I was in FMCG as National Account Manager until I was 34 and had my family. We started our own Roofing Company in Nottingham, Academe Roofing Services in 2000. I then founded Southwell Wellbeing Centre five and a half years ago in April 2019, inspired by my own journey of completely losing myself during post IVF/ postnatal depression/early perimenopause and what I now know was ADHD.
What are some of your driving values?
I truly believe that everyone should feel safe to be authentically them, no matter how their brain works.
I am hugely passionate about raising awareness of ADHD, its symptoms and how it can show up for you.
Supporting the homeless is engrained within me. My mam and late dad took us down to the homeless shelter in Newcastle (where I originate) every month to give something. My mam who is 86 still collects for the homeless and drives down every two weeks to take hers and the other donations.
You’ve always been great at giving back, why is it important to you?
Again, inspired by my Mam and late Dad who showed me that kindness is so rewarding. I always try to remember that even a smile can brighten someone's day and that we never know what is going on in other people's lives. Kindness leads to kindness, it is contagious.
Which causes are closest to your heart / one thing about society in the UK that you wish you could change?
Homelesness is one thing that is so very close to my heart. I truly believe so many of us are just one pay packet from being homeless and we never know what might happen in our own lives. I truly feel no one should have to be homeless in this age we live in.
I am also very passionate about Mental Health and understanding ourselves. Being diagnosed with ADHD has been a game changer for me, it was the final part of my jigsaw puzzle to understanding my life and my experiences. I am a certified ADHD practitioner and when I did this course there were so many lightbulb moments. It has led me to have so much more empathy with people and to absolutely not judge. ADHD is very linked with lots of addictive traits and I can totally understand now how this could very easily spiral.
How did you get involved in the CEO Sleepout?
I met Bianca through my long term friend Jo Elliott. She told me about CEO sleepout and I signed up immediately. I did it a few years ago and it was life changing. I couldn't do it last year due to personal family circumstances, but I am back for this year and my goal is to get as many people as I can involved in Nottingham for next year. Watch out if you know me!
What other ways do you "give back" or work to strengthen communities you work within?
I always donate to the homeless either with money or donations and I donate regularly to food banks. I will also often stop and ask a homeless person what they would like to eat and drink and take it to them. I give regularly to local charities too.
Name one thing you'd like people to know about your life and work:
I am so proud of what I have created with Southwell Wellbeing Centre and all we offer. I am an ADHD HOLISTIC COACH and help people understand their ADHD. ADHD is genetic and although there are huge similarities it will show up different for everyone. For women a lot of the hyperactivity is 'internal' and can often be asoociated with other co morbidities such as anxiety or depression. It also has a huge affect at times of hormonal fluctuation. As it is fairly recently that it has been diagnosed in women there are a lot of women who have probably been struggling for years without knowing why. The feeling of never being enough is real as is the question of why can't I just do this? This is what I want to raise awareness of and also to help people to change the narrative around how they feel about themselves due to symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD.
How might you see business playing a part in creating a fairer society here in the UK?
I want to spread awareness and reduce the stigma of having ADHD. I am hugely passionate about this. I am now working to get into businesses and corporate accounts to help them understand employees who have or may have ADHD. People with ADHD have so many strengths if they are understood. So many people are having to leave their jobs, or are asked to leave their jobs as their ADHD is not understood. We have to change this! I very much see the correlation between this and homeless people who often just do not feel heard or seen.
Why is it important that those in business lead with purpose?
Because we have a platform to be heard, we have the ability to make a difference, to raise awareness and create change.
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