Carole Hewison - Project Director, Whoops! Child Safety Project

Carole Hewison is the Project Director of the Whoops! Child Safety Project in Gateshead.

Q. What was your background before working for the Whoops! Child Safety Project?

A. Carole's background before Whoops! was as a research assistant for Community Child Health - part of this role involved interviewing parents about children who had been injured.

"I was in the right place at the right time as the information from this research was important in starting up Whoops!"

Carole started off at Whoops! as an administrator in March 2000 and has progressed through up to being the Projects Director.

Q. Please tell me a bit about your company and the role you play.

A. Whoops! is an unintentional injury programme which is related to the work of the government paper 'Every Child Matters'.
Carole did her teaching qualification and came into a management position through progression.

"I started out thinking I would love to run this project and 3 years ago it happened"

Over the past 3 years Carole described how it was a 'tough ride' running the organisation but now they have a fully trained, professional team which is continually growing.  Carole has now completed a 'Building Capacity in Voluntary Organisations' course, a level 5 management course and is about to embark on the much acclaimed 'P3 management and development training'

Q. Why did you choose this career path?

A. "I didn't choose it, it came upon me and it was the perfect job description and I love it"

Carole explained how now she has worked on this project she could never go back to a statutory organisation, which was because of the fabulous working conditions at Whoops!

Q. Have you attended any training that has specifically helped you in, and outside, of work?

A. For 7 years Carole has delivered paediatric first aid which helped her to further develop into an accredited instructor. Her teaching qualification has helped her to develop her professional career, and then there was the unique opportunity she was given by the HSBC.

"I met with some very talented people who mentored and advised me through business planning etc. This is possibly the best opportunity I have ever encountered"

This management course was a fantastic opportunity for Carole, her project was one of only three in the country chosen to be mentored by 9 of the most talented people in the country.

Q. Who stood out from this course that helped you to further your development?

A. There were two HSBC branch managers that stood out in particular; these came from Cumbria's and Leeds's branches.

"Having 2 people in particular who were interested in what I was doing and the project, was fantastic."

In 12 months they visited the aims and mission of the project. They created leaflets and brochures and changed the structure of the Whoops! team for the better. Carole learnt about direction and goal setting in this course.

"Once you have exceeded your goal, push it further."

Q. What can you do now that would have been more difficult before the course?

A. Carole described how most of all she gained confidence in her team and herself. She was trusted by a supportive Chief Executive and a board of directors to manage the project but still needed an extra confidence boost, which this opportunity gave her.

Q. Do you have any advice for people looking to take part in some training in the future?

A. "Believe in yourself, get to as many networking events as you can and just push yourself."

Carole took 15 years maternity leave and came back, "if you are willing to put in the effort you will succeed."