Whos who
Kate Poole - Strand 7 Co-ordinator
Kate Poole is the Strand 7 and Strand 5 (Cornwall) Co-ordinator, and widening participation has been a constant theme throughout her working life. Before moving to Cornwall 8 years ago she ran a series of out of school classes for looked after children, and set up and ran a Vocational Guidance Service across London. After working with HE institutions across the south west training and supporting PGCE students, she then started work at Cornwall College as a Careers Advisor. The work was always varied and inspiring and it was through this work that Kate first came into contact with Aimhigher. In order to build a bridge between the community and HE she ran a very successful Strand 5 community arts pilot in Falmouth called "Get Started". This has now been rolled out across the mid and west Cornwall region and is going from strength to strength. She believes passionately that education changes lives and is thrilled with the opportunity to work within the Aimhigher programme.
Contact details: kate.poole@cornwall.ac.uk 01209 617753
Sally Wild - Strand 7 project worker
Sally grew up in Cornwall and went to school in Truro. She then departed for a warmer climate - to the United Arab Emirates to work as a TEFL teacher for both the British Council and schools. Sally spent many years in Muscat, Oman, working for a Shell operating company (PDO), firstly as a language support trainer with company employees, then as a Personal Skills Trainer and finally in the Business and Management section of the Human Resources and Training department.
Sally also has an MSc in Training and a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance as well as TEFL qualifications. Sally is now based at Cornwall College Camborne as the Workhigher Officer covering Cornwall. She has been working until recently as a senior tutor for international students and EFL/ESOL lecturer for Cornwall College, St Austell. Her recent roles have involved advising and preparing international students for life in HE in the UK.
Contact details: sally.wild@cornwall.ac.uk 01209 617754
Helen Evans - Strand 7 project worker
Helen in her role as an Aimhigher Project officer will be working over the next three years on a progression framework of activities with further education students in Somerset, Exeter, East Devon and North Devon Colleges. Helen also works on a secondment to SWLLN 20 days a year.
Helen gained a degree through the Open University as a mature part time student in 2001. She has experience working in the NHS, private and educational sectors and is a lifelong learner herself. Helen also has gained the Prince 2 project management practitioner certificate in 2005.
Helen is currently finishing her NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance funded through SWLLN and will be making use of this qualification during the next academic year by giving impartial information, advice and guidance to prospective higher education students from a range of ages, abilities and backgrounds. Other work for SWLLN will include contributing to SWLLN IAG&LS resources, facilitating training and as a member of the IAG&LS team. Helen is also the voluntary secretary for the Taunton Information Guidance Associates group (TIGA), a network of IAG practitioners in and around Taunton in Somerset.
Contact details: helen.evans@cornwall.ac.uk 01823 366448
Caroline has worked for the APP for Strand 5 since Sept 2006 and joined the Strand 7 Vocational Pathways team in Sept 08. She is based at South Devon College but also work with Bicton College and the Devon & Cornwall Training Provider Network (DCTPN).
She lived in Holland for 20 years and up until 2004 worked in the catering trade having owned and managed a vegetarian restaurant for 6 years. Coming back to live in England gave her the opportunity to change careers and work on two consecutive co-financed ESF/LSC ‘access to learning’ projects before coming to work for Aimhigher.
Over the last 6 years she has gained a variety of new skills such as an NVQ 4 in Advice & Guidance, spent 15months as a Training Officer with hospitality & catering apprentices, taught cookery as part-time adult tutor for adults with disabilities for three years and has worked with looked after young people for two years as ‘cookie’ in a residential care home.
Her teenage children mostly need use her as a taxi service these days so in her spare time she sings and enjoys amateur dramatics.
