Staff Stories: Anna McKay - Assistant Coordinator, Emmaus Leeds
"I am one of 3 Assistant Coordinators at Emmaus Leeds. I have been here since August 2007 after spending just over a year as Deputy Coordinator at Emmaus Greenwich, moving up to Leeds after a family tragedy. As an Assistant Coordinator we tend to be the frontline in supporting Companions and managing the social enterprise on a day-to-day basis.
The content of each day can be quite varied and depends on the current opportunities and challenges we are dealing with as a Community. Recently we have started trading at the indoor market in Leeds so I have been working with the Companions to prepare and successfully launch our stall. My day is usually focused on Companion or Community matters such as supporting Companions in their personal development, dealing with disciplinary issues, interviewing potential new Companions, hosting visits and reviewing operational issues.
I love the challenge and variety of my role. I have always wanted to work doing something that I felt made the world a better place. I left Cambridge University in 1998 and after working and travelling in Africa I joined a graduate trainee programme with Waitrose. It was excellent management training and I worked for 5 years as a deputy store manager for various different stores. I loved working for John Lewis and enjoyed the fast-paced, people-focused environment of supermarket retail but I ultimately felt I wanted to do something more worthwhile. When I discovered Emmaus I leapt around my home I was so excited, I’d finally found what I was looking for.
Emmaus gives people the space and encouragement to move forward in their lives, in whatever way is right for them. It provides a structured environment with clear boundaries to enable people to live and work together in a considerate and constructive way. Being an Assistant Coordinator isn’t an easy job, there are lots of challenges and heartaches along the way, but the joy of seeing people blossoming and achieving together makes it all worthwhile for me."
