We interviewed another amazing SG staff member for SG "Meet the Team," where our young people and I ask staff some questions to get to know them better.
This time, we chatted to Alison, our Online Support and Event Lead about why she joined SG, her favourite video games, and whether pineapple belongs on pizza!
What is your Job/ What do you do at SG?
My title is “online support lead / event lead” which means I support and train other staff, do safeguarding, and plan and run events. Luckily I also get to hang out with members too which means I moderate chats on Discord and help with Minecraft too, I also interact and play games with young people as well. I run the fortnightly Among Us events and monthly movie nights, which I enjoy and I also do some 1:1 mentoring in addition to my main role, which I love.
What’s something you’re good at / enjoy doing at SG?
I like everything! I enjoy hosting events, and connecting with the young people - just chilling with them in voice calls, having chats, or joining them in games. You will often find me enjoying a game of Trivia Bot or Power Wash Simulator in the Teen Server.
I enjoy spending time with all the adult staff too. Everyone brings different things to the team and I like how we all support each other with our different strengths and skills.
What’s your favourite thing you’ve worked on at SG?
The London and Manchester meetups are one of my favourite things. It was good to meet up with lots of young people that I had spoken to online and do fun activities with them. I really enjoyed Battersea Park and getting to go to the play park and hang out with everyone, and it is always enjoyable to watch Andy doing something stupid!
What’s something you’ve learned from working at SG?
There’s so much I’ve learned from SG that it is hard to choose - I think being able to realise that stuff that I may have learned from other places wasn't that great, and I am glad I have had the opportunity to learn how I can better support young people. I think I’m much more reflective now and I like how we are always working towards doing better as a team.
What motivated you to start working at SG?
I found SG by looking for an online community for my eldest daughter, who wanted to find other autistic people with shared lived experience. I was also looking for a job and I really wanted to work with young people and be able to make a difference. When I checked out the SG Facebook page I learned it was closed to new people, but their last post was an application form and I’ve never wanted a job so much!
What Is your favourite video game / type of video game?
My favourite video game is Disney Dreamlight Valley, but I also like Animal Crossing, games like Unpacking, A Little to the Left, Mario Odyssey - I like relaxing games like this as they help my brain decompress.
What Is your opinion on pineapple on pizza?
I love pineapple on pizza. It’s the best! Pineapple belongs with cheese, it's the law. That’s actually a party food thing I remember from my childhood - pineapple and cheese together on a cocktail stick, making a little hedgehog!
What Is a bizarre talent you possess?
I can do a Rubik’s Cube in less than two minutes! I saw someone online saying that they learned to do it over lockdown, and I decided that I could do it too. I went to Smith’s Toys the next morning, and spent 23 hours hyper-focused on this Rubik’s cube - didn’t sleep - and now I can do it! Now it’s my thing that I go to whenever I’m stressed, and it helps me feel calmer.
Actually there’s a Disney 100 Rubik’s Cube that I’m going to get. I keep putting it in my basket, and then I don’t buy it - it’s on offer as well, I’ll have to buy it now!
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