I have 21 years experience of working with young people from the age of 6 months to 19 years

As well as being a mum of 3 children I hold a post graduate EYPS qualification in Early Years and I am qualified Business Studies teacher.

Throughout my career I have worked in mentoring and support roles in secondary schools and as SEN lead in Early years as well as a home-based Ofsted registered childminder. I have also worked as a cover and supply teacher and taught Business Studies In mainstream secondary and grammar schools.

I have been increasingly disillusioned with the ‘one size fits all’ approach of mainstream education and how many young people do not get the opportunity to fulfil their potential and in many cases leave school with no qualifications whatsoever.

At Cobras AP we aim to provide a safe and inspiring environment for young people to feel valued, accepted and understood. A place where they can grow in confidence, take responsibility for themselves and others and develop news skills which will allow them to find a fulfilling and worthwhile role in society.

Basketball has been my passion for many years. When I was bullied as a child and didn’t really know where I fitted in basketball became my sanctuary. I would go the sports hall before school at break times and after school, I became quite good at playing and represented the school team and then the county. My school basketball coach is still a teacher at my old school and has become a friend in later life. I watched a local professional team and made friends and became involved in club match days. 

I went on to play basketball at university. I qualified as a coach in 2006 and then ran a professional club for a couple of years and then set up my own Club, Bracknell Cobras in 2010. We then expanded into Slough in 2023. The club now coaches over 700 young people a week and runs 29 teams for young people and adults. We have teams for those wanting to play casual basketball and those wanting to play at an Elite level, players from Cobras have gone on to get scholarships in the US and to play at a professional level. I coach the U8s and love introducing young people to an activity where they can learn a skill, be active, make friends and develop responsibility and resilience. 

All Cobras players have the opportunity to learn to officiate and coach, they can take the Basketball England recognised qualifications and will then be paid to work in the club. We try to remove all barriers to participation by offering a hardship scheme, funding qualifications and providing kit, we never turn anyone away.

My real drive with the Cobras Basketball Club is to provide somewhere young people can feel they ‘belong’ and I want to replicate that with Cobras AP. Cobras coaches will mentor the young people at Cobras AP and part of the provision will be the opportunity to play basketball. All students who attend Cobras AP will be offered the chance to train with us in the evenings and take qualifications in officiating and coaching so their involvement with Cobras does not have to finish at the end of the school day. I feel this will be a real point of difference between us and other providers.