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From the frontline – community health officer Emily King
Emily King, community health officer at WHG, tells us about her work improving children’s well-being and her secret love of boybands
Tell us about your job.
I work in local primary schools across Walsall promoting health and well-being to children and their families.
I deliver a range of programmes, such as confidence-building and leadership for children, weight management, healthy eating and physical activity sessions.
How did you get into housing?
I joined WHG in 2010 as a community champion. They were looking for someone with experience in delivering coaching and sports sessions to the local community. I hadn’t long left school, after completing an A level in PE, so I applied. Being local, I also had an understanding of the areas I would be working in.
What is the best part of your job?
That’s a hard question as I love everything I do. I’m passionate about making a difference to people’s lives, whether it be a child, a parent, a grandparent or a member of the community. It’s amazing how small changes can have such a big impact on their lives and their family’s lives.
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What’s the worst part?
The worst part is seeing how families and children in deprived areas of Walsall struggle. I’ve also witnessed a growing number of children with mental illnesses and there’s no funding in schools to support them.
What would your superpower be?
If I could choose any superpower it would be the ability to split myself into more than one person so I could support more schools and families on a daily basis.
What would you change about the housing sector?
There are too many individuals out there who will never get a mortgage due to having previous bad credit. A scheme or programme that could help these people would be great.
If you could be prime minister for the day, what would you do?
I would invest more money in primary schools in order to improve playground facilities, such as building astroturf pitches or providing a multi-use games area. I’d also train teachers to provide sports sessions at break times and encourage children to take part.
I would invest in mental health services within schools and train selected members of staff to provide 1:1 or family support.
What’s the most private thing you’d be willing to admit to your colleagues?
There isn’t much that my team don’t know about me, except that I was a secret One Direction fan. I was absolutely gutted when they split up. I guess I’ll have to settle for Westlife’s reunion tour.
