Managing the delivery of Trussell Trust’s ‘Pathfinder’ innovation programme in Scotland. Providing support to food banks in the network to develop and implement strategies to reduce the need for food banks locally, with a focus on referral pathways, financial inclusion and participation.

I developed and managed a consultancy for community-focused third sector organisations. Projects included the development of a multi-agency 'advice and cash first' referral pathway in Orkney, which received Scottish Government funding, and the creation of a 'EDI in Community Engagement' toolkit for Community Foundations UK.

Managing a partnership project working with community organisations across Orkney’s ferry-linked isles to deliver a community-led one-to-one support and capacity-building project. Responsible for facilitating the partnership and building the capacity of delivery partners, as well as providing support and guidance to a team of five Island Wellbeing Coordinators. Also responsible for managing the Island Self Management Group Coordinator. Key Contributions: Co-produced a new strategy, role profile and evaluation framework for the Island Wellbeing Project with partners, which has been showcased by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and in the Scottish Rural Parliament as an example of best practice in community-led support.  Secured funding from a consortium of funders to continue and expand the Island Wellbeing Project until 2025, with a commitment to integrate the project into the Primary Care delivery model on the ferry-linked isles.  Co-designed a wellbeing survey with residents and community groups which received a 40% response rate, and which later informed the Integration Joint Board’s commissioning plan  Conducted research into the profile and needs of lunch clubs in Orkney and later secured funding for a ‘Lunch Club Innovation Grant’ scheme which provided lifeline funding to groups. Supported a group of residents with long-term conditions to develop a self-management group, securing funding to scale the project across the isles. Developed and facilitated a ‘Food Dignity Partnership’ and later secured funding to develop a strategy for Orkney, led by people with lived experience of food insecurity.  Developed a ‘Data Dashboard’ to share live insights from our one-to-one support with strategic partners, later resulting in additional funding from the Local Authority for child poverty activity. Led a project rebrand, designing a website and communications strategy.

Managed the Dementia Friendly Communities programme for the South East of England. Responsible for supporting over thirty community action groups, providing guidance and advice, and developing resources to support delivery. Led a team of five community coordinators based across the region. Also responsible for the programme’s national communication strategy and a member of the Regional Operational Management Team. Key Contributions:• Facilitated Alzheimer’s Society first celebration of Black History Month, which is now an annual fixture in the organisation’s campaigns and communication calendar. • Organised an internal ‘Dementia, Culture and Ethnicity’ seminar, which was attended by more than 150 staff members and led to a commitment for a directorate-wide policy on the issue.• Created a ‘Coronavirus Volunteer Dementia Awareness Toolkit’ based on the insights of people living with dementia and oversaw its distribution nation-wide.• Initiated an international research project, gathering insights from other dementia-friendly programmes across the world and subsequently producing an internal recommendations report.

Recruited and coordinated a forty-member strong community action group which aimed to encourage dementia-friendly places and processes in the borough. Advised the Local Authority, NHS Trust, Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and key business partners on accessible practice. Worked closely with people living with dementia to ensure their involvement in the design and delivery of this work.Key Contributions:• Evidenced the need and secured funding for a ‘B.A.M.E Dementia Outreach Worker’ from City and Hackney CCG, later supporting a community organisation to develop and manage the role.• Negotiated for dementia awareness raising training to be included as part of the staff induction process at Hackney London Borough Council.• Organised the ‘Hackney Dementia Festival’, coordinating fifteen organisations to organise activities for people living with dementia, with over 50% of organisations continuing to deliver these activities. • Developed a ‘User Involvement Group’ and negotiated their membership of CCG’s strategic planning group for dementia.

Working for the publication of the study 'Cross cultural representations of dementia: an exploratory study' in the Journal of Global Health

Project Officer for a pilot project recruiting members of the public for short-term volunteering, based within the Emergency Response Team. Acted as a link between the Project Manager and local Project Coordinators, ensuring communities in our pilot areas were able to feed into the development of our work. Assistant Exercise Manager for two multi-agency exercises and lead for the project’s online deployment and recruitment systems.

Worked for a London Member of Parliament (MP), supporting the Senior Parliamentary Assistant and responding to policy casework on behalf of the MP. This involved liaising with government departments, ministers, charities, and policy organisations.

Working at the campaign headquarters of Bermondsey and Old Southwark Labour Party for the successful parliamentary candidate, Neil Coyle MP. Supported volunteer management and strategy.