Meet Alina
Meet Alina, the newest member of the Phase family! From her roots in Sumy, Ukraine, to her passion for sourdough baking and community events in Hitchin, Alina joins us as Operations and Engagement Manager. Discover how her heart for wellbeing and resilience is shaping her journey with Phase.
Hello everyone, my name is Alina and I’m delighted to be starting my journey with Phase as Operations and Engagement Manager. Some of you may have seen me at Phase events or during workshops in schools where I’ve been volunteering.
If this is the first time we’re meeting, you might notice my Ukrainian accent. I’m from Sumy, a lovely city in northeastern Ukraine. I grew up there, graduated from university with a degree in Translation and Interpreting (English and German), got married, worked as a translator, served in my local Baptist church and volunteered at a local dog shelter.
I love animals. I miss our dog, Richard, and our cat, Alice, who stayed in Sumy with our parents. That’s one of the reasons my husband and I do pet sitting from time to time – it lets us combine the joy of travelling with looking after pets.
I enjoy gardening and baking, especially sourdough bread with a good crunchy crust - don’t forget I’m from a ‘bread’ country! I like travelling and discovering new places. I also enjoy learning new things, attending conferences and workshops, and growing both spiritually and mentally. I recently graduated from ARU in Cambridge with a master’s degree in International Relations.
I’m a member of Walsworth Road Baptist Church in Hitchin and I enjoy both taking part in and helping to organise events for the local community. It’s wonderful to see families coming together. I’ve even hosted a few fundraising quizzes – skills I hope will be useful in my work with Phase.
In my previous role as an interpreter for the NHS, and for both public and private sector organisations, I supported young people and adults during NHS appointments, mental health assessments and sessions, talking therapy, and bereavement appointments. I always tried to do my best to support their wellbeing and to provide the best service possible, showing that I was there for them in their native language. This strongly aligns with Phase’s mission: to work alongside young people to promote their wellbeing and resilience.
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