What’s your role at Launchpad and what did you do before you joined the charity?

Before Launchpad I was a self-employed carpenter for 25 years and I’ve been at Launchpad now for 8 years. I’m one of three Caretakers here and we’re responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of the supported housing we manage, as well as the security and safety of the properties. There are 100 beds in 18 properties and our clients are housed for six to twelve months.

What does a typical day look like?

There isn’t a typical day and that’s what I like about the job! You have to be flexible in this job because although you might have a plan for your week, there are often urgent jobs that come up that you need to prioritise. Before you’ve even got to your van to go to a job, you might be called out elsewhere!We can be doing anything from redecorating a property and fixing locks, to sorting water leaks and issues with fire alarms. It’s rare to be in just one property for a whole day and I probably visit around four or five properties a day.

What do you like most about your job?

I’ve always really enjoyed turning around a room or a property. When a client moves on,we need to do what we call a ‘void turnaround’ and make good the home so it’s ready for the next person. This can mean filling in holes in the wall, moving in new furniture,decorating or mending broken or damaged items in the room. It’s really satisfying to transform a space and make it welcoming for a client – ready for them to start their support plan with Launchpad.

Tell us more about yourself.

I live in a quaint little picturesque village nestled in the beautiful Berkshire countryside – it’s called Bracknell! I am dad to three boys and I also have a grandson, a pointer terrier cross called Willow, and a black cat called Larry. My main hobby is cycling and I like mountain biking in Bracknell Forest. A few years back I cycled from Sonning Golf Club to Hamburg in Germany to raise money for Launchpad and it was around 550 miles. That didn’t put me off cycling – most days I cycle to work!

You can read about more of our staff and volunteers here.