
If you’ve been in the Centre recently you’ll have seen a new face about. Meet Laura McCarthy, part-time Centre Assistant, who joined the Hornsey Vale team in April 2024. You may meet Laura at our Monday Community Soup Cafe and monthly Lunch Club, or otherwise see her co-ordinating bookings, helping keep the Centre ship-shape and generally supporting the Trustees and Centre Manager Emma keep our beloved place running smoothly.
We asked Laura a few questions to get to know her better.
Where are you from, and what brought you to Haringey?
I’m from Maidenhead in Berkshire originally, and most recently lived in Twyford, before moving to Haringey to live with my fiancé, stepson and miniature schnauzer, Alfie.
Share one thing most people don’t know about you?
I’ve got two masters degrees: an MA in Early Modern Literature (think Shakespeare and friends) and an MEd in Early Years Education. I love learning.
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Curious! (Not nosey… there’s a difference!)
Tell us a little about your career so far.
It’s been very varied: I used to be a regional manager in Wastewater operations at Thames Water, and then retrained as a primary school teacher at the University of Cambridge, where I also studied for my MEd. I taught Reception at a primary school in Cambridge before moving back to Berkshire where I managed a nursery school for 3 years before moving to Haringey.
What attracted you to the role at Hornsey Vale?
Deciding to move out of teaching, I was still looking for a role that was important in the community and meant working with people.
What are you looking forward to most about the role?
Getting to know all of the people using the community centre and looking for new ways to promote community engagement, especially in young people.
A very warm welcome, Laura!