I facilitate groups, lead projects and develop organisations. 

I’m a community and youth worker with thirty years of experience in neighbourhood development, faith-based, arts, campaigning and research organisations.

I teach on the BA Applied Social Science Community and Youth Work programme on staff at Goldsmiths, University of London.

I’m a researcher at the Centre for Community Engagement Research and doing a PhD at the Faiths and Civil Society Unit, also at Goldsmiths.

I irregularly present shows, dabble in stand-up and improv’ and live in East London.

Employment
Since 2014 I’ve worked with various organisations to refresh, refocus or reform work. I work on governance, management, fundraising, research and strategy with clients including Goldsmiths Council, Nehemiah Foundation, Mitie Ltd, London Borough of Hammersmith and LB of Lewisham, Pepys Community Forum, St Germans Priory Trust, Stop the Traffik, and Livability.

I undertake consultancy, and work at St Martin-in-the-Fields where I’ve helped establish networks including Frontline – supporting frontline homelessness workers – and HeartEdge – supporting faith groups in setting up community, cultural and commercial projects.

I’m an active trustee, previously with Social Action for Health and Greenbelt Festivals chaired from 2009 to 2015. My interests are community and youth work, anti-poverty and the arts.

Earlier
A cartoonist, I illustrated for the South Avon Mercury and Western Gazette newspapers between 1981 and 1986.

In the 80s I acted and directed with various small theatre groups.

In the late 80s I helped set up Urban Action, a youth project working in Moston, Manchester. It’s now called M-13.

Neighbourhood
In the 90s I began 10 years work on the Kingsmead estate in East London with tenants developing local projects, resources and campaigns. I set up the Kabin, which continues to work with residents to tackle disadvantage.

In 2000 I co-founded Hackney Marsh Partnership bringing together disparate projects, services and charities across East Hackney. We worked to maximise our local resources and develop a more coordinated response to poverty in the area.

While doing research I joined Huddleston Trust, working with disabled young people across East London. With the team we restructured and rebranded. I fundraised, growing the team, refurbishing the centre.

Development
I joined Church Urban Fund pioneering work to connect churches to policy makers. I set up the fledgling ‘Together Network‘, working with C-of-E diocese to pioneer new approaches for CUF as a network-based organisation.

I have a degree in community and youth studies (CYS) at Lancaster and MSc via research – I wrote about my study for the Community Development Journal here.

My interest is working with people to bring about change, finding laughter along the way.