Sonya Christensen Mncps (Acc). Frsa. Email & Phone Number

Runcorn, Gb

Manchester, United Kingdom

As the Engagement and Inclusion Manager at Children’s University I lead on the strategic growth of the network within the charity to raise children's aspirations and tackle disadvantage to level the playing field and ensure that children have the best chance of reaching their full potential. Working across the UK and overseas my role is to research both geographical and opportunity areas that we know we need to be in, build strategic relationships, create opportunities for collaboration to then manage the on-boarding and support of new partner members. My role is to increase our growth and reach in the areas in which Children’s University doesn’t yet have a presence, focusing on embedding Children’s University in communities we know we can make the biggest impact and ensuring that the network offers are diverse and inclusive. Working in partnership with key stakeholders and colleagues to shape, develop and deliver Children's Universities organisational plans. Detailed stakeholder mapping and planning; maintaining a detailed and up to date timeline of key milestones and acting as the point of contact for key stakeholders ensuring the overall success of the organisation in line with our aims and objectives.Leading on the strategic network and partnership development through researching and developing partnerships at local, national and international levels. Developing, marketing and rolling out a new network model to new areas focused on scale into areas of disadvantage. Promoting the value of diverse learning opportunities, supporting all children, particularly those from disadvantaged background, to access these opportunities, and engage their families, schools and communities in celebrating the achievements of those who participate. Children’s University is a charity focused on giving children access to opportunities that will help them gain the tools they need to realise their aspirations and face their futures with the same chances as their peers.

Runcorn, England, United Kingdom

Sessional Appropriate Adult for Young People under 18 and Vulnerable Adults @ Runcorn, Blacon and Middlewich Custody Suites.

Cheshire And Merseyside

Cheshire Therapy offered face to face or online, Individual Counselling to both Adults and Children and has extensive experience of working with a variety of Social, Emotional and Behavioural Issues.Commissioned to work with Children in Primary Schools across the North West to deliver Counselling and PSHE Workshops and Nurture Groups, working with issues such as Self Esteem, Body Image, Self Confidence, Emotional Intelligence, Equality and Diversity and many more.I have been nominated for Merseyside Woman of the Year twice and I was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Halton Chamber of Commerce.

Knowsley

My role was to develop Caring Connections charitable arms development and strategy, managing the design and implementation of a range of projects including reducing social isolation and bereavement though suicide services within Merseyside and ensuring Equality and Diversity in all Organisational delivery. I was also responsible for the management, development and growth of the organisational charitable projects and activities and fundraising activities. Building capacity, preparing grant applications and project funding bids to expand the opportunities available. I successfully created and implemented a sustainable community engagement strategy and built links with local businesses for CSR based activities.

Manchester, United Kingdom

GMSWA was a Teaching Partnership tasked with improving Social Work education and CPD across Greater Manchester. We partnered with the 10 Local Authorities, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, University of Salford and After AdoptionWorking across Greater Manchester as part of the pioneering work of the Greater Manchester Social Work Academy, my role was to ensure the integration of the VCSE sector into all elements of the programme and to ensure that service users and carers have a voice. This required me to understand the complex systems and processes across Greater Manchester (GM) as health and social care devolution developed and to contribute to the Academy’s delivery and governance mechanisms. I met with research to map the diverse opportunities available through VCSE sector services and identified where I was able integrate this knowledge and experience into the Academy. This enhanced the Social Work student training and the CPD available to qualified social workers. I was responsible for championing continuous improvement and sharing best practice with other relevant functions throughout the organisations.I worked very closely with the Practice Learning Teams at both Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), the University of Manchester (UoM) and Salford University. I developed a system for integrating in the VCSE sector with statutory Local Authority Social Care partners to offer relevant placements for students across sectors, thus enhancing the students real world skills and an understanding of the real-life journey of children, young people, adults and families as they negotiated the social care system. I established strong relationships with VCSE services across the Greater Manchester footprint and champion the sector in all corners of the GMSWA and beyond. I also created and embedded the strategy for Service User and Carer representation throughout and its Work Streams / Boards and continue to work with the SUC Board.

Cheshire East And West, Warrington, Halton And Greater Mersyside

Be-lieve CIC designed, delivered and commissioned services that increased the social mobility and social justice of individuals, families recruiting and managing the relationships with over 100 local VCSE businesses whilst also growing the local economy. Delivering to over 200 families who were experiencing multiple and complex needs worked with a consortium of around 100 Voluntary, Charity and Social Enterprise Service Providers and over 30 Lead Professionals from various backgrounds all over Cheshire East, West, Warrington, Halton and Merseyside who helped us to provide a team around the family. In March 2015 we were granted a financial extension to the original 3 year £900,000 funded LIFT (Lets Improve our Futures Together) project (Big Lottery Improving Futures) to enable us to commission more fantastic work to change the lives of families and individuals in Cheshire East and West, Warrington and Halton and Merseyside with many fantastic and life changing outcomes and an average Social Return on Investment (SROI) of between £55,000 and £80,000 per family.

Runcorn, Cheshire

Ending as Vice Chair I was responsible for Safeguarding, SEND, Curriculum and Personnel and the Head Teacher Pay and Performance Committee Lead.

Runcorn, Cheshire

Various roles over the 16 years including Project Management, Complaint Resolutions, Account Management and Sales and Retention Specialist inc B2B SaaS

Merseyside

Lecturer in CPCAB (level 3) Counselling Studies

Runcorn, Cheshire

Bereavement Counsellor

Warrington And Surrounding Areas

Counselling the families of drug and alcohol users.

Digital Marketing, Distinction

Practitioner Of Coaching And Nlp, Life Coaching

Activities and Societies: Practitioner of both Coaching and Neuro Linguistic Programming.

Masters, Counselling Psychology

Post Graduate in Counselling Studies

Teaching, Adult And Continuing Education And Teaching

PTTLLS

Diploma In Counselling Theory And Practice (Ncfe), Counselling

Level 3- 4 (Certificate - Diploma) Counselling Theory and Practice

Health And Social Studies And Psychology, Psychology

GNVQ Health and Social Studies GCSE Psychology

Education record