Let’s push our boundaries

exploring ways for NWR to appeal to the next generation of women.

How have you found your first few months at NWR?

I am very fortunate to be working with a truly enthusiastic, dedicated and hardworking team. There is a lot to learn, that’s for sure, but I am thoroughly enjoying my new role. I have had the opportunity to attend some of my local group meetings which I found invaluable. To see NWR groups in action is fantastic and really helps me to understand the values and ethos of the organisation. I found myself getting rather involved in the discussions too! I’m looking forward to attending some more group meetings this year and joining Hitchin NWR’s regional quiz in June.

What did you do before joining us?

I started my own company repairing small electronics in 2013. We repaired mobile phones, tablets, computers and many other small devices. I was entirely self-taught and really enjoyed being able to repair things by myself. The sense of achievement was almost addictive. I opened two high street shops in my first year and both were always bustling. Alongside the repair service, I began to offer tech help and support to my more mature customers. Technology is evolving very quickly these days which many of my customers found difficult to keep up with.

One of my sons has autism which made home-schooling particularly difficult during the pandemic. His entire life was turned upside down and his new routine bore no resemblance to the consistent, structured school timetable he’d grown to love and rely upon. Keeping him engaged, safe and happy while trying to home school my other children was hard. Keeping my business afloat as well— impossible. The pressure took its toll which began to affect my mental health. After countless sleepless nights, I made the difficult decision to close the business. I was sad to lock the door for the last time but the relief was overwhelming. After two years of quality time spent with my children and rediscovering the world beyond VAT returns and opening hours, I was ready to emerge—older and wiser and carrying two or three extra pounds— but happier than I have ever been!

What do you do when you’re not working for NWR?

I would like to see more local and regional events taking place; events that would also appeal to some of the younger generations of women. Providing training opportunities to our members is something that I would like to see integrated into NWR. We are an organisation of lively minded, intelligent women, so why shouldn’t we push our boundaries occasionally?

As my business grew, I took on repair contracts with local schools and some large national companies. With increasing demand for our services, I began to look for a third shop premises. And then COVID-19 arrived. The impact was devastating. 95% of the work ground to a halt but rent and bills still had to be paid. Although the government grants were helpful, they simply didn’t cover costs.

In my down time, I really love being outdoors. I absolutely love paddleboarding and you’ll often find me gliding my way up and down the River Lea, even in winter! I play the piano to reset my mind after a busy day and I consider myself a professional shower-singer! My three wonderful children keep me very busy. There is always a football match or a guitar lesson to get to. My daughter is 19, so I’m beginning to see a little less of her these days. The big wide world has superseded me so I look forward to our fortnightly digest, usually over sushi, our favourite. We enjoy our family walks together with our two sausage dogs, Sizzles and Dotty, who always keep us entertained.

What do you think NWR should do to appeal to a wider age range?

Maintaining the current local group model which so many of our members enjoy is crucial. However, I am actively

NWR was born in 1960 when the roles and expectations of women were quite different. Society has changed and women have evolved and our capabilities are often captioned as being “endless”. But some things have stayed the same. Women of all ages and generations still come together, give hope and support to one another and have a precious camaraderie among their circle of friends. A sisterhood. The ethos of our organisation is still relevant in 2023 and I want more women of all ages to know about NWR.

This year, we are planning an event to celebrate Pride month; something that I am really excited to bring to NWR. It’ll be a wonderful opportunity to show our support for the LGBTQ+ community and highlight the importance of being proud of who you are. Creating more online content is another crucial step for the growth and development of NWR. If you haven’t logged on to the website recently, please do! We’ve had some absolutely fantastic online talks recently; many of which were recorded and are still available to watch. We are also producing more content on social media which will soon reach a targeted audience. The more followers and interactions we have, the more prominent NWR will become. The NWR Facebook page is a great way to see our latest news, reminders, updates and information and is often a lot of fun. So please do consider following us!