Experience

Otterpool Park

• United Kingdom
• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Community Services & Events Manager

  • Sep 2021 - Present

  Otterpool Park is a proposed Garden Town located in the Kent countryside, close to the seaside towns of Folkestone and Hythe. Otterpool Park will offer the best of a rural and urban lifestyle. Everything that’s needed will be there – homes, workspaces, schools, shops, community facilities, spaces for leisure, arts and culture. Otterpool Park is a proposed Garden Town located in the Kent countryside, close to the seaside towns of Folkestone and Hythe. Otterpool Park will offer the best of a rural and urban lifestyle. Everything that’s needed will be there – homes, workspaces, schools, shops, community facilities, spaces for leisure, arts and culture.



TazFit Health & Fitness

• Kent, England, United Kingdom

• Fitness Professional

  • Sep 2020 - Present

  A fitness professional providing health consultations, personal training, online and live fitness sessions, passionate about promoting health and wellbeing. A fitness professional providing health consultations, personal training, online and live fitness sessions, passionate about promoting health and wellbeing.



Quinn Estates

• United Kingdom
• Construction
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Fundraising Consultant

  • May 2021 - Apr 2022

  Preparing funding bids and maximising the potential for delivering high quality community provision across the portfolio of developments. Preparing funding bids and maximising the potential for delivering high quality community provision across the portfolio of developments.



Betteshanger Country Park

• United Kingdom
• Leisure, Travel & Tourism
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of Development

  • Jan 2018 - May 2021

  Preparing funding bids and business cases to support the development of the Kent Mining Museum, the new visitor centre and leisure opportunities at Betteshanger Park. Responsible for seeking community engagement opportunities, collaborations with partners and organising events.

• Fundraising Consultant

  • Dec 2016 - Dec 2017

  Betteshanger Country Park, at the time owned by Hadlow College, was embarking on a regeneration project to develop the former coal mining colliery site. A new £8m state of the art Visitor Centre was being planned. I was responsible for identifying funding opportunities and nurturing relations with trusts & foundations, individual and corporate prospects in order to secure funding towards the capital scheme and ongoing revenue requirements.



Creative Places (Community Interest Company)

• Canterbury

• Director

  • Sep 2013 - Dec 2017

  Creative Places provides a wide range of creative courses and workshops in different locations, using local artists as tutors. I set the Community Interest Company up in order to reach out to communities and provide opportunities for people to try their hand at a variety of activities in a social, relaxed way. Programmes of courses and workshops have been held in village halls, at Children’s Centre’s, and funding has been secured from the MOD to provide a broad programme for army communities in Dover, Canterbury and Folkestone. I’ve also worked with the Up on the Downs Landscape Partnership Scheme to raise the profile of the North Downs. I developed pottery workshops alongside a presentation of Anglo Saxon ceramic artefacts that were found on the Downs by the Canterbury Archeological Trust and lino-printing workshops following a walk to explore and observe the landscape. I developed a project funded by the MOD and Heritage Lottery Fund working with the Folkestone Nepalese Community called ‘Reflecting the Downs’. I arranged to lead the community on a series of guided and translated walks across the North Downs over the four seasons. Participants then developed their understanding of the landscape, flora, fauna and heritage of the area which developed their sense of belonging. After the walks we worked with local glass artist Rob Croudace to capture the inspiration taken from the landscape on to glass which is then fired to create a glass pendant. The glass pendants are displayed as a piece of public art at Georges Barn, Peene, hung from a steel tree made by Jamie Gibson of JAG Engineering Designs. The artwork was unveiled with a leaflet promoting the walk, in July 2016 and was very well received by the Nepalese community. Show less



The King's School, Canterbury

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Partnerships Coordinator

  • Sep 2016 - Dec 2016

  Working alongside the Head of Partnerships to raise the profile of The King’s School in the wider community, provide opportunities for King’s School students through external links, and encourage young people external to the school to access The King’s School facilities, events and teaching in order to raise aspirations and provide different learning experiences. Responsibility for coordinating various events and activities with partners, securing involvement of pupils, administering the Partnerships budget, preparing funding applications and evaluating the performance of projects. Show less



Shepway District Council

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Community Development Manager

