Since July 2019, I have been leading Health and Wellbeing activities across the VCS in Sheffield. I spent many years developing national policy and strategy within Government, and in recent years I have shifted my focus through academia, volunteering activity and everyday interactions with people in the City, to democratic inclusion and understanding real-world policymaking needs. I have been known to talk about this at great length with people at bus stops, in supermarkets and all kinds of places.
I am keen to bring my experiences, understanding and ways of working to support the VCS to help people in Sheffield communities to have the right type of health and social care help for them when it is needed and to live in places where they can have good quality, healthy lives.
In my role I add value to the full range of health and wellbeing activities that VCS organisations provide by supporting the interface with funders and planners of services, providing development support to organisations to allow them to do what they do best in communities and by establishing an understanding of the needs of different groups of people that engage with VCS organisations.
Increasing physical activity levels across Sheffield is one of the most significant opportunities to improve health, and prevent ill health. I’m working on the Move More Communities project to explore how we can use assets and strength’s, that are unique to different communities, to help us achieve this and improve health and wellbeing.
My central role is to bring together a variety of community partners and organisations to work together on identifying and developing local physical activity assets. I enjoy the challenge that strength’s based, and collaborative working brings, and the unique skills and passions it unearths from people across Sheffield.
I joined the health and wellbeing team in June 2021. My role involves working with VCS organisations and communities to help them address systemic issues that lead to health inequalities, challenge the current health system practice and work towards equitable access to healthcare for all. I’m passionate about community wellbeing and passing power to people so they can make decisions about their healthcare.
I am the chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence Co-production Steering Group and I try to uphold the coproduction principles of accessibility, diversity, equality and reciprocity (or getting something back for putting something in) in my day to day working life.
I also work as an Influence and Participation Coach with national Mind and I have been actively involved in mental health survivor groups since 1989.