Category: Team

Elaine’s Story – Marketing & Events Manager

I joined Mary Seacole Housing Association over 14 years ago as a Training Assistant. This role enabled me to engage the clients (and staff) of Mary Seacole in a whole variety of training programmes and projects that helped them to build upon their strengths and skills to achieve their personal goals.

However, with a background in Event Management and Hospitality, I couldn’t help but come up with creative ideas to help support and fundraise for Mary Seacole. Back in 2009, I introduced my colleagues to the idea of a fundraising Charity Ball which was a great success and has continued to be one of our main annual fundraising events ever since. It was a natural step for me to take up the position of Marketing & Events Manager, my current role, which I love.

Over the years I have spent a significant amount of time with the clients of Mary Seacole, listening to each of their personal circumstances and the causes of their homelessness. I have watched the organisation grow, embracing the issues of homelessness in Luton and I continue to feel very passionate about the cause; I truly believe that in this day and age, in a country as affluent at the UK, we should not have people living on the streets.

I feel honoured to work for such a great organisation and am proud that I am part of a team that helps Mary Seacole Housing Association make a difference to so many people’s lives in Luton.

 

Read more real stories from Mary Seacole clients and the people supporting them>

Nicole’s Story – Engagement & Safeguarding Officer

My name is Nicole Christophi and I am the Engagement and Safeguarding Officer for Mary Seacole Housing Association. I have worked for Mary Seacole for 6 years now and undertaken several different roles, such as a Relief Project worker, Project Worker and Training Administration Assistant. I started working for Mary Seacole after I completed my Criminology degree. My work experience is related to the understanding of crime and crime reduction. I also have experience working with hard to reach adults and young people.

My current role entails engaging clients and staff to achieve their desired outcomes. More specifically I work with clients who are hard to engage and need extra support to engage with various aspects of their support plans. I also deliver a variety of training sessions, activities and projects for our clients.

In addition to my engagement role I work as the Safeguarding Officer for Mary Seacole. This means that it is my job to ensure that all staff and clients are protected from harm by alerting the correct authorities when a concern arises, as well as setting up additional measures where necessary and appropriate.

All of my roles at Mary Seacole have been challenging but very rewarding. I enjoy all aspects of my current role and each day is totally different.

 

Read more real stories from Mary Seacole clients and the people supporting them>