Tell us about yourself

Until my retirement I have always worked full time except for the first 5 years of my oldest child’s life when I worked part-time. I am married and have 3 children and 8 grand-children. I achieved a degree in chemistry and an MSc in Information Science. After a short spell as a research chemist I was an information scientist for chemical and pharmaceutical companies prior to going into teaching. I taught for about 6 years in secondary schools and then in Further Education, starting as a part-time chemistry lecturer and ending my career as a senior manager with responsibility for quality assurance and the professional development of all the staff. I was also an additional inspector for Ofsted until my retirement.

How and why did you get into volunteering?

I have been volunteering all my married life. I have always felt that I get so much more out of volunteering than I probably put in, though do my best. It is an amazing way of using your skills and experience to good purpose while making new friends and it is a great way of integrating into a new community and developing a social circle especially when new to a place. I also strongly feel that it is more important to give than take and have tried to instil this into my children.

Who do you currently volunteer for and what do you do?

I am currently working for JVN; am a governor and trustee for Yavneh College (I chair the local governing body); am an associate governor for Bet Schvidler Primary School; chair the new members committee for Edgware United Synagogue and also organise and manage the hand mailing of the shul magazine as well as sit on the shul strategy committee. In addition I supervise a couple of girls in the sixth form at Hasmonean High School with their EPQ (Extended project Qualification)

How has volunteering changed your life and how do you think it affects the people you volunteer for?

Volunteering is an integral part of my life. It enables me to use my time constructively and provides structure and purpose. I am unsure how I may affect others – hopefully I can make some positive difference.