Our work in Merseyside

Sharon has more than two decades of experience in the education sector. A graduate of the Institute of Education at the University of London, she began her career by successfully coordinating the Effective Provision of Pre-school Education (EPPE) project in Inner London. This endeavour marked a significant milestone as the first major European longitudinal study of young children's development.

Early in her teaching journey, Sharon achieved the status of an Advanced Skills Teacher, opening doors to a role as a pedagogical mentor across schools in Bradford, Birmingham, and Manchester.

Sharon's leadership skillset led her to senior positions within Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across the North of England. Here, she developed the effective use of the peer coaching model, with senior management teams across various educational settings.

During her tenure as a Link Tutor at Bradford College, Sharon nurtured and developed vital Initial Teacher Training school partnerships. Beyond this, she delivered presentations and training sessions on leadership to local education authorities. She joined us in July 2020 as the West Yorkshire Schools Partnership Manager and is now Strategic Partnerships Manager.

Sharon says: "I am proud to be part of an organisation that cares deeply about improving life chances for children and young people in our communities. Having the opportunity to build and nurture partnerships with local schools and educational institutions aimed at identifying and supporting students who might otherwise be left behind due to various barriers is incredibly rewarding. 

"My journey as a Schools Partnership Manager has solidified my belief in the power of education to transform lives and has given me a platform to contribute to a more equitable educational landscape."

Steff joined Tutor Trust in 2018 as the first full-time member of staff for Merseyside. She had graduated from the University of Leeds the previous year with an MA in Race and Resistance and a BA in International History and Politics. During her studies, Steff was a part-time Secondary English and Primary tutor in Leeds. Seeing the impact small group intervention had on the pupils is why she joined Tutor Trust full-time.

Steff has worked in a variety of roles with us, including Liverpool Schools Coordinator, Merseyside Schools Manager, Merseyside Schools Partnership Manager and now Merseyside and West Yorkshire Strategic Operations Manager, where she is responsible for operations across Merseyside and West Yorkshire.  Steff is a member of Tutor Trust's digital working group as she is keen to be involved in driving the organisation forward into a digital future. Steff also sits on Tutor Trust's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion committee and participates in the Wellbeing group (alongside being a Mental Health First Responder trained to help with staff wellbeing). She is also a & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. Outside of Tutor Trust, Steff is on the governing board of a large Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) school in Knowsley, the borough where she attended school.

Steff says: “I grew up in a community similar to those we work in, and my experience of school when I was growing up in Merseyside is a key reason why I became committed to working in the education sector and improving educational equality in the North West. Tutor Trust allows me to do that, and I am privileged to work with such a committed team and amazing school partners, who share a common purpose in making education fairer.”

Aaron joined Tutor Trust in March 2021 as a part-time Secondary and English Tutor in Greater Manchester. He obtained a First-Class degree in English Literature and Creative Writing in 2019, followed by a Distinction at Masters level in English Studies. From here, Aaron joined the office team as a Primary and Transition Coordinator in Manchester, running the Tutor Trust’s bespoke Transition Project. He has now moved into the role of Merseyside Senior Programme Manager and is proud to be in a position where he can take a proactive role in tackling education inequality, ensuring every child receives a fair and fulfilling education.

Damola joined Tutor Trust in November 2023 as a Merseyside Schools Coordinator. Damola is a Political Science (Governance and Public Policy) graduate from the University of Manchester, with professional experience in administrative roles in higher education, charities, and the local authority. Damola also volunteered for Reach Out, an afterschool mentoring project empowering children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Before joining Tutor Trust, Damola worked as a social care advisor at Wirral Council, and as a children's support worker at Saheli.

Damola says: "My commitment lies in empowering vulnerable individuals and marginalised communities through educational initiatives, community work, and advocacy. I am excited to utilise my academic and professional knowledge and skills to support pupils with educational challenges. It is an honour to be a part of Tutor Trust and assist in transforming lives through tutoring."

Eva graduated from Edge Hill University with a first-class honours degree in Physical Education and School Sport. She went on to complete an MSc in Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health. Most of Eva's experience to date has been within educational settings, working in both primary and secondary schools, and delivering a range of different sporting activities to young people.

Eva says: "I am passionate about promoting positive wellbeing amongst children and young people and addressing inequalities within education to ensure everyone has fair access to a high standard of learning. My goal is that young people feel empowered both academically and personally, resulting in improvements in their knowledge and self-confidence."

Sasha began working as a Part-Time Tutor for Tutor Trust in November 2021 and joined the team as a Full-Time Tutor in February 2022.

Sasha has nearly 10 years of previous work experience as a tutor and decided that she wanted to work in a position where she could better help the students who need our support the most. She has seen the effect educational inequality has on students and hopes to diminish this in her work with Tutor Trust.

Sasha says: "Working with The Tutor Trust, it has become clear to me how there are thousands of children across the UK that need our support now more than ever. With the attainment gap only growing, and funding in schools becoming more and more limited, it is important for charities like us to continue to expand and target as many of these children as we can.

"Working for a charity that focuses on these challenges, as well as being a welcoming, close-knit team, really drives me to fulfill the mission as I enter a school to work with young people. The determination and perseverance our whole team shows in bettering the lives of young people through tutoring is the main reason I am proud to work here and strive to have a lasting impact on everyone I come into contact with."