Profile
Passionate about working with people, I am often working in roles where I am leading and influencing, bringing an energetic vibe to projects and services that champion user-engagement and lived experiences. I am incredibly diligent, my communication and academic skills after 25 years’ development are strong. I have a keen interest in achieving pieces of work that lead to change.
Core Skills
Fundraising (Trusts & Foundations, successful 3 to 6 figure amounts)
Research and Interpretation of data
Strategic Connectivity Leadership
Mental Wellbeing Participatory Skills
A wide understanding of the diverse lived experiences of children, young people and adults who experience being marginalised
IT skills
WordPress Trello Beacon CMS
Canva Google Analytics MS Packages
Employment History
March 2024 to December 2025 (.6 FTE)
British Deaf Association
Prospects Researcher and Grants Writer
- Pipeline development for a wide trust and foundations (T&F) portfolio of various sizes from smaller income streams to 6 figure grants. Stewardship with key funders current and new.
- Lead responsibilities in working with key staff members to understand and formulate grant applications.
- Responsible for grant reporting and clear handover to operational staff, with responsibilities and deadlines agreed.
- Support in staff grant reporting.
Main Achievements:
- 3-6 figure applications with successes, e.g. £297k from City Bridge Foundation.
- Raised £820k in total from Joseph Rowntree, City Bridge Foundation, The National Lottery, Heritage Lottery Northern Ireland, People and Places Lottery Wales, British Film Institute Heritage and others in 18 months, working 3 days a week. This utilised my leadership, meticulous planning and evaluation skills.
- Over 300 potential T&F assessed using specific criteria for various grant approaches using various grant databases including Directory of Social Change and 360 giving grant nav.
- Development and stewardship of relationships with multiple key funders.
March 2024 to November 2024 (.4 FTE)
Freelance work
Lead Researcher
- Working with stakeholders and Deaf Migrants, we researched and developed key policy recommendations to meet the needs of Deaf Migrants in London.
- This was a commissioned research piece by Greater London Authority (GLA) circa £27k.
- Line Management of 2 Research Assistants.
- Overall budget responsibilities.
Main Achievements:
- Report submitted for GLA to develop policy briefings.
- Awareness of the needs and wants of Deaf Migrants in London and their experiences.
- User engagement with over 56 participants and advisory board members with lived
- Excellent co-production with Deaf Migrants.
- Engagement with key stakeholders who work with Deaf Migrants or have responsibilities e.g. Local Authorities, Service providers such as the British Red Cross.
April 22 – November 23
University College London
Research Fellow
- Responsible for a 5 year Wellcome funded research study into the importance of Visual Communication input and Reading Development.
Main Achievements:
- Recruitment of over 400 children according to specific criteria across the UK.
- Development of battery of psychometric research tools.
- Line management, training and development of 4 Research Assistants to test children across the UK.
- Marketing and Communications about the project across the communities.
December 2020 – March 2022
Deafinitely Theatre
Executive Director (maternity)
- All strategic leadership and work for a National Portfolio Organisation. Financial responsibility for £700k and fundraising too.
- Line Management of 4 senior roles.
Main Achievements:
- Successful funding of 6 figure application circa £350k received especially during COVID-19 pandemic. This role included intense work with funders e.g. Arts Council England, Garfield-Weston and the Greater London Authority.
- Development of Board of Trustee subgroups to support specific required areas of work for funding.
- Strong engagement with funders including newsletters, invitations to Board meetings and performance opportunities.
- A clear and detailed handover at end of maternity cover.
Feb 2021 – May 2021
Consortium LGBT
Intersections Fund Development Officer
- Responsible for both the analysis and collection of useful information from groups in the LGBTQ+ sector who experience intersectionality/ies (e.g. Disabled, People of Colour)
Main Achievements:
- Data from over 400 groups in the LGBTQ+ sector who experience intersectionality/ies about their struggles as voluntary groups supporting their communities.
- The National Lottery awarded circa £800k for the needs evident from this research; the Intersectional Fund was launched in January 2021.
- After this research contract ended, I was invited to become a panel member and subsequently reviewed many applications and challenged the panel’s thinking on several.
July 1998 – November 2004
National Deaf Children’s Society
Deputy Director Children and Young People Services
Responsible for annual budget circa £1.3m
Line management of 6 senior members of staff.
Worked closely with Fundraising department to develop sustainable strategic plans.
Warm relationship with key funders e.g. a Major Donor who funded Youth Advisory Board for 6 years.
January 2020 – December 2020
UK Deaf Sport
Project Manager
Line Management and Support to 17 sessional workers
January 2025 – May 2007
University College London
Post-doctoral Research Assistant
Education
PhD Developmental Psychology, University of Sheffield
BSC Hon. Psychology at Goldsmith’s College, University of London – 2:1
Other Qualifications
- Impact Measurement and Management, In Focus, August 2020
- Change Leadership, Directory of Social Change, 2016
- Leadership Development, FPM (in partnership with Children’s Workforce Development Council and Children’s Workforce Network), March 2010
- Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 2006
- Neil O’Connor Award, the British Psychological Society – Developmental Section: A research award in developmental disability, 2002
- Millennium Awards Fellowship, 2002
- Federation of Deaf People, Youth Award, 2000
Volunteer Work:
- SHOUT Crisis Volunteer – the UK’s first free, confidential, 24/7 text support service – June 2020 to September 2021
- Founder & Chairperson – Deaf Rainbow UK – www.deafrainbowuk.org.uk – March 2018 – Dec 2021. Stood down to give others an opportunity. Brought in £40k circa in donations and grants.
- Respite Carer – 2003-07 – to a young deaf boy for 5years under Southwark Family Link Services.
- Co-ordinator, Sheffield Befriending Project for Deaf Children. I developed and got small funding for a project for deaf children in the local area of Sheffield to meet up with deaf young role models on a fortnightly basis and developed positive identities – 2001- 03.
- Co-ordinator, British Deaf Association Youth Exchanges. These exchanges involved a lot of responsibility, organisation, planning as well as the importance of learning foreign sign languages. Brought in and raised enough money for each exchange. I have always communicated well with foreign deaf counterparts who use sign language – 1995-2002
- Counsellor, Camp America – worked with adults with developmental disabilities, and the year before, with children and young people. Some were deaf and sign language users – 1998 and 1997.
Trusteeship Roles
- Deaf Rainbow UK, Chairperson (July 2018- December 2021)
- Greenwich University Students Union, Trustee (2020 – 2021)
- Royal Association of the Deaf: Trustee (2012-2015)
- SignHealth: Trustee (2002-2012)
- British Deaf Association: Trustee (2002-2006)