Lynette Whitehouse
Lynette Whitehouse, Security Support Officer reflects on giving back to her local community and supporting students across campus.
Lynette Whitehouse, Security Support Officer in Security Services, Estates and Facilities Management
Lynette first joined the University in 2020 as part of Security Services. She has had a varied career, starting in the British Army as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, serving two operational tours in Cyprus and Northern Ireland.
During her time in the Army Reserves, Lynette was awarded the British Army’s Sports Person of the Year and received her Army Colours for her participation and work with the Army’s karate team. Lynette is also a double silver medallist at the WUKF World Karate Championships.
Lynette and her husband have gone on to start a not-for-profit karate club in her local community in Rotherham. Through karate, the club helps people build their confidence, gain fitness, self-control, discover mutual respect, learn self-defence and find courage and achievement.
Lynette reflects on giving back to her local community and supporting students across campus:
“When I look back at what I’ve done over the years, the goal has always been to give back to the community by helping others.
“I go at it by putting the people first, because no matter what situation it is you don’t know what they’re going through. When working with students, we deal with lots of different situations from mental health, to first aid and putting a plaster on a finger or just letting someone back into their apartment. We’re there to help them, however we can, and maybe my maternal instinct to look after people is also part of that.
“I didn’t actually start competing in karate competitions until I was 36. I took a short break from practising but soon started up again and managed to get my children and husband involved as well.
“We set up a Karate club a few years ago. We’re not a huge club, and I don’t want us to be huge to be honest. It’s a non-profit club for our local community.
“For all the students who are part of the club, we just want them to be the best versions of themselves and to be better than what they were yesterday. You can see people grow and evolve within a couple of sessions; they may come through the door as a quiet person and very quickly you can see their confidence grow.
“Some students want to compete and others want to grade but for me, seeing them get their belts and their confidence grow is so lovely. It’s the best payment ever, to be honest!”
Thank you to all the women for taking the time to share their stories and reflections and for providing the information featured on these web pages.