Emma joined FOCUS in the summer of 2021 as a volunteer, hoping to gain some experience of working with young people. At the time, she was studying her Undergraduate Degree in Child and Youth Studies at the University of Derby. Emma went on to undertake her final year university placement with FOCUS, in which she helped on a range of different projects.
Jerusha (also called Ru) joined FOCUS as a volunteer in September 2019, editing and putting together our newsletter. In April 2021, she became part of our staff team, maintaining our social media, website and more. She brings her experience as a writer, editor and designer to help improve the ways in which we keep in touch with our supporters, partners and audience.
Hasina joined FOCUS in January 2020, volunteering on the START programme. In June that year became part of the FOCUS staff team.
Mo joined FOCUS in 2017 as Office Coordinator, with responsibility for financial management, payroll and office administration. Prior to joining the team, Mo spent 15 years as Finance Officer at the Contact Project in St Matthews, having also worked in voluntary and paid roles within the voluntary sector as an IT Tutor for mental health organisations.
Luke joined the FOCUS staff team in August 2017 after graduating from De Montfort University with a BA Hons in Youth and Community Development. He had already completed two student placements at FOCUS before joining the team as Leicestival’s Project Assistant, but since then has now progressed to managing his first project called START.
Darren re-joined the FOCUS staff team in October 2019 after spending a few years away, which included working for three years as an English Language Teacher in València, Spain. Upon returning to the UK, he briefly worked for a year in a children’s home and shortly afterwards, a further year and a half in a local primary school.
Gavan joined the FOCUS staff team in September 2016. He initially joined the team as Project Manager for the Inspire Project which was funded by the National Lottery.
Matt has been with FOCUS since joining the organisation as a volunteer way back in 1995. He first joined the staff team as a part-time workshop coordinator in February 1996, before managing projects for 6 years. This included delivering in excess of 70 residential events and coordinating management training programmes for businesses such as Glaxo Smith Kline, BT, and Mars Pedigree.