I'm Vicky Dreya, I am the Academy community pioneer for Co-op Academy Grove.

Hi! I'm Vicky Dreya, and I joined Co-op Academy Grove in 2022. I started with the Pastoral Team, then moved to a Teaching Assistant role, and also worked in the main office. Before coming to Grove, my primary focus was with SEN and Alternative Provision schools. And before I transitioned into working in schools, I had a career in community and hospital pharmacy.

What truly attracted me to being a Community Project Worker is the direct impact you can have on people's lives and the opportunity to empower individuals within their own communities. I'm drawn to roles where I can help identify needs, facilitate solutions, and see the positive change unfold firsthand. There's a real satisfaction in supporting people to develop their skills and build stronger, more resilient communities. My connection to and fondness for Co-op Academy Grove, Co-op Academy Northwood, and Co-op Academy Hamilton, in particular, makes this role even more meaningful to me; I'm passionate about contributing directly to the well-being and growth of the families and communities I know so well.

Since I started, a truly special highlight for me has been creating stronger links between the academy and the wider community. It's incredibly rewarding to build those bridges. There are many exciting projects in the pipeline stemming from this work, and I can't wait to share them with everyone as they progress!

If somebody was considering the same role in another academy within the Trust, I'd tell them, 'Absolutely go for it!' This has truly been one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had. If you're passionate about making a real difference, you'll find incredible satisfaction in this role within the Trust.

If I could describe your time here in 3 words, they would be, dynamic, hard-work, fun!

Yours co-operatively,
Vicky