When did you join Launchpad?
I started here 15 years ago! Can’t quite believe it really. My first role here was a supported housing officer, then I moved into a specialist housing officer role. I became Team Leader in Floating Support then Manager in that team, before moving to Supported Housing Service Manager. When I joined Launchpad all the staff were in the Stables side of the building at the back of Friar Street and the Floating Support Team had three people – now we have nine.
What is your career background?
I have worked in psychiatric hospitals, a male hostel for ex-offenders and within a Floating Support team at another charity before coming to Launchpad. I had heard of Launchpad being local to the area and when I saw the job, I knew the charity was doing everything that I loved – supporting people with a variety of needs and accommodating them. I felt it was a natural extension of my skills and I wanted to work for a charity that made a difference in my community.
What is your day to day role?
As Head of Services (Janine took on the role in February 2024) I oversee Supported Housing, Floating Support, 135, the Pods and Nova project and manage our research officer. Every day is so different here and we are particularly busy now having taken over the management of the Reading Borough Council projects where we hope to make a real difference to the people who are accommodated in the Pods and via Nova.
What do you enjoy most about working at Launchpad?
I am proud that we can respond to the needs of the community and come up with solutions to help more people in whatever situation they find themselves in. I love working with the wonderful staff we have here, all of whom are here because they are passionate about helping our clients. When you work with people who are on the same page as you when it comes to helping vulnerable people then it makes my role easier.
What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in your 15 years here?
The charity has grown so much, from around 25 members of staff when I started to 57. I was also here when we rebranded from Reading Single Homeless Project to Launchpad which was very exciting. Perhaps the biggest change has just happened this month when we started managing two new projects which provide 24-hour support services.
What are the challenges?
Well, there is not enough affordable accommodation in Reading. Everything we offer is almost always full, and if we have one or two empty properties, they are never empty for long, there is always someone in desperate need. We’ve seen the cost of living have a huge and direct impact on the people we are seeing in drop in, working people who are unable to pay their rent, or people, through no fault of their own, have been issued with a Section 21 eviction notice and it comes as a huge shock.
What do you do in your spare time?
I’m an avid reader so when Lee (in Supported Housing) started a book club I was thrilled as it has made me read books I wouldn’t have otherwise chosen! I really look forward to our monthly meetings as we take it in turns to suggest reading material and discuss the book we have just read. I also love having a weekend away; a spa break for me is bliss.
You can read about more of our staff and volunteers here.