For almost 18 years I have worked with children, young people and communities, affected by gang crime, in both the voluntary and public sectors. I began my career at the age of 15 working at clubs and residential camps, supporting children from families who were actively involved in or connected to paramilitary organisations. At 19 I spent a year working in Senegal, using community education and health initiatives to engage with vulnerable children, including victims of criminal exploitation. Following this I relocated to London to study youth work and work full time in this field. My career journey has granted me an extensive knowledge of gang crime and serious youth violence and has allowed me to specialise in targeted interventions which address both the needs of the individual as well as the wider systemic influences.I am currently Head of Mentoring & Youth Development at The Diana Award, managing teams in Birmingham, Jersey, Leeds and London to deliver career development workshops and co-produce social action projects with young people at risk of exclusion. As National Safeguarding Development Officer for The Scout Association I oversaw safeguarding training, resources, policies and partnerships for the Movement of over 500,000 youth members and 150,000 adult volunteers, ensuring compliance with current legislation and best practice standards. Prior to this role I worked as Youth Work Manager & Course Lead for alternative education charity, City Gateway managing managing projects and centres impacting over 1000 disadvantaged and disengaged young people living in inner city East London each year. Outside of work I have a background in performing arts and I sit on the Board of Trustees for Sedos, the resident company at Bridewell Theatre.