Purpose & impact

Living with purpose, whether in business or through community involvement, is deeply fulfilling. It’s about more than just personal success—it's about making a lasting, positive impact in the lives of others. I am passionately committed to several key initiatives that embody this ethos, with a strong focus on fundraising, coaching, and actively supporting my local community in Norfolk.

Locally, I’m working on projects like the Gressenhall Play Park Improvement Project, which aims to revitalise essential spaces for children and families. This project is about more than just playground equipment; it’s about creating safe, engaging environments where our young people can thrive. By investing in these initiatives, we are not just addressing current needs but laying the groundwork for a brighter, more empowered future for our community.

These efforts are designed to inspire others to join in and reinforce the belief that together, we can drive meaningful, sustainable change. I invite you to follow my journey on LinkedIn and Instagram, where I regularly share updates on these projects and more. Let's work together to create the change we wish to see in the world.

A Tale of Extraordinary Service to Our Community … Under Real Threat

I became involved with Dereham Meeting Point last year when shonette mooney, the Centre’s wonderfully gifted manager, asked me to help raise money for a minibus with disabled capabilities to bring people from local villages to the Centre.

To understand more, Shonette invited me to spend the day there, and I was simply blown away! It’s not just the what of the extraordinary service that’s amazing:
⭐️Thousands of people over two decades have enjoyed great food, care, and activities like Memory Workshops, Dancing, Band Practice, Storytelling, Tech Help, Massage, and more.
But it’s also the how—the Centre enriches lives with:
⭐️Happy, well-trained carers, brilliant cooks, a fun yet safe environment, and activities that bring joy to the lonely, elderly, and those with brain diseases like dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

The Centre is also a godsend for families, reducing reliance on hospitals, dementia units, and care homes. It’s a Norfolk treasure.

It won’t surprise you that we raised funds for Sally the Happy Bus, and more people from Dereham, Gressenhall, Longham, Beetley & Wendling can now visit. We started the year full of joy and positivity.

But now, the Centre is under serious threat. Its largest £30k grant has been suddenly withdrawn by Norfolk County Council, starting in a few weeks.

This decision, whispered as a nudge and wink in December rather than a respectful notice, comes amid a £26M deficit—possibly due to overruns on other projects, like Norwich’s Keep Museum, now £8M over budget.

What Can We Do?
This Centre cannot close—it would impact so many lives. We need to:
1️⃣ Push Breckland & Norfolk Council for urgent support—so far, no progress.
2️⃣ Raise £100K from other sources. Visit Dereham Meeting Point for details: https://g.co/kgs/XXqNUXe or call 01362 698866.
3️⃣ Explore charging more for services.
4️⃣ Reduce activities and visitor intake—our last resort.

We’d love your views and help. On February 18th, we’ll be visiting Norfolk County Council to plead our case—join us if you can!

To discuss, connect with me or contact our incredible Centre Manager, Shonette Mooney at 07941 196584.

academies for youth with potential

In January 2022, I proudly founded the Academies for Youth with Potential in Thailand, a powerful extension of the initiative that began in 2020 with the Lost Girls of COVID Schools. These academies are not just educational institutions; they are transformative spaces designed to equip young people with essential skills the world urgently needs. Our focus is on those who might otherwise be overlooked, providing them with opportunities to thrive and realise their full potential.

The academies have continued to go from strength to strength, becoming a beacon of hope and opportunity for many. Each year, I personally travel to Thailand to ensure everything is running smoothly and to get hands-on at the ground level. This direct involvement allows me to witness the impact firsthand and make real-time adjustments to better serve our students.

The journey has been incredibly enriching for all involved, and I am more committed than ever to expanding these academies, providing even more young people with the tools they need to succeed in the years ahead. The future is bright, and I’m excited to continue this vital work.

Inclusion & Diversity

As a lifelong advocate for inclusion and diversity, I reaffirm the commitment I made over 30 years ago: "I will do everything within my power to actively and publicly support, mentor, and champion women in all their diversity. My dedication extends to being a passionate ally for the LGBT+ community, ensuring that our unique differences—whether in age, gender, race, creed, sexuality, or ability—are celebrated and valued. It is precisely because of these unique qualities, not despite them, that we build stronger, more inclusive communities."
My pledge is to continually advocate for women, fostering environments where they can thrive and lead, knowing their potential is limitless.
Mission Beyond

Mission Beyond is a social impact initiative that aims to address some of the world’s biggest challenges through radical collaboration.
Visit Mission Beyond website here.
Every Child Needs A Mentor

Every Child Needs a Mentor (ECNM) was created to ensure high-quality mentoring reaches every child—regardless of their background or abilities. I am proud to be an Ambassador for this organisation.
Find out more.

Youth Mobility & Whizz-Kidz

Whizz-Kidz provides disabled children with the essential wheelchairs and other mobility equipment they need to lead fun and active childhoods. In 2014 myself, and a team of 7 friends and family, took on a 100 mile cycle challenge to raise £100,000 for Whizz-Kidz and the Thomas Cook Children's Charity. We also completed the Ride London back in 2021!
Find out more.
STEM For Girls

Some initiatives stay with us our whole lives as they impact all involved so hugely and I am particularly proud of my role in launching STEM for Girls in India. Aiming to enable girl tech empowerment the program works on a multi-year learning curriculum, starting in grades 8 and 9. The initiative involves 50,000 volunteers from IBM to mentor 200,000 girl students across all states in more than 2,000 government secondary schools; to make a difference in encouraging a girl to continue to pursue a STEM career. The goal of changing the lives of 1 million students and 4 million teachers was unleashed!
Learn more about STEM For Girls here.
Teens in AI

The Teens In AI initiative, launched at the AI for Good Global Summit at the UN in May 2018, exists to inspire the next generation of AI researchers, entrepreneurs and leaders who will shape the world of tomorrow. It aims to give young people early exposure to AI being developed and deployed for social good.
See more on Teen in AI.