Meet Ellen

One of our autistic Different Thinkers.

I am a graduate in BSC (Hons.) Open (Environment focus) from The Open University and FdSc Countryside Management and Conservation from Aberystwyth University. Previously worked as part of the visitor experience team at a large pay for entry heritage site cared for by the National Trust.

Autistic employees may demonstrate strengths such as:

  • attention to detail

  • accuracy

  • reliability

  • honesty

  • deep focus

  • persistence

  • pattern recognition

  • innovative problem-solving

  • evidence-based decision making‍

Interested in working with Ellen?

Contact Us

Summary


A responsible manager with an eye for detail, experienced at working with and managing both staff and volunteers. I have worked with the public and people of all ages both in employment and volunteering roles.

I am a hardworking, organised and enthusiastic person who enjoys a new challenge. I am quick at picking up new skills.

I have just returned from travelling where I got to experience other cultures and history, fuelling my passion for making heritage accessible for all. I am currently looking for new opportunities and willing to relocate.

Work Experience

Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer

National Trust (Corfe Castle): March 2024 – July 2025 (acted up May

2022-March 2024)

  • Main lead on the planning, implementation and delivery of both national and in-house year-round programming for the property

  • Work in collaboration with onsite, national and regional colleagues

  • Responsible for budget management and reporting spend back to budget holder

  • Responsible for the creation of risk assessments and safety reports for events

  • Work in collaboration with suppliers, contractors and local organisations

  • Research, write and commission designers to create family activity trails

  • Completed projects to produce a suite of walking leaflets and new site welcome map

  • Collaborated with colleagues on a site wide accessibility project

  • Maintain site presentation such as clear and informative signage

  • Confident and responsible event management

  • Contributed to creation of social media posts for multiple channels and local press

  • Collated and tracked visitor number data and feedback to inform and tailor future events and identify areas for growth

  • Line managed a team of staff linked to a multimillion-pound fundraising project

  • Volunteer management of 85+ volunteers over 6 roles including the creations of rotas, organisation of regular meetings, approving expenses and recruitment

  • Carried out regular performance reviews with both volunteers and staff

  • Corfe Castle’s representative for the wider Isle of Purbeck Volunteer Managers group

  • Duty Management, being the point of contact responsible for any issues on site

  • Site key holder and first aider

  • Member of the national Re-generation challenge group providing a voice for 16–30-year-olds working for the National Trust

Programming and Partnerships Officer

National Trust (Corfe Castle): October 2021-March 2024

  • Assisting in the planning, implementation and delivery of seasonal events focussing on school holidays

  • Research and write family activity trails, collaborating with designers and printers to produce the finished product

  • Project completed to research and commission the design of walking leaflets

  • Write clear and neat signage for events in addition to creating on site posters

  • Confident event management working with contractors/suppliers

  • Volunteer management of 85+ volunteers over 6 roles including the creations of rotas, organisation of regular meetings and approving volunteer expenses

Supermarket Assistant

Waitrose and Partners (Bridport): November 2020-May 2021

  • Assisting customers with purchases in a safe and friendly manner during the pandemic

  • Responsible for completing daily reductions to maximise profit and minimise waste

  • Worked as part of a team to ensure date rotation and presentation of products

  • Assisting with the audit team in the smooth implementation of price changes

Membership and Visitor Welcome Assistant (Seasonal)

National Trust (Corfe Castle): June 2019 – October 2020 and March

2021-October 2021

  • Working as the first point of call for customer queries in the ticket office

  • Selling entry tickets and recruiting members for the National Trust using

  • upselling skills

  • Adhering to GDPR guidelines when handing visitors’ personal information

  • Processing of recruitment forms using organised administration skills

  • Cash handling skills Completing site safety checks

Customer Assistant – Clothing and Home Department

Marks and Spencer: February 2017 – September 2017

  • Aiding customers with purchases in a friendly manner

  • Preparation and presentation of products

  • Processing online orders and completing RFID stock checks

  • Assisting with till counts maintaining the upmost accuracy

Work Experience/Volunteering

Volunteer Engagement Assistant, Dorset Wildlife Trust (Lorton

Meadows): Summer 2018

  • Assisting with school groups and events

  • Planning and running my own event

  • Contributing to volunteer task days and nature reserve maintenance

Dorchester Library: Summer 2016

  • Assisting in running summer reading challenges

  • Setting up activities

  • Interacting with the public

Dorset County Council Environments Directorate: June 2015

Assisting with admin tasks, such as photocopying and filing

Additional Skills and Qualifications

  • IT skills including Microsoft Office, Canva and Social Media

  • Full UK Driving Licence (clean)

  • First Aid at Work (expires 2028)

  • IOSH Managing Safely qualification

Education

  • BSc (Honours) Open (Environment focus)

    The Open University

  • FdSc Countryside Management and Conservation

    Aberystwyth University