopped by the police and taken into custody. We have those kinds of failures, but again, I have to reframe that and help him to keep positive and have that resilience. We have just got to keep getting back up.

So whether staff aren't having the best experience with us or a parent says, ‘I didn't appreciate the service that I got’, I do really take those things personally, but I try to reframe that to see what we could do better next time.

What has been the highest point of your career and how would you continue to recreate that feeling?

Setting up the SIAS team in 2014/2015. It was just a fresh challenge, and I was able to pick the team, so we had this beautiful reflection of what we needed. We had huge motivational events for young people organised by young people, and we had enough resources to be able to do what we wanted to. We invited candidates from The Apprentice and had a Channel 4 presenter speak as well. Those were great times! Everyone on that team has said there’s been nothing like it since we all really enjoyed that journey together. It was a special time. The team is still going strong and is headed up by an amazing colleague and friend who was there at the start. We have tried to recreate that experience across the Exclusions and Youth Violence Forum.

Who or what inspires you?

The young people, they're just amazing! If I’m ever having a day when I feel like I’m not making a difference, I just get involved with one of the young people. They are an inspiration. They have huge untapped talents, and despite adversity and frequent judgement, remain engaged and make  progress with whatever support we can offer. In turn, many of my friends and colleagues in the council always help them with motivational talks and offers of work experience.

What advice would you give to a young person starting out?

Do something you love. Don't do something because your mum says she'd like you to do it, or because you think there is loads of money in it, or because your friends are all doing it. Do what you love to do. Make yourself a skill, which is what you trade with, which is what makes you your money. We all have to have a skill that we can trade.

To get yourself in that position go and speak to people. Go to free events and network. There are so many opportunities for young people now here in London. I think one of the things that I've learned with my work that I would encourage them to do is to be brave. Sometimes you need to be confident; step out of your comfort zone. What's the worst thing that somebody could say to you – go away?

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