When did you join ELBA / BIG Alliance?
2019

What is your role and what does it involve?
My role is centred within the Community team – I started as a co-ordinator and have worked my way up to Head of Programmes:Challenge. I oversee ELBA’s team challenges, Toy Appeal and manage the team. My role will be expanding to encompass both sides of the Community team, practical and skills-based volunteering with a renewed focus on building and maximising relationships with ELBA’s community partners; and identifying needs, being more cohesive, adapting to new trends and maximising impact. I am looking forward to exploring the scope offered when supporting the community organisations as one team (Connect and Challenge), and how we can create and enhance volunteering opportunities for our corporate partners. Looking ahead, I am excited about the bigger picture, managing a consolidated team, learning directly from our community partners, scoping new partners and expanding the variety of support offered alongside who it is offered to.

Three words to describe yourself
Approachable, thoughtful and inquisitive!

Tell us one thing that people may not know about you
I like taking pictures of nature and capture memories and moments. I find it pretty cool that before you “click” that moment and capture it, it did not exist.

Tell us some of your favourite ELBA memories
During my early days at the charity, I realised that ELBA organised the mentoring schemes I was involved in when I was in Year 10 and Year 12 at school. I have a rounded ELBA experience, including joining the EAGLEs programme in 2017, which allowed me to progress in my career and professional journey.

Toy Appeal 2020 is a favourite ELBA moment. The annual Toy Appeal is a great festive activity at the end of the year and I have enjoyed getting involved and organising this as my role has progressed within ELBA. The first appeal during lockdown was a key highlight. We were hosted by Canary Wharf Group, had a public facing shop unit, ELBA staff (who I had not seen since lockdown), friends and family offered their support. It was covered by ITV News and we received over 22,000 toys!

Away days with my team and volunteering with ELBA are favourites too, in particular escape rooms, Go Ape and Teesdale & Hollybush TRA this year (2024).

WELBA activities – chairing ELBA’s internal wellbeing group (WELBA) has been a great addition alongside my role. Working and interacting with colleagues in a light-hearted and fun way. I discovered how competitive they are!

Name your favourite place in east London and why
I don’t have one favourite East London place. There are characteristics that make these places my favourites:

• Multiculturalism – having been brought up in East London, I appreciate the diversity in one place, the different cultures and opportunities to learn from others (and the varied food spots!)
• Green spaces – the parks, especially Victoria Park for the walks
• Hidden spaces – discovering places like Cody Dock, Teesdale, Abbey Gardens, etc. through ELBA
• The history – it is rich!

Complete this sentence ‘The absolute best thing about volunteering is…’:
… that it is two-fold: you support those who are in need, whilst also benefiting from the experience, making connections, learning new skills, stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something value driven.