Monday

Today is the beginning of a very exciting week for me. The usually office-bound Office Manger is out and about, well out at least.

This afternoon I am London bound for training on Comic Relief evaluation methods in preparation for the start of work on a Comic Relief funded e-training which will become a resource on the NWG network website.

So, this morning I need to crack on. I’m greeted at the door by a long line of visitors coming to attend a ‘Say Something if you See Something’ working meeting to finalise leaflets, posters etc. for this important campaign.

Today is the official first day of the newest member of the Team – Mike Hand has joined the Specialist Team as our enforcement expert. Welcome to the NWG Mike, I’ve sorted your rail fare and hotel out for tonight, and when I’m back on Wednesday I’ll sort the rest of your week!

We’ve had more membership applications in so I need to do some invoicing. Membership is increasing rapidly which is fantastic for the rest of the Network as it means we can draw on, learn and disseminate more information to you all.

When this done I need to sort out some development training for myself. As the only one in the office without a background in safeguarding children I’m sometimes lost in conversations so I’ve booked onto a Just Whistle training course in Birmingham next month which I’m now really looking forward to.

Multi-tasking seems to be the order of the day and as I’m ordering office chairs for our new members of staff, I have to, bizarrely, play fire fighter and extinguish a huge fire in the building. Well, a very small one in the cigarette bin outside that can see from my window. Good deed done for the day, I head off to collect my children from school before catching my train.

Miles ordinarily – 0

Miles today – 131

Tuesday

After signing off last night, I saw an advert for this years Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK on the television. As a friend of mine has recently been touched by this horrible thing, I’ve entered myself in a 10k at the end of June. You need to know that I’m no runner, perhaps I had a blow to the head, but whatever reason I’ve set myself the challenge of raising £100 for this incredibly worthy cause. I’ll keep you posted on how my training is coming on.

Todays training is extremely valuable. We are discussing ways in which we can monitor the effectiveness of the e-training (see yesterday). I can already see the benefits of what I’m learning to the wider organisation. I’m hoping to meet separately which each member of Staff when I get back to put some things into effect.

Fantastic day, well worth the trip to London. Thank you Comic Relief.

Miles ordinarily – 0

Miles today – 131

Wednesday

Back to the office today and back to usual duties. My first job was to feed back from the workshop and set some time aside in the diary to complete the start up paperwork and set the outcomes/outputs and indicators.

Today we have published details of the next Specialist Seminar – ‘People with Autism in Offences of Sexual Exploitation’ on 4th June. Within an hour of this going out I am already receiving bookings and enquiries. If demand is anything like previous specialist seminars, the event will be full.

As with most days, we have received an invitation to speak at a Conference in June. Sheila will be Keynote Speaker at the ‘Protecting Girls, Preventing Harm’ conference in Cardiff.

Miles ordinarily – 0

Miles today – 0

 

Thursday

Today is all about travel and accommodation arrangements for Staff. Lesley and Cheryl are continuing their Road Trip and are off to the Brighton area next week to visit Catch 22 in Eastbourne, Barnardos Miss-u –turn Project in Southampton, and also visiting Barnardos Families and Communities Against Sexual Exploitation. (385.8 miles)

Bina is off to Portsmouth on Friday to attend an LSCB CSE Sub Committee (388.8 miles).

Sheila and Mike are off to Belfast amongst other places next month (716 miles)

We are also trying to source a venue for our conference in November. This is a joint venture with Safe and Sound Derby. We are planning this event to maximize learning and networking opportunities, with keynote speakers and numerous workshops. Keep an eye out for further details.

After all of this we set up the Conference Room for Monday’s Boys and Young Men Forum. We need to work on the layout of the room as numbers are increasing.

Miles ordinarily – 0

Miles today – 0

Virtual miles – 1490.6

Friday

I’m off today; planting potatoes, onions and painting the decking.

See you next week.