YOUR MANAGER
Name: Kara Raynor. Role: Service manager (East Lancs) at Lancashire Women’s Centres. What do you do?: I oversee the daily running of our Accrington and Burnley centres, supporting staff, volunteers and the projects that we are working on. How did you become a service manager?: I have worked for LWC since August 2008, initially as an administrator and have just grown within the organisation. How long have you been doing this for?: I’ve been service manager since April 2016. I have had various roles within LWC including centre co-ordinator, health and safety/ facilities co-ordinator and locality manager. What kind of services do you offer at the centres?: Our main services across East Lancs include mental health support (one-to-one counselling, couple counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy training) and supporting women in the criminal justice system. We also offer housing and money advice, one-to-one mentoring, work clubs, peer support activities and volunteering opportunities. What do you most enjoy about this role?: I enjoy working with all the amazing staff and volunteers across the centres and hearing about how they are changing people’s lives through the work that we do. What are your highlights of doing this?: Highlights for me are seeing our volunteers progress and achieve things that they never thought were possible. It’s great to see when volunteers have developed the confidence and skills that they need in order to go onto further education or even into employment. What is your favourite place in Accrington?: Obviously Lancashire Women’s Centres! I also love the small, interesting shops we have on Warner Street. Ideally how would you spend every day?: Travelling around the
world, learning about new cultures and meeting new people. What was the best holiday you have been on?: My honeymoon in Thailand. If money were no object
what would you do?: I would treat all my friends and family to anything they wanted, make sure they could all live comfortably and then set off on a round the world trip with my husband and daughter. What one piece of advice would you give?: ‘You’ve got to take the good with the bad, smile with the sad, love what you’ve got, and remember what you had. Always forgive, but never forget. Learn from mistakes,
but never regret’. What was your first job?: I started with a paper round and then secured a job in the paper shop at weekends while school. What is your favourite TV show?: I love all things reality, especially Gogglebox! What are you reading at the moment?: Books on research projects and literature reviews – I’m currently undertaking a degree in Health and Social Care part-time.
Lancashire Women’s Centres aim to ensure women and their families in the communities they serve are able to achieve their potential to develop skills and live safe, healthy and prosperous lives. January Mind Fit courses are on now – please call 01254 871771 for more information.
We currently have five centres across Lancashire including Accrington, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley and Preston.
Our Accrington centre can be found at: 21-23 Blackburn Road, Accrington, BB5 1HF or the Burnley centre at 4 Nicholas Street, Burnley, BB11 2EU.
Further details can be found via our website www.womenscentre.org or via Facebook www. facebook.com/lancashire Womens Centres or Twitter @ Womens Centred