What is your career background?

I studied law and then gained a masters in human rights in 2014.  After I finished studying I worked for charities in London, such as Barnardo’s, Citizens Advice Bureau and Centrepoint, and then moved into housing. My job before Launchpad was as a support officer for a housing association.

What prompted a move to Launchpad?

We relocated to Reading and when I started searching for work here, I found a vacancy for a supported housing officer role at the charity and went for it! I was based in the supported housing team, where I worked with clients housed in our properties to get them back on their feet, creating support plans to work on issues such as mental health and addiction.

I did that job for two years and then a role came up in the housing team, which manages Launchpad’s properties. I fancied a new challenge so I applied and I’m now in that department, in the office next door to the supported housing team!

What does your role involve?

Most of our clients living in Launchpad’s supported housing aren’t working and are eligible for full housing benefits, so I work with the council to process that rent payment directly. I also work closely with our clients to make sure their tenants charge is paid and processed. It’s a small fee to cover the management of the communal areas, and bills such as electricity and water.

It’s my role to encourage them to be in credit all the time and manage that payment so they can learn to live independently, which means I send arrears letters and reminders.  I also do general finance admin for the team – for example, if the caretakers purchase things for maintenance of our properties I will process the invoices.

What is your favourite part about your job?

When people are in credit. I run the arrears report every fortnight and when everything is green, it means I don’t need to chase them and they are managing their finances well.

What’s the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge is being the bad cop and chasing for arrears! But it is important we do it – we are supporting our clients to learn to budget and spend money wisely, and that important payments like rent and service charges take priority. These are weekly or monthly payments which they’ll have to continue making elsewhere when they leave our property and they move back into the community, which we want them to successfully do.

Why do you like working for Launchpad?

I really believe in the charity’s values and what we do to help people in need. There aren’t many services like Launchpad; giving people a home and some vital support. In this area, housing is so expensive, social housing is at a minimum and services are being cut.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Running around after my four-year-old child! And of course, travelling whenever I can – I like seeing different places and different cultures.

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