I have worked in Community Development and Public Health for over 20 years, and started working for SAVTE at the beginning of 2018 and love how the organisation is evolving into a formidable Sheffield organisation.
I am totally inspired by the organisation, what it stands for, its aims, ethos, the volunteers who give their time and spirit so generously and above all the the stories of personal change by our participants.
There is a world of endless possibilities with this work, and at the most basic level, we are connecting people in a way that is more than just about language.
Since moving to Sheffield in 2004, I have worked in almost every community, and have seen how the city has changed demographically in a relatively short time and I am very aware of the divide that still exists in this city. SAVTE aims to bridge that divide by connecting people and germinating the start of so many new relationships. This is the nub of why I love this job; it is all about connecting people through supporting people to achieve their goals, grow in confidence which creates a whole new set of possibilities and opportunities.
I love to travel, with a backpack off the beaten track. Back in the 90s I spent 2 years teaching English in the former Soviet Union
, where I learnt Russian, through the family I lived with. Therefore I can completely empathize with our participants, as I know how nerve wracking it can be learning a foreign language in another country.
I love Sheffield, for the countryside and people. I love cooking, walking, cycling and I’m one of the crew at the Cabaret Boom Boom. I’m a trustee at the Dearne Play House in Goldthorpe, a gem of a theatre, a miners welfare legacy, working hard to give access to performing arts for people from the local community. I’m also learning to play the Tabla, whether I ever become accomplished remains to be seen!
