This role began with the delivery of a range of heritage engagement activities as part of a Barking Heritage Project - funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and managed by Be First on behalf of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. With the support of a heritage volunteers team, I have undertaken thorough historical research, commissioned a heritage art trail with a popular mural by Jake Attewell and several striking, themed mosaics by Tamara Froud and composed the related interpretation. We have curated a heritage exhibition, including a digital version and other heritage events. I have been proud to raise the profile of the borough’s colonial and post colonial heritage and celebrate the local history of migration, industry and diversity and work with several local schools, designing related trails and workshops; also B&D college and national heritage organisations to provide heritage education opportunities, including work experience placements. We aim to continue to raise the profile of Barking and Dagenham’s heritage and also research and develop similar educational opportunities for residents of all ages across our diverse Borough. This role now includes providing heritage research and responses for planning applications and pre-apps for local buildings which are heritage assets, including those in our Conservation Areas. I co-created the Abbey Green Steering Group as part of a legacy protect to conserve the Barking Abbey Scheduled Monument and surroundings and a Working Party to audit local built heritage, promote ongoing uses which respect the fabric of the heritage assets and share the stories which are still relevant and inspiring to the community today!

This role entails researching local heritage, preparing teaching materials and resources and teaching students (aged 4-19 years) at Valence House Museum and Eastbury Manor House. Bringing history to life in an imaginative and entertaining way, using historic artefacts, archive materials, props, costumes and craft activities is a privilege and a pleasure. I also undertake outreach to local schools and as a freelancer have become engaged in other projects, such as the Creekmouth Heritsge project (2014-2015) and Havering Museum - development of pre-history sessions. I curated Caveman Capers - a Pre-history Festival, at Valence House Museum - managing a range of fun and engaging educational activities for all ages, culminating in a weekend community event which included a wide range of pre-historic themed crafts people, re-enactors, archery, cookery and Will Lord, June 2019. I also had the wonderful opportunity to research, create and co-write (with drama students) a full length film about the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Abolition movement with sixth formers from Robert Clack School in 2021. ‘When Wilberforce Came to Tea’ was filmed at Valence House by students from Barking & Dagenham College and edited by Ewan Bruce. The film has been adapted to be used as a teaching resource for schools - investigating global black history themes from a local perspective. In 2023 I wrote and directed a short film about seventeenth century Science pioneer Ann Henshaw. Lab-oratory starred Stacey Hickling and was filmed and Edited by Harry Blomley (Evoo Productions).

Head of Media Studies 1998-2004 (pause in teaching role 2006-2011). As a department manager I oversaw the creation of a new Media Suite, the expansion of the subject, development of staff and exceptional student results.