Action Towards Inclusion

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Alex has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and a PTLLS teaching qualification.

Alex began his career in customer service, moved to work in banking and then joined Better Connect following University in 2012. He felt a strong connection to the values and work within the community sector and has developed his career within the organisation, progressing from an Assistant to his current role as Head of Programmes. Along the way, Alex has worked across almost every aspect of the company.

For Alex, the most important part of work is feeling as though it is meaningful and that it is making a positive difference to society.

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Christine has worked for many years for the Financial Sector in Customer Services and Marketing. She has gained many years of experience in people management and leadership together with strong administrative and office management skills.

Her qualifications are life skills, and she can be relied upon to listen, understand and support. She has excellent focus and attention to detail and strives to get things right first time every time.

She joined Better Connect in 2020, when she was at a crossroads and realised that working in the voluntary and community sector would be more meaningful and rewarding than being driven by profit. Working for and with people who value people and who operate inclusively without discrimination is a reward every day.

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I have a BA (Hons) in Equestrian Management and Development from Myerscough College. I have previously worked at Subway and have previous experience working in the equine industry. Working in an organisation like Better Connect is a first for me and I’m currently here working through the Kickstart Programme as a Kickstart Assistant.

I’m excited to learn more about the workings of the voluntary sector and how I can be a part of it. However, I am most excited about helping with promotional activities for the programme, reading people’s experience of the programme and helping to create a Kickstart Development Network. The skills I wants to gain from my time here are confidence in the workplace and doing administrative tasks.

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Joe has a BA in Philosophy and is also mental health first aid trained.

Previously Joe worked in a Leeds school as a literacy tutor and then briefly at an insurance firm as an administrative assistant. He then joined Better Connect in 2017, as a programme coordinator: assisting partners and ensuring all their paperwork and claims were correct. He then became a manager, steering ATI towards success.

He also contributes to Better Connect’s marketing strategy and ATI’s focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.

This work matters to Joe because it creates tangible positive results for so many people – from improved mental health to giving people employment opportunities. He loves that the programmes unlock people’s full potential.

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Jonah started his career in a multinational financial technology company and progressed to Better Connect in 2019. He originally started out as a Programmes Coordinator and has since moved into a more finance focused role.

Jonah believes that the third sector is a vital part of creating a kinder and more inclusive society.

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Julie is a CIMA accountant with FCMA and CGMA designations.

Julie has previously worked in engineering as Finance Director and latterly as Managing Director.  Whilst there, Julie worked with local schools to provide advice, support and funding for GCSE students enabling them to build Miniature F1 cars and visit the factory to understand internal processes.

Julie has spoken at business events and presented webinars for CIMA.

Julie has her own business providing outsourced FD services – Not Just an FD.

Julie is a qualified cub scout leader and has volunteered with People in Action social group for adults with learning difficulties.

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Julie has a BA (Hons) in Urban Geography and a Certificate in Management from Leeds University. She began her career piloting and running projects within the Chamber of Commerce and then later with the then Training and Enterprise Council. She took a career break whilst bringing up her children and worked part-time in a call centre for a well-known bank where she gained valuable experience of frontline customer service. Following redundancy, Julie set up her own business which she ran for several years until being drawn back into programme management, ultimately leading her to Better Connect in 2018.

Julie is a strong believer in the provision of opportunities for everyone and this runs through the core of Better Connect.

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Laura has a First-Class BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from the University of Sheffield. Whilst studying there, she became involved in a university led volunteering opportunity with a local primary school, where she provided literacy support to the children over several weeks. Following this opportunity, she travelled to Thailand to teach English as a foreign language and gained a TEFL accreditation.

Although just starting out in the voluntary and community sector, having been a Customer Assistant at Marks & Spencer, Laura is a huge advocate for sustainable social change. She believes this begins with supporting and empowering individuals and their communities and championing social inclusion.

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Natasha has always enjoyed working in roles which are focused on enabling people and businesses to thrive in the North.

Before joining Better Connect as CEO, Natasha worked at Relate Bradford & Leeds helping people to develop and sustain healthy relationships and improve their mental health and wellbeing. She has been an entrepreneur and COO of Wizu Workspace a flexible workspace provider supporting the growth of businesses in Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield.

Natasha completed an MBA at Leeds University in 2016, where she is now a leader in residence. She then went on to be Regional Entrepreneur Director for NatWest supporting and helping to coach hundreds of entrepreneurs in accelerators across the North to start, scale and succeed.  Natasha has both a banking and legal background.  She worked as a banking lawyer at Walker Morris following which she joined Regional Lloyds Bank team as the Regional Sales Director and Client Services Director.

Natasha was appointed as a board member and trustee in 2021 for Trust Leeds, she has been on LEP investment steering groups, she has recently been appointed as an independent panel member at AFC(H) and is completing a NED insights programme shadowing NHS boards.

The Official Bit

This was my first experience of working in an organisation like Better Connect. I was here through the Kickstart Programme as a ‘Grants Assistant’ and now have a full time role working within Better Connect. I am looking forward to learning new skills and meeting new people from all walks of life. I would like to gain more confidence in public speaking. I am most enthusiastic about finding out about all the different partners and how they change people’s lives.

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I was born in Heidelberg in Germany where I lived until the age of 25 before moving to Yorkshire with my family. I studied psychology, anatomy and physiology and initially worked with people of all ages with hearing loss and hearing difficulty.

Having worked in healthcare, private sector and the NHS for several years in various roles, I feel very privileged to learn about the voluntary sector and the lifechanging difference this makes for so many individuals and even more privileged to be a part of a warm, dedicated and enthusiastic team.