More than just a job: Chanise Armstrong
Over the fifteen years we’ve been in existence we’ve collected a rather wonderful group of people who bring their skills and experience to our projects. Our freelance team is one of the aspects that make Digital Voice stand out from the crowd.
This week we caught up with Chanise Armstrong, project worker and administrative assistant for Digital Voice as well as a youth worker and freelance creative. Chanise tells us all about her own career journey and why she thinks of this work as much more than just a job.
After completing her degree in Contemporary Media in London, Chanise returned to her native North-East not entirely sure what her next steps would be. The opportunity to do a business apprenticeship with Digital Voice came up and she jumped at the chance:
“From that [apprenticeship] I have grown and learned so much from working here. Five years on from my first day and I feel like I am part of something that is so incredibly important and a team that values everything everyone does for the company. I have grown in confidence and am now starting to lead on courses which is something I only dreamed of when I first started; all of this is thanks to the support I have been given throughout my journey with Digital Voice.”
Chanise has had a number of roles with the organisation and has been able to grow and develop whilst also enabling other people to share their stories.
“I love seeing how much Digital Voice has an impact on people. It is always so humbling to know you are helping people tell their stories and get their voices heard in a world that is difficult to feel included or listened to.”
Her passion for the work is clear, nowhere more than when she describes a personal career highlight.
“I worked on the first virtual DigitalMe we did with NEPACS [North East Prison After Care Society] when we couldn’t be face to face as it was right in the middle of the pandemic. I remember a moment where a young person said she wished older people who were in the same situation as her would talk about it more and help reassure her, so, in that moment I told her about my experiences and how things can get much better. I will never forget that and how much it helped me to know I was using my lived experience to help them.”
And what’s next for Chanise?
“My current focus is ensuring the sustainability and future of Chopwell Youth Club, it has become such a big part of my life that I want to make sure we are still around for many many years to come. It is a huge asset to the young people of the village who often have nothing to do.”
We’re pretty sure it’s in safe hands.
Chanise’s most recent work with the Youth Club involved the beloved Choppy the Wallaby, read more about him and the films made here.