Staff Spotlight: Jenny Parr
Jenny joined our team 15 years ago and has worked in various roles from Progression Coach to Programmes Manager and now Strategic Projects Manager. Jenny is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of others and supporting young people to reach their fullest potential.
How long have you been at Villiers Park, and what first drew you here?
I have been at Villiers Park for 15 years, I can’t quite believe it! I was drawn to the mission of supporting young people to reach their true potential through positive conversations and inspiring experiences which can have such a huge impact on their future. I knew I could help change young people’s lives for the better.
What does your role involve, and how does it contribute to Villiers Park’s mission?
My role as Strategic Projects Manager involves working on long-term projects that contribute to developing our organisation and making our work as effective as possible. My main project at the moment is working on our new five year strategy for 2025-2030 and ensuring that we are meeting our objectives and tracking our progress. I am also part of the safeguarding team and take responsibility for actions to improve our safeguarding procedures, as well as other ongoing projects.
Looking back, what experiences or influences prepared you for the work you do now?
Before joining Villiers Park I completed an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a postgraduate diploma in Careers Guidance. These helped to prepare me for working with young people in a one-to-one capacity to fulfil their career aspirations and personal goals. I also undertook volunteering roles to support young people, including in a special educational needs school, Barnardos and at residential camps for children with serious health challenges.
What’s a project or initiative you’re most proud of, and why does it matter to you?
In 2018 I was given the opportunity to manage a new Villiers Park programme called Fantastic Futures which enabled our team to work on a larger scale in 11 schools and colleges in Swindon. Fantastic Futures provided coaching sessions, Leadership Challenge projects and gave us our first experience of delivering a residential for young people on site at a university, which we were lucky enough to host at Oxford. This project helped to shape the Future Leaders Programme we have today and emphasised the importance of empowering young people from a diverse range of under-represented backgrounds across a whole community to identify and achieve their future goals.
How do you see your work making a difference for young people or colleagues?
Although I no longer work directly with students, I hope that my work helps my colleagues to feel supported in delivering their projects, which in turn makes a difference in supporting young people to progress into a future of their choice.
What motivates you at work on days when things feel tough?
Lindt chocolate! And knowing that the work we do today is so important in supporting young people so that they can have a brighter future.
What is a book you always will always recommend?
‘Spare Brides’ by Adele Parks
If you could spend a month anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you hope to experience?
Disneyworld in Florida to experience the magic!
Dream dinner guests?
Amelia Earhart
Go-to comfort meal?
Steak and chips
Song that always lifts your mood?
What a wonderful world’ by Louis Armstrong
