CAREER HISTORY
Mencap | Storytelling Lead
September 2021-present
Leading the Stories function, implementing and overseeing best practice for the stewardship of storytellers with a learning disability and their families
Strategically identifying, capturing and repurposing stories about life with a learning disability to meet the charity’s needs across key areas, with a focus on representing underrepresented communities
Project-managing and inspiring the Communications Assistant, supporting their development in story collection, database management and ethical storytelling practices
Co-leading the Mencap Myth Buster programme (alongside Ambassador Lead), stewarding a diverse roster of 18 ambassadors with a learning disability to represent the charity’s mission & increase representation of people with a learning disability in media
Implementing and leading the charity’s story strategy and process, working collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders
Training and upskilling colleagues/teams on GDPR compliance, consent and safeguarding regulations for stories, delivering training and maintaining best practice
Leading on the inclusion of real life stories throughout the charity’s multi-channel campaigns, including high value fundraising partnerships (Omaze partnership 2024, Christmas appeal 2023) and award-winning media campaigns (takeover of the Big Issue magazine for Learning Disability Week 2024)
Developing trauma-informed internal and external ethical guidelines for working with vulnerable storytellers (eg people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, non-verbal contributors, families facing bereavement); ensuring every individual’s narrative is approached with dignity and care
Strengthening relationships with storytellers, empowering individuals through a collaborative approach which safeguards their wellbeing and trust at every stage
Managing and maintaining the charity’s story database, ResourceSpace to ensure it reflects a diverse range of contributors and meets the charity’s strategic content needs
Collaborating with the creative team to ensure commissioned photography and videography aligns with the story function’s strategic goals and ethical standards; occasionally co-managing and spending budgets to commission content
Scouts | Creative Content Producer
June 2017–September 2021
Acting as part of an award-winning in-house creative agency for the organisation, my work at Scouts spans the brand's digital, print, web and social channels. It included:
Producing content for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube (with a monthly average of 2.8 million impressions and 106.5k engagements) and previously for the brand magazine (80,000+ UK circulation)
Producing and editing consistent, compelling, user-led writing across the website
Sourcing and producing multipurpose, multimedia case studies across the organisation – including leading on and producing Oliwia’s story, a major individual giving campaign
Leading on copy for 250+ creative briefs annually, casting an eagle eye over everything from public-facing campaign copy and branded merch, to annual reports and staff emails, to books and brochures
Collaborating with a pool of 20+ illustrators/photographers/filmmakers to deliver briefs internally and externally, adapting to evolving stakeholder needs, logistical demands, budgets and timelines. Highlights include pitching and directing the magazine's first ever knolling shoot and developing the storyboard for our 2019 Christmas campaign, which saw a 100% increase in engagement compared to the previous year
Delivering pitches via weekly stand-ups and monthly social media meetings
Providing creative mentoring sessions and Plain English guidance to staff
Leading a working group to engage with social influencers – a first for the organisation
Oh Comely | Staff Writer*
August 2015-Oct 2016**
Writing, editing and commissioning content for print/digital
Pitching issue themes, regular features and one-off projects, including launching Women Who Changed the World – a reader favourite profiling unsung heroines of history alongside original illustration
Supporting contributors from pitch to print
Working with agencies and PRs to secure exclusives
Writing submission call-outs & briefs, assisting with models and photo shoots
Expanding and diversifying our contributor pool via direct outreach and reader events
Researching competitor trends, topics and potential partnerships
Curating and writing advertorial gift guides, directories and sponsored features, collaborating with a range of brands/organisations including Art Fund, Wellcome Trust and an array of independent artists and makers
Managing the submissions inbox, acting as an initial point of quality control
*I was promoted twice in quick succession, working as an editorial intern/assistant before becoming a staff writer
**Upon leaving my in-house role, I continued to work for OC as a freelancer until August 2019, transitioning with the brand as it moved between publishers, working with each and every one of the magazine's editors and contributing to 22 of the magazine's 50 issues
Quench magazine | Features Editor
May 2014-2015
In my final year of study, I was features editor of Quench, Cardiff University's award-winning student magazine. During that time:
The section was shortlisted for two national awards
The section secured more cover stories than any other
My own journalism was awarded ‘Best editor’ and ‘Best longform writer’ by judges at VICE NEWS and Der Spiegel (see Awards)
Sky News | Politics Placement
May 2015
During the 2015 General Election, I live-streamed and tweeted results from a Cardiff constituency on behalf of Sky News. The role was part of a graduate programme, training Journalism students in camera operation
EDUCATION
BA Journalism, Media & Culture (2:1), Cardiff University, 2011-2015
3 A-levels (ABB) – English Literature, Religion & Philosophy, Sociology
11 GCSES A*-C – including English, Maths and Science
St.Julian's School, Newport, 2004-2011
AWARDS
Digital Fundraising Campaign of the Year (Shortlisted for #RaceRoundTheWorld), Charity Times Awards, September 2021
Best COVID response, public sector/charity (2nd place, team)
CIPR Excellence Awards, June 2021
Exceptional award*, Scouts, November 2018
Exceeding expectations award**, Scouts, June 2019
Best editor, Cardiff Student Media Awards 2015, awarded by VICE News
Best longform writer, Cardiff Student Media Awards 2015, awarded by Der Spiegel
*Awarded for a feature I wrote on how Scouts operates on the remote shores of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
** Awarded for being ranked in the top percentile of performers across the organisation, exceeding all annual goals and expectations
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
I’ve completed the following courses:
Introduction to PhotoShop & InDesign (CreativeWorks), UX Writing Essentials (UX Writing Hub), Plain English (Plain English Campaign)
Conflict Resolution (Team Sterka), Building Strong Relationships (Team Sterka), Taking Control of Your Workload (Level Headed)
Safeguarding (Scouts), GDPR (Bob’s Business), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England), Dementia Awareness (Magic Me)
VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE
Pre-pandemic, I regularly volunteered with the Cocktails in Care Homes – an intergenerational project which brings Londoners and elderly residents together to tackle the loneliness epidemic over a tipple or two
I volunteered with Student Action for Refugees (STAR) throughout university, taking part in weekly English classes with refugees and asylum seekers in the community