From Anti-Racism Campaigns to Housing Consultations: My Journey into Community Engagement

When people ask me how I got into community engagement, I usually say: “I didn’t choose it- it chose me.”

My journey started in grassroots work—working in a young women’s hostel, running anti-racism events and campaigns in football, supporting young people into employment, and holding space for those society too often forgets.

But over time, I saw the same pattern: people weren’t being heard. Not in housing. Not in health. Not in planning. And definitely not in places of power.

So I started asking: What would it look like if we engaged communities differently?

From grassroots to regeneration

I made the leap into regeneration, working with a housebuilder on a large-scale estate redevelopment. It was there I realised how little local knowledge was often present in “top-down” consultations—and how much is lost when you don’t take the time to build trust.

So I founded Crowd Magnet. A community engagement consultancy that puts people first. No fluff. No jargon. Just human, meaningful engagement.

What we do now

We work with councils, developers, and organisations across the UK to:

• Design and deliver consultation strategies

• Run creative youth engagement programmes

• Facilitate storytelling and community events

• Build relationships with under-represented groups

I also speak about my journey as an aunt, entrepreneur, and community connector - because I believe stories are powerful tools for change.

Why I do this work

This isn’t just a job—it’s personal. I’ve seen what happens when communities are left out of decisions that shape their lives. And I’ve seen the transformation when they’re brought in early, treated with care, and given real power.

If you’re looking for a consultant who brings both lived experience and professional expertise to your project, I’d love to hear from you.