Nicola King (Nicky) from St Peter and St Paul's Wincanton has become a Diocesan Ambassador for The Children’s Society. It is a voluntary role working alongside Jess Meale the Community Relationships Manager for the South-West. Jess covers a large area for the Children’s Society across the Bath and Wells, Exeter and Truro Diocese. Nicky will work with her to identify areas in Bath and Wells that The Children’s Society could work in. That could be anything from churches, cathedrals, deaneries, volunteers, fund raising groups and committees, shops. The role will involve building relationships with any supporters or potential supporters across the diocese of Bath and Wells.
That could be through promoting the society's campaigning work, contacting local papers to make sure there’s information out there about the Children’s Society, or going along to events to be a representative of the charity. But the role is not fixed, Nicky will work with Jess to design an action plan for the year of areas she’d like to explore and grow.
Nicky, who lives in Wincanton, was born and brought up in Weston-Super-Mare, where her father was an organist and piano teacher. Nicky said, “I have been a supporter of The Children’s Society for over 35 years and have been a fundraiser and speaker for about 20 years. I retired in March 2020 just as lockdown began. I was Senior Early Years Educator (Nursery) and before that I was a Family Support Worker and a Foster Carer and Childminder, so had worked with children and young adults for many years. I am very grateful to my local church, for all the support and prayers I have received from them as I undertake this new challenge.
“I am very much looking forward to my new role and look forward to meeting many of our supporters along the way. On the 6 March 2022 I will be speaking at St Mary’s Wedmore for their morning service at 10.30am.”
Jess said “I’m delighted that Nicky has taken on the role of Diocesan Ambassador, as she’s so passionate about our work. She’s already making waves across the diocese and I’m excited to see how we’re able to grow and develop support across the area with her taking on this role”.
Visit The Children's Soceity website to find out more about their work. If you would like to have a speaker come to your group and talk about The Children Society, or who if you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a speaker in the diocese, please email Jess Meale.