  • Nov 2014 - Mar 2016

  Overseeing the work of the Community Development Team, helping communities to improve the quality of life in their local area by working with Councillors, partners, and communities to empower them to identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities, plan what they want to achieve and take appropriate action, and develop activities and services to generate aspiration and confidence. This is being achieved through the development of Ward Profiles and Ward Plans and supported with Community Funding. I led the Community Development Team (a team of 7 people) in developing 13 Ward Profiles, a document for each ward across the district that identified the key statistical data around employment, housing, health & wellbeing etc. and also identified the key community assets in each area. The documents are a useful resource for the communities and assist in identifying the gaps in provision. We then worked with local Councillor’s to use the documents and hold a number of community consultations to develop Ward Plans, documents that outline the priorities in each of the wards and provide focus for investment.I also managed the administration and monitoring of a number of grant streams; Ward Budgets, Ward Plans, Community Chest and commitments to other community operations. The annual budget was in the order of £0.5m.I oversaw the Sports Development role and worked closely with the County Sports Partnership, Shepway Sports Trust and local clubs to increase participation in sport. We held a successful #thisgirlcan campaign and created a number of events for women to participate in on International Women’s Day. We increased the Nepalese Communities participation in Basketball by organising a number of taster days, we secured funding through the Country Sports Partnership to subsidise their membership to the local basket ball team (All Saints) and they now playing in the local league. Show less

• Community Development Officer

  • Nov 2013 - Oct 2014

  Working and engaging with a range of partners and the communities of Shepway to identify and develop projects while capacity building, facilitating, empowering, and delivering projects inline with the identified community need. Strong organisational, event management, project development, facilitation, risk management, policy and bid writing skills. Specialising in working with young people.

• Event Manager - WW1 Centenary Commemorations

  • Dec 2013 - Aug 2014

  Through the efforts of the charity Step Short, a large commemorative arch was installed on The Leas in tribute to the millions of men that passed through Folkestone on their way to and from the Western front during the 1914-18 conflict. On the 4th August 2014 the Arch was officially unveiled by HRH Prince Harry and was one of just three national events that took place that day alongside Glasgow Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. The event attracted national and international media attention.I undertook the role of Event Manger for the whole event that included a military and civilian march, a whole host of VIP’s, official unveiling and speeches at the arch. I was responsible for writing and implementing the emergency planning and crowd safety, royal and civic protocols. We hired a production company to place screens on The Leas in order for the viewing public to be able to see the main event, and film the event to create a saleable DVD. We worked with Sky BSB, ITV and Canada TV to broadcast the event live. I prepared the Event Management Plan which included crowd safety, security, medical provision, traffic management, risk assessment and emergency planning elements for the event, and was scrutinised by the local Safety Advisory Group, Royal Protection Team and Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS). They were all completely satisfied with the plans. Over 100 volunteers were recruited and trained to steward the event. An original budget of £20k was determined by the local authority, but representation to the DCMS ensured that an additional budget of £50k was secured. Show less

• Community Projects Officer

  • Apr 2011 - Oct 2013

  Working within the Community Safety Unit, the focus of this role was to reduce crime and improve community cohesion.

• Event Manager - Olympic Torch Relay

  • Sep 2011 - Jul 2012

  Prior to the London 2012 Summer Olympics the Torch Relay was run from the 19th May – 27th July.The Torch Relay travelled a 10k route through Shepway from Ashford through to Dover and was one of the longest stretches in the Country. While the Olympic Torch bearers and convoy were organised by the Olympic Torch Committee, I had the responsibility to ensure that the torch travelled through the area safely and that the people watching had a fun and safe viewing experience. The event was a great success and the plans were held up at County level as an example of Best Practice.I led the development of the event for Shepway District Council, wrote the Event Management Plan and managed all the various elements, which included: • Zoning the route into 5 manageable sections • Recruiting and training 350 volunteers• Procuring and organising event infrastructure: Barriers, bollards etc• Medical Provision• Security: SIA trained and using the local Gurkha Regiment• Traffic Management Plan• Viewing Arrangements: Identifying and promoting best viewing areas. Working with local schools and care homes to ensure they had reserved viewing (7,500 people)• Media: Ensuring the media were allocated good viewing and interviewing spots along the route• Grounds Maintenance: Providing direction in terms of which areas needed to be maintained (grass cutting, hanging baskets etc)• Internal & External Communications Plans: • Emergency Planning• Setting up Bronze command Control Room• Budget Management Show less

