Deirdre is Student Development Manager at Queen’s University Belfast. Joining the university in 2014, she was the main contact for Care Experienced young people and students until 2019. Deirdre developed and implemented the framework supporting the growing number of care-experienced students at Queen’s. Working together with care experienced students they have delivered interventions that inform, inspire and raise awareness of care experienced learner. Deirdre set up Reading Together in partnership with the South Eastern Trust, and the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work and Queen’s students.
Prior to working at Queen’s, Deirdre was the Assistant Director for Aimhigher Greater Merseyside and the strategic lead for Care Experienced young people. Deirdre set up the Care Leavers into HE network and worked with colleagues across HE institutions, supporting their applications for the Buttle Quality Mark. Deirdre was also a member of the National Advisory Group, leading the Buttle UK Quality Mark pilot for Further Education Colleges. In 2004, Deirdre set up Superstars. The programme brought together care-experienced learners in year 10 from the six Greater Merseyside Local Authorities providing academic, mentoring and pastoral support as they progressed through their GCSE year.
Deirdre is delighted to be a member of the NNECL Quality Mark assessor team.