Professional Portfolio

My professional development record. 

Recent Projects

Upstart! with V&A Musuems and Wedgwood Pottery

Representing the University of Derby at V&A Museums creative careers Festival; Upstart! Working as a small team, we introduced young people across the Midlands to creativity for wellbeing. Through experiential learning opportunities, young people explored activities that can enhance their well-being, and illuminate potential career paths in Arts for Health

Showcase22

Planning & Curation of an exhibition for early career artists, as part of the Derby Union Art Society.

Emerging artists can face significant barriers to meaningful employment in creative sector. The exhibition enabled a diverse range of emerging artists to exhibit in a professional space, gaining valuable work experience as they move from education to employment. 

The Light Inside - Barnardos Cymru

Designing creative activities that support young people learning mindfulness. Activities were differentiated for various age groups. Activities were delivered as a bilingual workbook in ready to print format, to support in person facilitation. 

The Creative DBT Workbook

Creation of a peer-to-peer workbook offering creative activities to support service users engaging in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. Activities are designed to be a departure from traditional skills teaching, integrating DBT Skills into simple creative activities.  and application of DBT skills.
Distributed to over 2000 therapists and service users worldwide.

Experience

June 2023 – Present

Providing immediate emotional support and guidance to service users seeking help on an online platform TellMi app. Using effective communication skills to support exploration of day to day issues, with the understanding that each person is the expert in their own life. Discussing sensitive topics such as self harm, abuse and feelings of hopelessness. Signposting as necessary and maintaining confidentiality at all times.

 2020 – Present

Facilitating expressive arts workshops with diverse populations. Designing workshopsto meet specific health needs, including including risk asssessment, monitoring andevaluation. Projects included:

  • Site-specific environmental art project for first-year university students. 

  • Designing intervention for women who sell sex, within a Violence against Women and Girls framework. 

  • Workshops for young people with additional needs, aged 11-14, in local SEND schools. Activities were designed to encourage emotional intelligence expression and increase social skills. 

2010 – Present 

  • The Light Inside, Barnardos Cymru

  • The Creative DBT Workbook 

  • Arts Entertainment at private and corporate events; pop up workshops & face painting. 

  • Eco-Centricity; Scrapstore Project, Hampshire.

April 2022- February 2023

Supporting the technical team within the Therapeutic arts studio. Assisting with exhibition installation, monitoring and management of resources, studio management. Key-holding responsibilities and liaising with other volunteers.

September 2020 – May 2022

 

Awarded committee of the year 2020/2021. Event management and risk assessmentwithin the COVID-19 pandemic. Reintegrating and translating plans for virtual and remote working. Liaising with local artists and building links between students and the local arts community, culminating in an exhibition for 13 student artists to gain work-based experience. Managing a committee including delegating tasks,overlooking committee roles and maintaining team motivation

2010-2012

Volunteer role, reconnecting disengaged communities with local cultural venues through therapeutic and community gardening. Worked alongside Hampshire Museums and Galleries, Liasing with schools, community groups and galleries to launch GreenSpace Community Gardens in Hampshire, Project was later expanded across the south coast- most notably, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth.

2011

2009 – 2010

Supporting adults and young people with learning difficulties to gain valuable work experience in a retail environment. Supervising a team of volunteers within The Shaw Trust.

2008

Using the arts to support a student with additional needs student to re-engage with the school environment and provide a creative outlet. Planning and delivering an art lesson to 30 eleven and twelve year olds. Preparing and managing resources and providing direct technical support to students and staff.

Part of a two week work experience placement. 

Education

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