Page 7 - the SyI Quarterly 13 - (V4)

Know your Institute
Know your Institute

As I moved forward, my business acumen put me in good stead, and my thirst for knowledge
increased. I found new ways to reach the end goal and take others on that journey with me. Fast
forward a few years and I used those skills to set up an educational centre for disadvantaged young
What’s your journey for people, became a senior youth worker and specialised in sexual health and substance misuse. I

worked with vulnerable people and helped them to develop ways of keeping safe and supported many
2023? women and children living in refuges who had chosen not to accept domestic violence as a normal
way to live. I tutored young people who had dropped out of school not by choice but because of the
actions of the adults around them – they were angry, could not read, write, or communicate very
well. I worked on so many projects from launching a teaching assistants’ pilot to securing funding for
By Angela Vernon-Lawson CSyP FSyI afterschool care facilities in socially deprived areas where substance abuse and child neglect was at an

all-time high.

Gradually, I moved into writing policies and indirectly fell into business continuity, recognising how
the pieces linked together to improve businesses and communities alike. I sat on various committees
and talked to community gatekeepers on how to influence young people to make better choices
and improve the sustainability of that community. Security, in its many forms, weaved in and out of
As 2022 is nearing its end, many will be thinking about what the everything I did or was involved with. It became my new norm. I relished the opportunity to make a
future holds, how they improve their personal and professional life. difference which I did with several projects. In 2007 I graduated from the University of Leicester to
It is a challenge. It is tough but only the individual can take the steps further advance my career and use my skills to enhance the learning experience of others especially
to make those changes. For some it is superficial and they want a in Higher Education. I have also supported the development of multiple training centres, and worked
visible outward facing ‘I am a winner’ certificate, and on the flip side with numerous companies in an enterprise capacity, assisting them to be better, more productive, and
there are those who struggle to identify where and how to start aspirational. I worked globally, often in testing situations with people I had not met before, but I always
their next journey or to improve the track they are already taking. learnt something new! More importantly I have never regretted any part of my journey as I have
Although I have been in security for a long time, my transformation met and worked with amazing people, who have influenced my decision-making process, with many
really started as a single parent with two children and not much becoming friends. The learning experience has been second to none.
else. I worked full-time and had an intermittent part-time job, but
money was tight; I could have chosen to pull the emergency cord As we move nearer to 2023 there is no doubt, we will face testing times over the coming months. We
and feel sorry for myself, but I didn’t. Instead, I chose education and cannot stop the world around us, but we can improve what we do as individuals. Most will experience
went to night school at the local community college once a week a challenge (or two), but learn from it, do something different, volunteer to improve skills, and meet
to do A levels. Some thought I was bonkers, and asked what was I new people. Developing a career pathway may or may not be challenging and does require an
trying to prove? I was not trying to prove anything to anyone except element of self-preservation, wellbeing and resilience which comes in many guises.
myself; that anyone can achieve their dreams, their aspirations, To this end the team at Head Office are working tirelessly to bring our members different topics and
change their course but it takes dedication and commitment. events to develop personally and professionally. Many are free or low cost so do check your email for
the eNews and mailshots for updates.
Dedication turned into energy, a fire ball that ignited a passion
for learning, growing, improving, and making a difference not only Meanwhile the team and I look forward to being part of your journey and supporting you in 2023.
for me but for others. I started to think differently, I wanted to
share the experience of how learning can change the course of
travel not only for the individual but also those around them. I met
people with different opinions which created the opportunity to
debate, discuss and share ideas. It did not matter if you understood
Shakespeare, climbed mountains, travelled extensively, or had
dyslexia. Everyone had a tale to tell. Everyone wanted a different
future to what they had, and I realised I was no exception. I also
identified that in the future, I would be helping others to achieve
their goals, their aspirations and their future career. What I did
not have was a crystal ball to tell me my journey was going to
be memorable, difficult and challenging - but never regrettable.
Learning soon became the norm, and as a reflective/pragmatic
learner it was a bit ‘Yin and Yang’ and testing at times adding to the
challenge.

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