We are very pleased to welcome Kirsty Hill as the newest member of the Shaping Team.
As Education & Community Lead, Kirsty will be supporting the volunteers and activities of our programmes under the Education and Community pillars, to ensure they run smoothly and each programme succeeds in its objectives.
Born in Cardiff, raised in the beautiful city of Portsmouth. Kirsty has worked in Portsmouth for many years due to her service in the Royal Navy where she came to join her first ship at the age of 17. Kirsty quickly fell in love with the seaside city and decided to set up home here where she now lives happily with her son Ralph and bulldog Hugo.
Being a Female Veteran in Portsmouth is something that she finds great pleasure in due to the large number of Veterans who provide a community of support if called upon. Kirsty takes great pride of her service in the Royal Navy.
Kirsty is joining us from the Mental Health and Wellbeing sector where she has extensive experience in both the Charity and NHS sectors. Kirsty’s passion for mental health stems from her own lived experiences, she proudly uses this to deliver and provide support to all those that she has worked with. She hopes to continue her passion as a mental health advocate within her new role at Shaping Portsmouth.
Kirsty spends her spare time being a “football mum” and exploring the city with her son. They both have a love for travel and visiting new places and of course the occasional trip back to South Wales which Kirsty misses and thinks fondly of. Kirsty’s passion for people and music has introduced her to the Volunteer sector, where she works closely with a not-for-profit mental health organisation. A community of music lovers, using music as a platform to encourage people to open up and engage in conversation about mental health and wellness. So, she can be found hanging out a festival or gig or hopping on a flight out to Ibiza to support at music retreats spreading the word about Mental Health.
Kirsty said “As a single mum to a 10-year-old son in the Portsmouth education system, I want to be able to create change and offer young people growing up in Portsmouth an opportunity to see the growth and potential this city has to offer. To be able to work with such a passionate and dynamic team of individuals, knowing that we are making a difference to how young people see Portsmouth and what is has to offer brings me great pride”
Sam McGrath, Director for Operations & Marketing at Shaping Portsmouth, adds “I am proud to introduce Kirsty Hill, our newest team member, who joins us as the Education and Community Coordinator. Kirsty is a remarkable Female Royal Navy Veteran, a resilient Single Mother, and a seasoned Senior Peer Wellbeing Co-ordinator with over 12 years of outstanding experience in the NHS and Charity Sector. Her presence exudes professionalism and organization, and she impresses us with her work ethic and adaptability. Kirsty is deeply committed to collaborative endeavours and possesses a passion for empowering people and making a profound impact in our local community. We are truly privileged to have such an extraordinarily talented individual on board with us.
“Furthermore, I extend a heartfelt appreciation to Rozina Metha for her unwavering dedication and support through RMC Services. Rozina’s relentless efforts have led to the successful sourcing and recruitment of three exceptional new employees for our rapidly expanding Shaping Portsmouth team. Special thanks are also due to Chloe Bolton from Portsmouth City Council and Hayden Taylor, our esteemed Non-Executive Director, for their invaluable support during the interview process.”
