Juliette Green

I've always considered myself as 'kinda average', others have argued…but there's one thing I know for certain… life's thrown me some curved balls and through the experiences I've had, I've defined myself to become the person I am today – pioneering and enterprising with a passion to support women who are under represented and possibly disadvantaged; encouraging them to consider new horizons and empowering them to take down barriers which so often get in the way for all of us.

I reflect back to my journey and the so called 'good ol' times', fast cars, holidays, Harrow on the Hill apartment, but strangely and more fondly, on the relative more recent years, where my journey took me through; debt, being an unsupported lone parent, domestic violence - leading to hospitalisation, drink, 3 children; to... a wonderful husband, a beautiful home, a business women and parenting - 8 children! (My three, Pete's three and Pete's sisters' 2 children, following her death). Not exactly what I'd put in my plan… but none the less a journey I celebrate everyday. If it hadn't been for all of this, I wouldn't be the person I am now, have the confident broad minded, go getting children I have or, run the business I do.

Apart from my family; my world revolves around my business - Women's Wisdom which is an independent, not for profit, social enterprise working with hard to reach and vulnerable people to enable them to take control of their own situations and make informed decisions that will positively impact their situation. We work with all people from the homeless, drug and alcohol users, offenders, victims of domestic violence, lone parents – to name but a few.

I don't claim to be a national figurehead; but I don't believe I need to be either. Being inspirational is about being humble and at times vulnerable. Being inspirational is about being an appropriate role model at a local level, reaching out to the people that need it most, motivating them through support and encouragement to be the people that they really want to be. I've worked hard, and we celebrate the fact that we re a flagship organisation and that I've recently been nominated for a Queen's Award for what we do. It's nice to be recognised, but at the end of the day, the satisfaction of enabling someone to move out of now and into their future, makes all the hard work worth while.

Loveday Penelope Fox

Just over 6 years ago, I was about to join the Royal Navy. I was really fit and active and starting the career of my dreams. Then illness scuppered my plans. In one fell swoop I lost my career, my drive, my motivation and confidence.

Three years on, still struggling with my energy levels, I felt that I needed to move my life forward in some way. I moved to Hampshire, where my new housemate mentioned an organisation called Women's Wisdom, who ran free courses. She said Empower was just what I needed and that it would change my life. I told her not to be ridiculous – courses don't change lives. Still, I thought that if nothing else it would get me out of bed, away from the TV and out of the house.

I had idly thought about setting up my own business as I had to find a way of rebuilding my life that was flexible enough to deal with my fluctuating energy levels. However, I didn't really see it as something that would actually ever happen; I had no idea how I would earn a living or even where to start. I went onto the WoW website and signed up to the Empower course in Portsmouth.

It is no exaggeration to say that that course really did change my life.

Some days were a real struggle, forcing myself out of bed and onto the train, but once I got there, I was inspired and motivated. The people I met were so supportive and encouraging that, for the first time in a long while, I actually believed I could do it. My ideas for a business varied from making my own beauty products, pet sitting, (I have a passion for all animals) and baking vegan cakes.

At the end of the course Claire mentioned that WoW take on volunteers, which was the perfect opportunity for me to explore my capabilities. When I discovered the office was just down the road, I jumped at the chance! I began volunteering for two hours, two mornings a week. Some days it was easy, and other days it was a struggle. But I really enjoyed myself, and even started to look forward to going to work. I began to stay longer at the office, and it was at this point that Juliette suggested that I work part-time for WoW.

Finally, in February 2009, I achieved my vision of working full time- the original vision I wrote down on that very first session of Empower. I didn't think it would ever happen but I now deliver the Empower training that started my rehabilitation in the first place, something I absolutely love and which feels so fantastic to be able to give to others what has helped me so much. I am now completely cured of my health issues, which I believe is due in no small part to the support and inspiration that I have found both within the WoW team and through the amazing people I have met who have been helped in some way by WoW. When I am not training I divide my time between being Office Manager, Project Co-ordinator and Outreach worker and I love the fact that every day is different.

