I began learning British Sign Language (BSL) almost 35 years ago, a journey that opened up many different paths before leading me to what I truly love: teaching signing in schools to children and young people with complex communication needs and Special Educational Needs (SEN). Since those early days, I have continued to develop my skills, learning and using a range of signing systems to support inclusive communication. These include Sign Supported English, Signed English, Baby Signing, and Makaton, allowing me to adapt my approach to meet the varied needs of learners, families, and professionals. With over 20 years’ experience delivering sign language tuition, I bring both depth of knowledge and practical understanding to my work. In more recent years, my role has evolved to include organising, coordinating, and supporting sessions behind the scenes, ensuring high-quality provision and positive outcomes for those involved. Throughout my career, my focus has remained on accessibility, inclusion, and empowering individuals through effective communication.

I initially trained as a receptionist and secretary and went on to work for The Brokerage, a charity in the City that provided career programmes for young people and free mentoring, training, workshops and job opportunities for adults. I enjoyed organising the workshops and supporting people by helping them brush up on their IT skills and building their confidence to secure employment. I went on to join Ethical Property Company, who manage Conference Centres, providing affordable office and meeting space for charities. As a Conference Sales Manager, I found it really rewarding working with some very well known charities and gained strong marketing and organisational skills. Since joining Create Curiosity CIC and GRH Training, I do the administration and more recently web design, and support with some of the events.

I’ve worked with children and young people since the age of 14, in a wide range of roles including Riding for the Disabled, playgroups supporting neglected and abused children, running drama clubs, working as a youth church leader, and delivering children’s engagement activities for Sky TV promotional events. I later trained as a primary school teacher, specialising in reading and writing, and have taught ages 2 to 25 in both mainstream and SEN settings. Alongside this, I’ve also supported learners of all ages through home tutoring. Storytelling sits at the heart of everything I do, and I love using puppets wherever possible to spark curiosity, imagination and connection. This passion has led me to become a Hastings Literacy Champion, sharing stories, storybooks and a genuine love of reading. Having been at school in the 1970s — when learning often felt far from inspiring — I was determined to do things differently, creating experiences that are playful, creative and interactive, and where learning is joyful, inclusive and fun!

After many years working across Catering, I.T. and Finance, I chose to retrain as an adult education tutor - a decision that led me to a role I truly love. Supporting adults to build confidence, develop practical skills, and open new opportunities is where I’ve found my niche. I draw on a wide range of life skills, professional experience, and personal interests to design and deliver engaging, accessible training programmes. These include employability skills, money management, digital and computer skills, crafts, and cookery. I am particularly proud of the highly successful Multiply course, 3, 2, 1… Cook!, which combines practical learning with real-life application to build confidence and independence in the kitchen. With over 20 years’ experience delivering training, I have worked extensively with charities and community organisations, always with a strong focus on inclusion, empowerment, and giving back to society. My approach is friendly, supportive, and learner-centred, creating a safe and encouraging environment where people feel able to learn, grow, and succeed.