As an Artistic Director, you often feel you have to be indestructible. As a person with a certain amount of power, you should hold yourself to a high standard. Just occasionally, though, things get tough, and the pressure feels overwhelming. That’s when it is helpful to have a place outside your organisation where you can go and just be an individual who needs a little help.

I had a moment like this early on in my current job. The first year was extremely challenging, and my co-chief exec and I were carrying a lot of weight. I was already a member of SDUK, and Liz reached out to me, asking if I wanted to come in for a chat. I amazed myself by breaking down in that meeting and realised how vulnerable I was feeling. SDUK had my back. They organised for me to talk to someone about the trauma of that first year, covered the cost, and remained available with a sympathetic ear. It was genuinely life-changing for me to discover a place where I didn’t have to put on a brave front.

That is why I wanted to join the board of SDUK. Directors have power and need to be accountable, but we also struggle and need a place that is just for us. Where someone always has your back. That support helps us as individuals and hopefully equips us to pay the compassion and understanding forward into the industry. I know that for me, SDUK allowed me to take a breath, heal a little, and lead my organisation better.