About

I have been teaching at the University of Derby since 2020, on a number of different programmes and developing teaching and learning that is creative, engaging and accessible.  I believe in offering opportunities for students from all backgrounds and having entered academia through a non-traditional route I seek to encourage others who may feel limited through circumstances.

I enjoy exploring opportunities for learning through wonder and also connecting to nature and considering how we can include this professionally for well-being and to increase creativity. 

Teaching responsibilities

Having worked previously for a number of other Higher Education institutions, I was delighted to begin working at the University of Derby in 2020, within the College of Education.  Working with partnership programmes I was able to develop learning environments in person and online (due to Covid) that offered opportunities to students to pursue pathways into Education.

I have worked with the College of Health and Humanities (previously the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care) since 2021, again on a number of programmes, developing reflective practitioners who are able to pursue practice alongside their studies. I believe in creating accessible teaching spaces that can vary in content from baking cakes and playing with Lego, to deep wondering around gang involvement and policy practice.

Professional interests

As a JNC-qualified Youth Worker, I believe in the importance of the profession and appreciate opportunities for developing practice with children and young people. Having set up a centre whilst living overseas, in a deprived area of Eastern Europe, I am particularly interested in the cultural and societal opportunities and barriers that young people face. 

Alongside this, I am the founder and content creator for Muddy Church, which is an international organisation enabling people to engage outdoors with their community and nature in exploring their spirituality.  This has an influence in my work with considering ways of developing learning based on wonder and opportunities for adventuring outside and how this might be implemented in our pedagogy and practice.

Research interests

These two areas are my main focus of research having explored an autoethnography on young people living in a Third Culture and the impact of this on their sense of belonging and belief.  Reflecting on the experiences of living overseas has enabled a consideration of the idea of being guests within society and how this can influence behaviour and attitudes.  Many people are brought up in a culture not belonging to their parents and yet are unaware of the ways in which this can affect relationships with people and place and the behaviour associated with this. The research seeks to be helpful and offer spaces for understanding and consideration of support and practice for such people.

The nature connection and opportunities for exploring this in terms of learning through wonder, particularly at HE is a key area of research for me.  Whilst interest in nature connection has increased over the past five years there is still a desperate need for us to be considerate of developing lifestyles and practice that embraces sustainability and engagement to the world around us.  My research is looking at the influence of going beyond the wall of institutions and considering how this is helpful to our holistic well-being.

This has developed from my organisation into further consideration of how faith formation is influenced and developed through nature connection and the opportunity for community development through practice.

Membership of professional bodies

• As a JNC qualified youth worker, I believe in the importance of the profession and am a member of the Institute for Youth Work
• Fellow of the HEA
• Member of TAG-PALCYW
• Trustee of Child Theology Movement

Qualifications

• MA in Ministry, Mission and Practice (Distinction) - University of Gloucester
• Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education - Open University
• Postgraduate Certificate in Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth - Open University
• Learning and Teachers Award - Durham University
• BA (Hons) In Youth and Community Work and Applied Theology (First Class Honours) - Oxford Brookes University 
• CAVA Assessor Award

Experience in industry

I currently work part time for the Local Authority training and assessing Youth Workers and through which I am able to gain a lived and currently informed view of practice.  I also volunteer for a number of organisations and places where I continue to develop in experience within social care.

I have been a youth worker for over 30 years, having begun as a young person, which has enabled me to see the benefit of encouraging empowerment and participation for all young people.  During this time I have worked in a large variety of settings from rural villages to gangs in Los Angeles.  A significant part of my experience was formed living overseas in Eastern Europe and developing a centre for children and young people that engaged with the whole community.  This was done through integrating into the community and accepting the role of welcomed guests amongst the area we lived.  

I have spoken at many conferences and events for trainers, workers and young people and been honoured to be able to create a wide range of resources that are available and utilised globally for people.

International experience

Burime - Centre for Children and Young People (Durres, Albania)

Funding, running and managing a centre for children and young people within the community.  Including formal and informal education.

Dewberry Ministries - Youth Pastor (San Bernadino, CA, USA)

Working with young people from a range of trauma based backgrounds including involvement in gangs, abuse and family addictions.  Developing programmes and mentoring young people.  

In the media

A wide range of resources and accompanying books available at www.muddychurch.co.uk

Recent publications