Holocaust Centre North, Huddersfield

My connection to this fascinating and incredible charity was initially based upon my secondment to manage their research and partnership activities (2020-24). Although my contract ended, I continue to dedicate hours of my free time to ensure that Holocaust Centre North thrives. Most recently, I have been editing an anthology of survivors’ testimonies (with Hannah Randall and Dr David Rudrum) based upon interviews collected across the last few decades. This will be the first publication based solely on the Centre’s archival collections, and the first to promote the stories of Holocaust refugees who made new lives in the North of England.

Carnegie Residents Action Group (CRAG) in Edinburgh’s Southside

From 2017 until 2019, I participated in establishing and acting as the Secretary for a residents’ group to advocate for improvements in our mixed-tenure building in Edinburgh’s Southside. Our goal was to represent the interests of all Carnegie Court residents by voicing ongoing concerns for the health, safety and maintenance of our community. Assisted by the Edinburgh Tenants Federation and local Edinburgh Councillors, we created a constitution in early 2018. In late 2019, I relocated to a new area of Edinburgh and my term as Secretary came to an end.

Children’s Hospices Across Scotland

In late 2016, I had the unique opportunity to join Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (@SupportCHAS) as a policy researcher. For example, I conducted research on children’s rights that directly informed a government consultation on corporal punishment. My work played a meaningful role in supporting Scotland to become the first nation in the UK to outlaw smacking, illustrating the tangible impact of focused, rights-based advocacy. The great people at CHAS were fabulous and really helped me better understand how charities operate and the ways they impact local communities.

Chelsea’s Races

In May and June 2017, May 2018, May 2019, & May 2021, I ran 5k and 10k races with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival and Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life! Due to the support of various friends and family, I was able to raise £392 for Cancer Research UK in May 2018. These races were awesome experiences and hopefully I can continue to do some more in the future.

Second World War Society, Edinburgh Student’s Union Association

At the beginning of my PhD, I was nominated to be the President for the Second World War society. It was a small extracurricular group, comprised mostly of history nerds and enthusiasts. We had regular meetings to discuss aspects of Second World War history, movie nights, and even a few successful pub quizzes. It was an excellent way to meet others, especially undergraduates, who had a keen interest in the period.

Air Force Museum of Alberta, The Military Museums

Between 2008 and 2010, I volunteered for the Air Force Museum of Alberta, within the Military Museums, the largest armed forces museum in Western Canada. I volunteered in their collections room, managing the numerous and diverse range of artefacts that were donated to the museum. By accessioning, cataloguing and researching the plethora of objects in our care, I reported to the Head Curator and Executive Board which helped them to create the best policies in museum governance and other long-term strategic purchases. I also acted as a gallery host and helped with off-site exhibitions. It was an excellent way to learn how the Royal Canadian Air Force operated during the war, and the various daily challenges they endured. As a result of this experience, I chose the Battle of Britain as my masters thesis topic.