When did you join ELBA / BIG Alliance?
I joined ELBA in 1989, which was 35 years ago.

What is your role and what does it involve?
My role is to organise and maintain the CEO’s diary, arranging appointments with our stakeholders; as well as being the Employment team’s administrator, assisting the team with recruitment and training schemes. I am also heavily involved in performing general office maintenance and support tasks.

However, another key role I play at ELBA is working with the award-winning east London charity The Tower Project. The Tower Project is a leading service provider for children and adults with a learning disability, sensory disability, autism, physical disability or health-related issues. We first got involved with them in 2014, offering a young person a work placement at ELBA, working alongside me. It was for one day a week, doing three to four hours of work at ELBA, for two months. Duties for the Tower Project candidate would include typing, photo coping, filling the printers, franking out-going post, etc. ELBA has had quite a few young people over the years. Some were shy and quiet to begin with but were able to come out of their shell and be more vocal by the end of their time with ELBA. To this day we continue to offer The Tower Project candidates work experience at ELBA for three months.

Three words to describe yourself
Caring, fun, dedicated

Tell us one thing that people may not know about you
I learnt to bake during Covid. My sister had online sessions with me and showed me step-by-step what to do. It was great fun. We started off with banana cake and I can now make carrot cake, and lemon drizzle is my favourite.

Tell us some of your favourite ELBA memories over the last 35 years
The Viewing Platform (Bow) 2010 – The Viewing Platform was an inward investment and marketing suite located on the top two floors of a 16-storey development in Bow, east London; with panoramic views overlooking the Olympic Park and Stadium. ELBA worked alongside Tower Hamlets Council to manage the Viewing Platform and were able to offer this space to our corporate board members for events, board meetings, drinks reception etc. It was a lovely place where you could host a gathering, observing the Olympic Park being built.

ELBA’s Employee Volunteering Awards (EVA) and Christmas party – ELBA used to hold an annual EVA Award and Christmas party. Our chairman at the time would kindly host the awards and party at his office (their dining area would be transformed for the event). I remember in 2011 it was held at the Centre for the Cell. It was a wonderful gathering for our board members and community partners alike. There were speeches, awards presented to volunteers, food and drinks, plus music and a dance floor. It was always well attended by our guests and those that were waiting to find out how their company/organisation did with the EVA Awards.   

Name your favourite place in east London and why
Brick Lane is my favourite place – a lovely vibrant place. ELBA’s offices were located in the Truman Brewery (Brick Lane) many years ago. We, of course, changed offices over the years. Brick Lane has so much to offer – food, restaurants, a place to grab a drink, the art work on display, tattoo shop, jewellery, clothes, etc. Over the years, it is a place we still go back to – the Employment team experienced the Escape Room there, and we had an ELBA outing at the bowling alley.  

Complete this sentence ‘The absolute best thing about volunteering is…’:
…the sense of satisfaction you feel from helping others and the positive impact for the community.