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Sarah is an administrator, access support worker and practising artist. She studied BA and MA Fine Art at University of the Arts London. Before joining Launch It in February 2022, she worked in admin roles at UAL, a solicitor's firm, and the disability arts charity sector. She is passionate about accessibility, as being neurodivergent is a big part of her identity, and is especially keen to support clients with neurodivergence and invisible health conditions.

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At work, she takes great interest in supporting monitoring and evaluation, fundraising, signposting young people to various opportunities, and assisting the staff team the best she can.

 

Sarah has supported the Launch It virtual Next Generation programmes and is based in our London centres. 

In 2008 I joined Launch It as an Enterprise Manager in Tottenham. During my time here, I have retrained in fundraising and am now undertaking the role of Development Director as we fulfil our strategic vision of starting more charities and centres across the UK.

 

I have always been interested in enterprise and used to run my own crew catering business. In 2006 I started working for the Princes’ Trust and found that I had a real passion for working with young people and in particular empowering young people to build a great life for themselves.

 

Out of work I am a busy mum of three and enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle and socialising with friends and family.

I set up my first business “Dreams Unlimited” aged 22 as a freelance children’s wall muralist and painter of children’s furniture, specialising in nurseries.

 

In my first year I became a runner up in the Shell Livewire young entrepreneur’s competition and won a cash prize. I was very grateful to my mentor and promised one day I would pay back the privilege.

Whilst painting a mural in a house in Chislehurst, the client’s Interior Designer, approached me and ask me to design and complete a themed window in her design showroom in London. I was soon offered a job and trained as an Interior Designer. Within 4 years I became the showroom manager and, on her retirement, and sale of the business the senior designer for the new owners.

 

I worked closely with Hamiltons International Ltd, a top end furniture and accessory showroom in Chislehurst, assisting my clients in the selection of luxury made to order home décor. After year I was asked to set up an Interior Design company under the Hamiltons ‘umbrella’ as their Interior design Director, furnishing homes for the rich and famous worldwide. Within 10 years I became the Managing Director and owner.

 

During my career I have always enjoyed volunteering, especially with the young. I became a Talent Match Mentor for the Prince Trust and a volunteer steward for the Arts Council.

 

In 2019 after nearly 30 years in business, I decided to retire and work part time as an Industry Liaison Officer at Canterbury School of Visual Arts. I had all the experience, knowledge, and contacts to help new creatives in their career paths. This quickly became a full-time post, where I successfully enabled over 250 students per year, to engage in worthwhile and meaningful work experience. I co- wrote the self -employment programme, which is delivered to all 8 business units in the East Kent College group and ran a work ready club for my budding entrepreneurs.

 

During COVID-19, I set up a mentoring business for people that had been furloughed, made redundant or needed to diversify due to the pandemic. I still run this today.

 

Working as a Launch It Enterprise Manager in Kent is my next challenge which I can’t wait to succeed at.

 

In my spare time I like to visit art exhibitions, go to the theatre with friends, and spend time with my 3 grown up children and their partners, my 2 grandsons and my little dog Lulu.