Sarah joined the council in 2005 after relocating from Cardiff to Walsall and has built her career across a range of services, including a brief time in libraries, 2 years within the youth service and then to community development. She moved into community work in 2007, at a time when the team was small, and has since played a central role in shaping support for the voluntary and community sector.
Over the years, her role has grown significantly. She became Voluntary and Community Manager, leading on engagement with local organisations and supporting a wide range of community activity. More recently, her role expanded to include community cohesion, and she is now VCS and Cohesion Manager, leading a small team working across the borough.
Reflecting on her role, Sarah describes it as “very varied,” with no two days the same. “You could be dealing with a building issue one day, supporting a funding bid the next, or helping an organisation develop a new project,” she explains.
Alongside this, the cohesion aspect of her role involves responding to local issues and supporting communities through more challenging situations. This has brought a steep learning curve, particularly in developing understanding across different communities and faiths. “It’s about listening and asking questions,” she says. “People would much rather you ask and learn than make assumptions.”
A key part of Sarah’s work is supporting the voluntary and community sector to grow and thrive. From small grassroots groups to established organisations, she sees first-hand the impact they have: “Even small amounts of funding can make a huge difference—bringing people together, creating opportunities, and helping communities try things they might not otherwise access.”
She is also a strong advocate for the sector’s role in wider partnership working. “These organisations are rooted in their communities. They know their residents, they understand local needs, and they’re already delivering so much,” she says. “We need to keep building on that and be open to doing things differently.”
For Sarah, the most rewarding part of the role is the people. “You meet some incredible individuals—people who go above and beyond every day for their communities,” she reflects. “That’s what makes the work so worthwhile.”
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys staying active and plays netball regularly. She also values time with family and making the most of opportunities to travel and explore.
