Aldershot Open Day
7 March 2026
Staff Stories
I joined in April 2024, starting off as a Compliance Officer working with fostering, Foyers and Supported Lodgings.
After a year in that role, I spent six months as Foyer Manager in Aldershot, working with a fantastic team supporting young people on their journey to independence.
I have now moved into my current role as Recruitment and Retention Lead for Supported Lodgings.
It is a busy and varied role. I focus on finding new and creative ways to recruit foster carers and Supported Lodgings hosts, while also retaining those who are already fostering or hosting with Step by Step.
One idea I introduced was hosting informal coffee mornings. These events give people the chance to learn more about fostering and Supported Lodgings by chatting with staff and current hosts and carers in a relaxed setting.
I also organise events and secure stalls at community events throughout the year, from village fetes to festivals.
Alongside recruitment and retention, I support compliance processes, help with panel administration, respond to website enquiries, and I am part of the trauma informed team.
Alongside my role at the charity, I run a transcription and editing business that I started 13 years ago. I manage a small team and really enjoy the work.
I have always enjoyed helping people, and I am inspired by the opportunity to help Step by Step grow and reach more young people.
It is an incredible organisation to be part of, and I can honestly say I have never worked anywhere better.
The people make the job. I never feel restricted in sharing ideas, and they are always listened to and valued. Being part of such a supportive team makes a real difference.
One of the biggest challenges is recruiting foster carers. I don’t think people realise just how rewarding and life changing fostering can be, both for the young person and for the carer themselves.
I have really enjoyed organising events through my role at Step by Step, so much so that I have started organising them in my local town through a social group I created.
The events have been very successful so far and we are hoping to organise a local festival next year. I also love spending time with my family, going for walks, and I am an avid “comper”, regularly entering competitions. Recently I won cocktails, dinner and an overnight stay at a five star hotel in London, which I will be enjoying with my two daughters.
I can type all 195 countries in the world in under 5 minutes.
We're excited to announce a new partnership with Citizens Advice Rushmoor, bringing specialist advice directly to young people using our Launch service. This partnership removes the need for young people to navigate multiple agencies and ensures they can access the right help at the right time, in a familiar and trusted environment.
