Alumni Spotlight: Joanna
"It’s incredible to come full circle. Villiers Park supported me when I needed it most, and now I have the privilege of helping to make those same opportunities available to others.”
From Participant to Partner: Joanna Finlay’s Villiers Park Journey Comes Full Circle
More than 20 years after taking part in a Villiers Park residential, Joanna Finlay is now supporting the charity that once helped her find her confidence.
Now a Consulting Manager in Financial Wellbeing, Inclusion and Vulnerability at Sopra Steria, Joanna’s work focuses on ensuring that people in vulnerable circumstances are better understood and supported.
But the path to this role wasn’t straightforward and, as a bright and curious student, Joanna sometimes found school life challenging. She often felt different from her peers and struggled to feel fully accepted — experiences she now recognises as linked to neurodiversity.
However, between Years 12 and 13, Joanna was invited to take part in a residential programme for promising psychology students, an experience that, in her own words, changed everything.
“I had a wonderful time at the Villiers Park residential. It was like someone had opened a door to a parallel universe where being smart was ‘cool’, and I felt like I belonged.
"I’d always been aware that some people have connections which open doors for them; or have the self-assurance to believe that doors should be opened for them. And while I didn’t, Villiers Park helped me realise that we all have potential — that I could open doors for myself if I chose to, and that there are people out there who can help.
"Villiers Park helped me see that I was good enough to walk through some doors and do some stuff I could be proud of."
Today we are thrilled that Joanna is now able to give back to the organisation that once supported her. Earlier this year, Joanna and colleagues at Sopra Steria collaborated with three of our leadership team on an inclusivity workshop, helping us to reflect on what we are already doing as well as how we can deepen inclusive practice. Joanna also shared her story with young people and their families at our Tyneside Celebration event, where she presented our Diana Hiles Celebration of Progress Award, a fitting symmetry to Joanna’s progress in her education and career.
Since the partnership started in 2021, Sopra Steria has supported Villiers Park to extend its impact and reach, with over 5,000 young people from under-represented backgrounds benefiting from our programmes in this time.
More than 750 young people have participated directly in partnership-led activity, from receiving bursaries through the Opportunities Fund, attending employability and skills workshops, and visiting Sopra Steria’s offices in London and Edinburgh.
Through our partnership, Sopra Steria plays an essential role in expanding our reach and impact, particularly in offering STEM and employability-focused opportunities. Initiatives like office insight days and targeted financial support give young people the chance to envision their futures beyond the classroom and explore potential career paths.
