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Meet Sarah Evans, Liverpool Service Manager, Big Life Liverpool
“Being given the opportunity to design, develop, deliver, and review a service has been mind-blowing. I’ve learned so much.”
We asked Sarah to tell us about her journey before joining Big Life. Here’s what she had to say:
“When I was young, my dream was to be a Primary School teacher; that was my goal throughout school. But on results day, I didn’t get the grades I needed. I passed only a few of my GCSEs and had to pivot quickly. I ended up studying Business Administration and worked in an office for a year before moving into Youth Work, specifically drug and alcohol education. This experience led me to realise I wanted to work hands-on in this field.”
Sarah explained her current role as Liverpool Service Manager and what a typical day looks like for her:
“My role centers on managing the service user involvement hub. We gather people’s stories to empower them and bring about systemic change. Through the hub, we support homeless, drug and alcohol, and domestic abuse partnership teams. We also have Big Life Homes in Liverpool, providing housing for people who’ve experienced homelessness, and the Big Issue is sold out of our hub.
My days are rarely ‘typical’! I might be supporting a service user, handling referrals, or sitting in external meetings to make sure that people’s voice are heard. Some days I’ll talk with someone about their night on the streets, help a client with housing benefits, sit on a multidisciplinary team meeting, and then discuss trends with commissioners in the drug and alcohol scene – and it’ll only be 11am! The variety is what I love most, and I work closely with commissioners on the design and delivery of our services. Every day feels new, which keeps me engaged.”
When asked what she enjoys most about Big Life’s culture, Sarah responded:
“I love the culture of ‘people, not problems’ – it’s so countercultural and yet so important. This approach flows from the leadership team to every staff member, and to the individuals we support. When I hear about other work environments, I feel so fortunate to be part of a culture that genuinely lives its values and adheres to the Big Life Way.”
We also asked Sarah how Big Life supports her personal and professional development:
“Big Life has always encouraged my development. I completed a degree in 2009 through a workplace program, which was a great milestone in my career, and now I’m taking the Multi-Modality Practitioner (MMP) course. I read a lot of personal development books and discuss them with my manager during supervisions, and I’ve even had a few coaching sessions. The development opportunities here are fantastic.
I believe it’s essential to look for growth pathways ourselves and bring those to our managers. Clear communication really helps us achieve our aspirations and make the most of these resources.”
Finally, we asked Sarah what advice she’d give to someone considering joining Big Life and what potential employees should know:
“I would encourage anyone to consider if their values align with Big Life’s – if they do, I’d strongly recommend joining. The experience is incredibly rewarding, and it provides real opportunities to make a big impact on others while growing your own career.
My advice? Embrace all the opportunities here. Visit other services to see how they operate, find a mentor, and learn from others. Remember to enjoy yourself – we spend so much time at work, it’s essential to have fun too!”
