It is a privilege to be leading Bromley X by X. Prior to my role at Bromley X by X, I worked in the field of Mental Health for 19 years. Over 15 of those years was in Mental Health Advocacy. I am passionate about empowering people to speak up and have a voice about issues affecting them, and for people to know their rights and how to exercise them. I have always challenged injustice and raised awareness to combat stigma. I am excited for further opportunities and developing our organisation so we can reach more people in our community to ensure collective voice and break down barriers to inclusion and independence. Due to my lived experience of prejudice and disabling barriers, I am passionate about inclusivity and accessibility for all. I feel inspired every day by the tenacity of all our trustees, staff, volunteers and members that despite the barriers we have faced, we can achieve so much, and we can make a difference to others. I am proud to be a part of Bromley X by X.
I am very pleased to have joined Bromley X by X as the DCEO. My background is in Primary Education. I have worked in Primary Schools in Croydon, Hampshire and Surrey, my last role as Headteacher I held for 19 years. I was immensely proud that the County and Ofsted recognised my school to be very inclusive with outstanding safeguarding and Pastoral Care. I have always fought hard for the children and families in my schools. I challenged prejudice and ensured that the whole school community were involved in making our school a safe and happy place to be. For the last 5 years, I have been at home both as a carer and dealing with my own disability caused by an accident. I have always believed passionately in an inclusive society and sought to remove any barriers to accessing education or the wider world and now with my lived experience and in my new role at X by X, I feel I can really help our organisation to play a leading role in making Bromley an inclusive and accessible place for the whole community to live, work and learn in.
My role at X by X involves providing technical support and assistance to the team, promoting X by X through our communications including our website and social media, and supporting with monitoring, evaluation, funding and finance systems. I started as a Digital Media Volunteer at X by X, which massively increased my confidence, and this is where my passion for the organisation and our work originates from.
Hello, I’m Kathryn, Bromley Experts by Experience’s Volunteering Coordinator. I have over 20 years of experience leading volunteering programmes in national, regional and local charities and organisations of all sizes, with volunteer programmes involving from 5 volunteers to 10,000 volunteers! I’ve loved recruiting, managing, and developing volunteers so that they get the most out of their volunteering! I’ve also been responsible for creating Volunteering Strategies in larger organisations and have taken a lead on increasing the inclusion and accessibility of volunteering for Deaf and Disabled people, which as a proud Disabled person, and compulsive volunteer, is a core value of mine.
I support young Deaf and Disabled people in Bromley as they move into adulthood, helping them build confidence, independence and the skills to reach their goals. My background includes working across the NHS, research and corporate sectors in project management, complaints advocacy, service development, business support and event coordination. I’m passionate about making sure young people’s voices are heard and that they feel empowered to shape their own futures. I love bringing creativity, energy and a sense of fun to my work, and I’m proud to be part of X by X, an organisation that champions inclusivity and works to break down barriers so Deaf and Disabled people can thrive!
I have been working with X by X for the last 5 years. During this time, I have visited different places of interest and looked how accessible they are, then writing a report on them for our newsletter. I helped to look for a new office and places to hold our events by checking if they were accessible and suitable for wheelchair users. Part of my role is designing posters and leaflets, taking them around and putting them up in local areas, especially for Disability Pride which is held every year. During the pandemic, I joined meetings on Zoom (now in person), one of which is the Mobility Forum that is held four times a year. In this Forum, we discuss ways to improve access issues and transport around London areas. I feel proud to be part of a team and it’s good when it all comes together!
I have been with X by X for about six months now as a regular contributor to the monthly newsletter. I write articles about events I have been to, such as the stall we held in Community House and the Online Safety workshop. I make my articles as accessible as I can and use my lived experience as a Disabled person to help write them. It is enjoyable working at X by X and I like working in an office – it’s a good place to be!
