“Don’t think that because you start in one career path you can’t change to another one later in life.”
Your Loughborough Story
- Can you tell us about your memories of your time at Loughborough Grammar School?
I really enjoyed all the extra-curricular activities that were on offer at school. When I started in Year 1 (now 7) I was in one of the lower grade sets but generally enjoyed the academic work. It was something that needed to be done so I got on and did it.
As said above I became involved in as many extra-curricular activities as I could, starting with ‘stage crew’ at lunchtimes in my first year. This continued throughout my whole school life.
2. If not answered above, what is your fondest memory from School?
It’s difficult to pick one…! The Wizard of Oz, including a few nights at Loughborough Town Hall, was my favourite opera/musical, however, the school trip taking Die Fledermaus to Buxton was amazing.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award, which was started by Paul Davey just as I turned 14, was something I had always wanted to achieve and I continued this throughout my school life and beyond.
3. How did your time at Loughborough Grammar School influence your life and career?
I have always continued to be involved in as many things as I have time to fit in. Whilst at school I always wanted to work in a bank and joined NatWest when I left, where I worked for 8 years. I then undertook theological training and spent 7 1/2 years working for 2 different churches before starting with Barnardo’s. I worked at Barnardo’s for 21+ years before taking early retirement.
The influence from my time at school was to always take an opportunity that was offered to me and put everything into it and achieve my best.
4. How would you describe school in three words?
Challenging, fun, opportunity
Alumni Career Wisdom
- What led you to choose your career path?
I always wanted to work in a bank and be a bank manager because my grandfather was a bank manager. Having a meaningful intervention from God, meant that I left the bank and went to Bible College before working for a church. From there I went on to work for Barnardo’s. All these roles involved me giving into the lives of others and being able to see a meaningful difference that I was making.
- Could you provide an outline of your job role?
In Barnardo’s I ended up working as a Children’s Services Manager. Over my 21 years with the charity this involved managing numerous commissioned services across Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and the Channel Islands. These included Sure Start Children’s Centres, Child Sexual Exploitation, Advocacy for children involved in the child protection process, Young Carers, Disabled children, an Early Intervention Service.
I was responsible for ensuring delivery of the contract, so liaising with local authority commissioners. I also managed the team managers for each service who in turn managed the frontline staff. I was also able to have some ‘frontline’ involvement from time to time working with the children we support.
- What are your career highlights?
Having meaningful input to the lives of both staff and children, seeing them grow in confidence and ability whether that be in their work roles with the staff, or seeing children achieve something they never thought possible because of the opportunities they were given.
- What’s one piece of advice you would give to current pupils thinking about entering a similar role to yourself?
The Charity Sector has many, many different opportunities from front facing service delivery to back office support services. There are many opportunities to progress and to move on and do something completely different from what you may have originally started doing.
- What job search tips would you give to pupils looking for a career in your industry?
Volunteering can be a great opportunity to finding out more and getting a ‘foot in the door’. All regular job sites will have adverts for charitable organisations as will their individual websites.
- What are the key skills you need for your job role/to work in your industry?
For my specific role, key skills included qualifications in youth work, teaching or social work. Other roles would need appropriate skills e.g. HR.
The charitable sector generally pays less than the commercial sector so having an outlook of this being vocational and identifying what you can give, as opposed to what you can get, is essential.
Final notes
- What ambitions would you still like to realise?
Now that I have taken early retirement I am able to continue giving to my local church in various different leadership roles and getting outdoors to enjoy creation more.
I still lightly hold an ambition to climb the Matterhorn and the Eiger!
2. Do you have any advice for current pupils/graduates who don’t know what to career path to follow?
Don’t think that because you start in one career path you can’t change to another one later in life.
3. Do you have any hobbies that keep you busy in your spare time?
Hill walking, scrambling, camping, alpine climbing. Flute and piano playing. Trail running, badminton & table tennis.
