Your name and job title: Stanley Shepherd – Researcher

When did you join ELBA?
I joined ELBA on 29 March 2021 as one of 11 Kickstarters. Kickstarters (www.kickstartdirect.com) is a Government initiative to help employers offer job opportunities to young people. I was put into contact with ELBA through my Universal Credit mentor after several months of unemployment during the pandemic. After a successful interview and a week of digital and soft skills training, I began my placement. My specific focus, along with the two other kickstarters in the research team, was tailored to past experience and my desired career path. This has allowed me to carry out a role that I thoroughly enjoy, whilst also giving me valuable experience in the sector rather than simply taking any job I could find, which would have otherwise been the case. 

What is your role and what does it involve?
My role is in environmental research, with the early focus being on how ELBA can measure the outcome of our environmental practices. However, it has expanded beyond research as time has gone on. My main focus at the moment is helping each ELBA team organise climate and ecology themed volunteering opportunities to take place in the first week of the UN’s global climate conference COP26, this November. This ranges from spitballing ideas with ELBA staff, to helping with the comms that surrounds it.

Three words to describe yourself
Active, easy-going and passionate 

Tell us one thing that people may not know about you
I have a real passion for music. I have been going to festivals ever since I was a little kid at Glasto with my parents, and have continued that through to adulthood. Also, during lockdown, I decided to buy DJ decks and have been mixing as a hobby since then. It’s definitely something that runs in the family as my parents are still going to gigs and festivals regularly to this day!

Tell us the best thing about working for ELBA
The best thing about working for ELBA has to be the level of support I have received in all aspects of work and beyond. From regular digital and soft skills training to wellbeing sessions hosted by WELBA, it is rare that a week goes by without receiving some form of career or personal development support.

Name your favourite place in east London and why
My favourite place has to be East Ham/Plaistow. As a West Ham fan and season ticket holder for much of my life, the old stadium and the surrounding area provided so many great (and heartbreaking) memories for me growing up. Despite being north London born and raised, east London has always had a place in my heart for this reason.

Complete this sentence ‘The absolute best thing about volunteering is…’:
… the real impact you can have on community organisations and individuals. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand the outcome of your everyday work, even if it focuses on helping people. Volunteering allows you to witness that change first-hand, which I think is really important in terms of feeling like a part of a community.