Name: Michelle

Job title: Founding Director

How long have you worked for PEGS? Since it launched! 

Which office are you based at? Mainly at Shrewsbury but I regularly visit the Derbyshire office and also spend plenty of time travelling round the UK attending events and leading training.

What’s your favourite thing about working for PEGS? It’s a privilege that people trust us and we’ve been able to highlight their experiences and make changes for them. When I started PEGS, I didn’t know what it was going to be really, I just knew that change had to happen. It’s been a real privilege to work with the parents and the organisations that we’ve linked in with too.

What does a typical day involve? Supporting staff, talking through safeguarding concerns or high-risk situations, meetings with various organisations, networking, creation and development of training, sometimes talking on the radio or to a journalist to help raise awareness, visiting businesses and partner organisations, liaising with the agencies who work with us to support IT, PR, fundraising etc. My days are very varied! 

How do you think (or hope) your colleagues would describe you? I hope they’d say I was supportive, encouraging, that I try my best to help them achieve their full potential, empathetic, and that I truly care about their wellbeing.

When you were younger, what job did you want to do as grown up? An airline hostess!

A little bit about you: I live with my family and pets including my two guinea pigs. Aside from the guinea pigs, my favourite animals are alpacas. I really enjoy getting outdoors and growing veg in my allotment.

Which book, film and album would you take to a desert island with you? Any book by James Patterson, The Labrinyth and the album would really depend on what mood I was in but perhaps Slipknot, Stone Sour or 3 Doors Down.