• Youth & Play Development Officer

  • Feb 2007 - Mar 2011

  I led the development of the Shepway Play Strategy by working with a diverse group of stakeholders and secured funding from the Big Lottery and other external funders to invest over £750k towards improving play provision across the district. I project managed seven capital schemes and worked closely with the communities to ensure a sense of ownership was developed and that capacity building was achieved.During the development of Cheriton Recreation Ground I worked alongside the Nepalese community and local primary and secondary schools to create bespoke play items. I commissioned local artists to create a climbable ‘Mount Everest’ which worked towards risky play, and expert craftsman to create a series of playable carved wooden items and picnic tables that had the national game of Nepal etched into the surfaces and chess boards for the English element.I managed and directed the delivery of the Shepway Play MAP which was a very successful mobile play unit that operated during school holiday periods delivering free play opportunities in the most deprived wards of Shepway. I provided advice, guidance and support to Town and Parish Councils and community groups that were looking to improve their play provision and consequently was proud of the achievements of New Romney Town Council and Play for Elham. Show less

• Youth Officer

  • Jun 2004 - Jan 2007

  I established and developed the Shepway Youth Forum, providing an opportunity for young people aged 11-19 to influence decisions being taken by SDC, represent the voice of young people across the district and work towards projects to benefit other young people. Support was given to other communities across the district in setting up youth forums. I worked closely with the school councils of the primary and secondary schools across the district. I trained to deliver the Bronze & Silver Arts Award, assisting young people to get involved in the arts and share their skills. I worked alongside a number of partners to address issues faced by young people including homelessness, substance misuse, sexual health, discrimination, integration and further education. Show less

• Tourism Officer

  • Jan 2002 - May 2004

  My role was varied and took in the general marketing and development of the tourism product in Shepway. I represented and sold Shepway as a destination at various consumer and trade fairs including the British Travel Trade Fair. I produced a variety of marketing materials including the annual Holiday Guide and Group Guides and raised income through the sale of tourism advertising. I was also responsible for working with partners to enhance the tourism product, an example of which is the development of Chalk and Channel way. I worked alongside a number of artists and colleagues at Dover DC to commission and install public art along the clifftop cycle route from Dover to Folkestone. I oversaw the running of the Tourist Information Centres across the District, trade and consumer and the marketing and day to day operations f the Martello Tower No.3 Visitor Centre. I liaised with tourism providers across the district and with the British Tourist Authority to raise the profile of the area.I worked on a national marketing campaign with Canterbury, Thanet and Dover Council’s to sell East Kent as ‘Canterbury and Coastal Kent’.I managed the databases for accommodation, catering and attraction providers and the corporate image library. I was responsible for compiling the bid for Folkestone’s new conference facilities at The Leas Cliff Hall to host the prestigious Tourism Management Institute’s annual conference. As a result Folkestone was selected to host the conference in 2006. Show less

• European Project Officer

  • Apr 2001 - Dec 2001

  I was selected for secondment to the Kent County Council Brussels Office, to represent Shepway District Councils European interests. My main portfolios were Transport, Culture & Tourism, which involved lobbying at the European Commission and Parliament for the Rail for Folkestone campaign; preparing a paper to the DG for Competition about the operations of the Cross Channel Ferries and Eurotunnel; preparing the timetable and assisting to assemble Canterbury and East Kent’s ‘City of Culture’ bid. I was responsible for disseminating information relating to these areas, back to partners in Kent. Show less

• Graduate Trainee Tourism Officer

  • Jul 2000 - Apr 2001

  This position provided me with a good insight to the diversity of the tourism industry. I was involved in host of activities including collating tourism data to feed into the Cambridge Model, assisting in the production of promotional material, supporting in inspections of holiday accommodation, attending exhibitions both nationally and internationally, stewarding at events, placing advertisements and organising familiarisation tours.



School for Creative Startups

• Student!

  • Oct 2013 - Jun 2014

  Alongside the development of my company, (and full time job!) I was also successful in securing one of one hundred places on the School for Creative Startups. Through a range of intensive boot camps, workshops, one-to-one sessions and with access to an online community resource and professional speakers, I learnt how to brand, market and sell the services of Creative Places. The course culminated in a four day pop-up mall at the Old Selfridges Hotel in London where we were able to put all that we had learned into practice. The high profile event attracted a lot of media attention and my company was featured in various creative magazines. Show less



Orchid Travel

• United States
• Information Services

• Travel Consultant

  • Jan 1999 - Feb 2000



BPS Teleperformance

• Birmingham, United Kingdom

• Telesales Team Leader

  • Oct 1997 - Dec 1998



Eurotunnel

• Customer Services Advisor

  • Sep 1993 - Jul 1995