Meet Hannah L.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Born in Bath, I left in my 20s to work abroad as a scuba diving instructor and pearl diver (!). When I returned to the UK, I worked as a scenic artist for a few years, before studying Media Arts at university. I’ve since worked in the TV industry as a Senior Producer, joined the Big Lottery Fund as a Communications Officer.
I then moved into the world of brand, design and marketing, working for agencies in Marketing and Account Director roles. For the past two years, I’ve been freelancing as a Marketing Consultant. Alongside this I also co-host The Marketing Meetup Bristol & Bath and am Comms Lead for TEDxBath.
I’m also passionate about side projects! Over the years, these projects have taken many different forms, but one in particular has been consistent - renovating properties. A year ago I set up a renovation business with my husband - Besley&Co - so I now run this alongside my freelance work.
What inspired you to join Bath Women's Fund?
I first heard of Bath Women’s Fund through a friend, who was a member, and then got the opportunity to help with their marketing. As I got to know the organisation, I very quickly realised that our values aligned, especially around bringing people together to make a difference, and I really wanted to be more involved. I am incredibly proud to be part of an organisation supporting local women and girls and have found one of my greatest pleasures since joining, has been attending the events and learning from amazing women about issues that impact local women and girls, now and historically. It has been a fascinating experience so far and I have learnt so much!
What are the issues that you are most passionate about?
I am passionate about building inclusive communities where people come together, without judgement, to ignite new thinking, collaborate, learn from and support each other. I’m also passionate about education, equality and diversity, particularly in schools and the workplace, to ensure everyone is encouraged, supported and given the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.
What would you be most interested in learning about as a Bath Women's Fund member?
Having worked in the charity sector on and off over the years, I have always been interested in social issues and giving back to the community, but had never heard of Giving Circles, so am interested in learning more about the power of collective giving.
I’m also really interested in learning more about the impact women have had on the local community over the years and how we can continue to bring about positive change.
What is your favourite place/thing to do in and around Bath?
I have always loved the Fashion Museum, it’s a place I would visit every time I came back to Bath. I absolutely love the combination of art, fashion and history, so cannot wait for the new museum to reopen, it’s going to be incredible! Alongside that, I love theatre -I regularly go to the Theatre Royal Bath and The Egg, there have been some fantastic open-air performances in the garden of the Holburne Museum and the recent production of Jerusalem at The Mission Theatre was incredible. I also love art exhibitions, attending art classes at Bath Artists Studios and I’ll never tire of walking, cycling or paddle-boarding in and around the city!