Veterans Community Worker Midlands
(She/Her/Hers)
Gem grew up in an armed forces family in Herefordshire, where her father served in the special forces. After training as a sound engineer and working for Sony Music, she realised her passion was working in the charitable sector. She has worked for a variety of statutory and charitable organisations, including the NHS, West Midlands Police, Worcestershire County Council, Citizens Advice and Age UK.
Gem developed and managed Age UK wellbeing services for older armed forces veterans and their families across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, including information and advice services, a veterans dementia meeting centre, community social opportunities and has helped develop equality and diversity training. She has been a voluntary management member of a local veteran support centre and is an active member of local armed forces covenant strategic partnerships, contributing to local armed forces needs assessments for almost ten years.
Gem is passionate about taking a personalised, community approach that focuses on people’s strengths, to empower those who have faced adversity, discrimination, or been disadvantaged.
In her free time, Gem enjoys creative writing, photography, playing the guitar, and walking on the Malvern Hills.