By Georgie, Alana House Administrator
As administrator of our women’s community project Alana House, my role is all about helping the service run smoothly behind the scenes while making sure women can access support when they need it.
From managing referrals and sharing information with the team to preparing resources for groups and speaking directly with women about the help available, every day brings a variety of tasks that contribute to the wider support we provide.
Referrals and emails
Every morning begins with two important checks. The first is logging into our database, Lamplight, to review any new referrals that have come in overnight.
Today, we received two new referrals. I worked through the process of registering these on our systems, acknowledging receipt to the referring agencies and ensuring all the relevant information was recorded correctly. Once this was complete, I emailed Sabina, our Alana House Manager, and Maisie, our Lead Administrator, to let them know about the new referrals so the next steps could be arranged.
After checking referrals, I moved on to our shared Alana House inbox. Today we had several emails from local organisations highlighting support services and community groups available in the area. Keeping up to date with what our partner organisations offer is an important part of my role, as it helps ensure the women we support can access a wide range of additional services. I shared the information with the team so they could signpost women to any opportunities that might benefit them.
Learning from colleagues
Later in the morning, I met with Sarah, our lead keyworker, to learn more about housing issues and the support available for women experiencing housing difficulties.
One of the things I value most about working at Alana House is the wealth of knowledge and experience within the team. Even though my role is administrative, I regularly speak to women who call us or who are considering a referral. Having a greater understanding of topics such as housing enables me to provide better information and guidance at those initial points of contact.
The team has such amazing expertise, and I really appreciate having opportunities like this to learn directly from colleagues and continually develop my knowledge.
Supporting women through food provision
A regular part of my week involves coordinating our Fareshare order. Fareshare is a charity that redistributes surplus food to charities and community groups, helping to tackle both food waste and food poverty.
Today was delivery day, and we received a fantastic selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, along with meat, dairy products and some treats such as sweets and chocolate.
Once the delivery arrived, we unloaded everything into our community space downstairs. We have a dedicated table and fridge where the food is displayed, allowing women to help themselves whenever they need to. It’s always rewarding to see how practical support like this can make a real difference to the women who access our services.
Preparing for our Healing Trauma group
During the afternoon, I spent several hours preparing folders and materials for our upcoming Healing Trauma group.
Healing Trauma is a six-week programme designed to help women understand the impact trauma can have on their lives while learning practical strategies to help them feel safe, grounded and supported. The sessions are usually delivered by our keyworkers, sometimes with support from volunteers.
Before the programme begins, each participant receives a folder, and every week they are given handouts to support their learning and reflection. Preparing these materials may seem like a small task, but it plays an important role in ensuring the groups run smoothly and that women have resources they can refer back to throughout the course.
Reaching out to women through our Ministry of Justice project
Later in the day, I focused on our work as part of a Ministry of Justice-funded project.
I spent around two hours making phone calls to women who had been arrested in recent weeks. The purpose of these calls is to explain the support available through Alana House and explore whether they would like to engage with our service.
Every conversation is different. Some women simply want information, while others are ready to take the next step. Today, one woman was interested in finding out more about what we offer. We talked through the areas where we can provide support, including practical help, emotional wellbeing and our group programmes. By the end of the conversation, we completed a referral together, helping her begin her journey with Alana House.
Reflecting on the day
From processing referrals and learning from colleagues to preparing group resources and speaking directly with women about support opportunities, every part of my role contributes to helping Alana House provide a welcoming and effective service.
While much of my work happens behind the scenes, it’s rewarding to know that every referral logged, resource prepared and phone call made helps women access the support they need to move forward with confidence. That’s what makes every day at Alana House so meaningful.
