My first role was as a Radar Operator which was an entry position as a Junior Seaman where I served in Iraq in 1990/91. I qualified as a Ships Diver in 1992 and served in the former Yugoslavia in 1995. I was then selected to undertake the rigorous Physical Training Instructor training and became a qualified PTI in 1996. In 2000 I was part of the Royal Navy’s Physical Training Team where I visited schools and colleges throughout the country promoting careers in the Royal Navy. I also delivered a course designing activities, which challenged, rewarded and developed self-confidence and values of teamwork with young people aged 16 – 24 from diverse backgrounds
I was given a one year’s secondment as a Sports Development Office with the Federation of London Youth, which is responsible for 540 youth clubs within the London Boroughs. I was involved in helping young people interact in sport by identifying and creating pathways into the sporting field of their choice with the aim of highlighting a career within the Royal Navy. Unfortunately, due to my injury, I was eventually medically discharged from the Royal Navy in October 2002.
All of this experience highlighted I had skills and aptitude to support children, young people and their families so I moved into teaching with my first role being in Islington London in January 2003. In this role, my primary focus was on young people who were at high risk of exclusion from formal education. The programme I delivered through SkillForce was aimed at giving them the skills and aspirations to be successful at school and in life. In 2007 I was appointed a Cheshunt Extended Schools manager and Assistant Head at Turnford School. Extended Schools was a government initiative aimed at providing opportunities for children and their families outside of normal school hours.
My personal experiences especially around my own journey through school including the late diagnosis of dyslexia and the effect it had on my self-esteem and lack of confidence made me want to help children and young people reach their full potential. I wanted to bring the way the Royal Navy supported, educated and gave me the opportunities to develop as a person to other young people to enable them to feel proud of their achievements and give them the confidence to ask for support and help when needed. From this, I decided to create the charity CHEXS to help children, young people and their families.
