Affinity groups

Ally Phelan – Mature students affinity group

Hello, my name is Ally and I am excited to be joining this cohort. I come from a district nursing background and as a mature student understand the challenges that can come with balancing academic learning and other commitments. Outside of work and study, I enjoy spending time at the beach and in the woodlands with my two dogs. I will be running the mature student affinity group and look forward to facilitating group conversations, building connections, creating a welcoming and inclusive space for my peers, and liaising with the Frontline team to provide support where needed. 

Rosie Baker – Mature students affinity group

I’m Rosie, I live in York and have a lot of professional experience supporting children and families. I wish to support other mature students to gain leadership experience, peer-support and to enjoy the job from the outset. I have worked in small, fairly homogeneous teams for a long time now and really look forward to engaging with a larger more diverse group of colleagues. I also have experience as an employment health and wellbeing champion and believe that wellbeing is hugely boosted by good relationships and connectedness in work. 

Vicky Campbell – Parents and carers affinity group

My name is Vicky (she/her) and I’ll be helping to facilitate the parents and carers affinity group. I wanted to be a part of this space to support anyone in this cohort who is caring for children whilst studying. My wife and I adopted our little boy three years ago and life has been crazy ever since! I’m looking forward to chatting to you all and hopefully we can support one another through the readiness for practice stage.

Tamsin Haigh – Parents and carers affinity group

Hello, my name is Tamsin and I am joining the programme after 14 years in the charity sector. Having spent a long time in project management and fundraising roles, which can feel quite removed from the people the charity is trying to help, I am very much looking forward to getting back into direct work. I have a two year old son, called Otto, who tends to demand quite a lot of my time! I would love to get to know other parents and carers on the programme, so we can work out ways to manage the demands of work, study and family life together. 

Marina Alagic-Bowder – Career changers affinity group

My name is Marina (she/her) and I’ll be helping to facilitate the career changes affinity group. I feel deeply connected to this topic as I’ve had to manage significant career changes more than once, identifying transferable skills and learning fresh ones. As a parent I’ve also had to navigate the impact of career change on family members and financial circumstances. My professional background is in overseas development; I’ve lived much of my life in the Balkans; and I’m really excited to meet and learn from fellow career-changers on this social work journey. 

Jane Stanley – Career changers affinity group

Hi, my name is Jane, I have previously worked as a primary school teacher, a wellbeing practitioner at Pilgrims Hospice and a children’s entertainer where I dressed up as Snappy The Dinosaur! I am pleased to help facilitate the career changers affinity group. I believe we all have a wealth of skills to bring from our previous employments. The group will offer the opportunity to celebrate and discuss how to best use our experiences and support one another on our journeys to become amazing social workers. 

Lexi Cannon – Recent graduates affinity group

My name is Lexi (she/her) and I’ll be helping to facilitate the recent graduates affinity group. I wanted to be part of the affinity group to hopefully build some community together and support each other as we all start our social work journeys. I’m a proud cat mum to two young kittens (happy to share pet photos). I’m really excited to get to know y’all! 

Hannah Higgins – Christianity and social work affinity group

My name is Hannah, a devout Christian with a passion for working with young people. I’ll be helping to facilitate the Christianity and social work affinity group. My faith plays an important role in my life and I’m interested in how Christian values can inform and strengthen social work practice. I’m looking forward to connecting with others, sharing experiences and building a supportive space for fellowship, learning and mutual encouragement. 

Lydia Denny – Christianity and social work affinity group

Hello my name is Lydia and I’m really excited to facilitate the Christianity and social work affinity group. I wanted to be part of this space as I’d love to help build a group where we can connect, share our faith and navigate this journey together. Prior to joining Frontline I have been an actor, storyteller, family practitioner and coffee trainer (to name a few hats!). I’m really looking forward to meeting you all and can’t wait to get started.

Caroline Matthews – Global majority participants affinity group

My name is Caroline (she/her) and I will be helping to facilitate the global majority affinity group. I am a mature student with a background in psychotherapy and I am passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and supported. I’m hoping that this can be a space where global majority participants can share experiences, learn from and support one another, and build networks that extend beyond the programme and into their careers in social work. I look forward to connecting with everyone.

Lexi Cannon – LGBTQIA+ affinity group

My name is Lexi (she/her) and I’ll be helping to facilitate the LGBTQIA+ affinity group. I wanted to be part of the affinity group to hopefully build some community together and support each other as we all start our social work journeys. I’m a proud cat mum to two young kittens (happy to share pet photos). I’m really excited to get to know y’all! 

Jess Smith – Mental health and wellbeing affinity group

Hey, I’m Jess (she/her) and I’ll be helping to facilitate the mental health and wellbeing affinity group. Over the years, I’ve realised how easy it is to keep what we’re going through to ourselves because of fear or shame, even though mental health struggles are much more common than we often realise. I hope this group can be a safe, positive, supportive space where we can connect, look out for one another and remind ourselves that we don’t have to go through things alone as we begin our social work journey.

Jena Chen – Intersectional feminism in social work affinity group

Hi! my name is Jena and I will be helping to facilitate the intersectional feminism in social work affinity group. I am really excited to support this group to ensure that it will be an inclusive and safe space to share experiences and ideas. My previous academic work has focused on relational feminism and care. I was also the SOAS University of London Intersectional Feminism Society events officer. I wanted to be part of this group to build upon these experiences and help create a community.

Seyi – Intersectional feminism in social work affinity group

My name is Seyi, and I am a facilitator for the intersectional feminism in social work affinity group, as well as an award-winning speaker, feminist, activist, author, coach, leader and humanitarian dedicated to empowering women and promoting leadership. I actively support initiatives that enhance women’s health, advocate for equality, and develop young people to embrace feminist principles, while working with vulnerable communities through my rural, farm-based foundation that provides food, education, healthcare, and social services. I am passionate about expanding these efforts globally, supporting women’s health and rights, and fostering leadership and social change, and I look forward to collaborating and making a positive impact together.

George Rawlinson – Islam and social work affinity group

My name is George, and I’ll be helping to facilitate the Islam and social work affinity group. I decided to get involved because I feel that Islam can beautifully inform our practice, and the group offers a space for community, support and reflection. I’m a husband, a father, and I became Muslim in 2011.

Helen Aziz – Islam and social work affinity group

As-Salaamu alaikum (peace be upon you),

My name is Helen (she/her), and I’m excited to help facilitate the Islam and Social Work affinity group. As a practicing Muslim and a revert, I’m passionate about creating a space where everyone can connect, share, and learn from one another. I find that my faith and social work naturally align, particularly when it comes to our shared values of compassion, justice, equality, and respect for all. With a background in policing and mental health support work, I’m committed to promoting inclusive, compassionate practice and honouring individual lived experiences. I look forward to meeting everyone and building a supportive community together.