I am not where I expected to be; I'm not self-employed, and not in command of a frigate either! From here, I have no idea where my path leads, but in the meantime, I am enjoying my journey.

Claire Cutler-Casey

I've been with Women's Wisdom since it started, what seems like a very long time ago now! I currently concentrate on building new partnerships, project management and outreach and exist on a staple diet of frogs, Chlorine, Chocolate and white jasmine tea. You'll find me hanging around libraries, cafes and shopping centres waiting to meet my many clients and you'll often spot me at networking events. My background has always been in training and solution focussed project work, with organisations such as Allianz Cornhill and Lloyds of London, which makes me an ideal candidate for WoW. In my "spare" time (that's usually when the rest of the world is asleep) I swim 80 lengths at a time, work out in the gym and study for an OU degree in Psychology. Apparently I need to grow a small goatee once I've completed that!

If you come across me on your travels do say 'Hi', I'd love to meet you!

Life's a journey, Travel well.
Claire

Paula Graham

I moved to Portsmouth from Kent in 1995 to take up a position as Business Development Manager (Hampshire) for P&O Stena Line. I had worked for P&O European Ferries in Dover for 9 years prior and had set up and managed the Call Centre Reservations Training department delivering product and systems training for staff across P&O European Ferries at all UK and continental locations, Travel Agents and Tour Operators.

I then took up the position of Call Centre Manager, P&O Portsmouth. I re-structured and further developed their newly established Call Centre and later set up and managed a new Training and Recruitment department. Due to a Company re-structure in April 2002 all reservations for P&O Portsmouth were sadly moved back to the head office at Dover and I was made redundant.

Shortly after this I achieved Post 16 Adult Education Teaching qualification and worked for 1 year as a freelance trainer with Alps Accredited Learning Programmes in Portsmouth delivering a range of Customer Service and Personal Development courses including Social Enterprise Skills to members of Voluntary and Community organisations and small businesses.

In 2003, I began work with a newly set up Social Enterprise; The Really Helpful IT Company, as Training Manager and set up and delivered a range of IT training services across all sectors for groups and individuals, including IT strategy planning workshops for voluntary and community organisations. The Company became a UK online centre and I managed the training activities undertaken at 2 other centres, helping people in the local community to learn to use computers and the internet.

Another part of my job was to generate sales through direct telephone marketing, promotional activities and deal with all aspects of Customer Service in house including training staff. I also set up and project managed a one year Intermediate Labour Market Programme (ILM) which helped long term unemployed people back into work and combined personal development training, vocational training and work experience. The ILM was a success and the outcomes of the programme included qualifications and employment gained.

I am now happily working with Women's Wisdom, in a project and business development role, including marketing and outreach and administration. I also deliver Customer Service and Business Administration as an associate lecturer at Chichester College, working with unemployed people.

Patricia Culligan

has developed and delivered a wide range of personal development and management training courses for both public and private sector organisations, including specialist programmes in Customer Service; Self-Belief & Motivation and Improving Employability.

She has attended training programmes in Coaching; Transactional Analysis; Sales Strategies & Media Awareness and holds an honours degree in Humanities and a Diploma in Social Work from the University of Manchester. Other awards include postgraduate certificates in Maritime History (University of Portsmouth) & History of Architecture (University of London). She has recently qualifed as a Cognitive- Behavioural Hypnotherapist and has a private practice specialising in controlling addictions.

Patricia trained as a Probation Officer and has also worked as a Social Worker (adolescents & families,group & individual development) including a spell in Strangeways Prison as a trainee and the divorce courts as a Family Welfare Officer in disputes involving children. She has lectured extensively at FE and HE level in Social Work Skills and Social Psychology. She currently combines her role as Business Development Manager and Trainer for WOW with co-directing an international Oil & Gas Risk Management Consultancy in London.

Patricia is married with 3 children and enjoys literature; singing; cinema; walks with dogs; dancing; travel and all aspects of politics & history. She has published several articles on health and social care issues and appeared as a presenter for over 2 years on a well-known TV shopping channel in the UK & US. She is currently writing a self-help book for adults under stress and intends to combine this with helping as many people as possible achieve their potential for happiness in life.