About Sophie
What sets me apart
I’m standing for selection because I’m ready to win back Hallam. Here are the reasons selectors tell me they trust me to lead this campaign:
I was born and raised right here in Sheffield Hallam.
I have campaigned over the last decade from the grassroots to national elections.
I’m a trusted voice on social care - the party's biggest campaign issue.
I can hit the ground running, with local and national media experience and a professional fundraising background.
I am driven by fairness, dignity, and respect.
Personal life
I met my husband, Kurtis, during the 2016 Sheffield local elections. We married in 2024 and live in Sheffield with our rescue dog, Fidget.
My family still live locally, and I’m grateful for the strong ties I have across Hallam. We’re often with relatives, enjoying time together and keeping grounded in the community we love.
Outside politics, I like simple things – going for walks, spending time with Kurtis and Fidget. We’re big music fans, so we love to support local events. Sheffield is my home, and I never take that for granted.
What drives me, both personally and politically, is the belief that everyone deserves to live with dignity and independence. From my family’s struggles with health, to my career in social care, to my time as a councillor, that belief has guided me. It’s why I’m proud to stand for Sheffield Hallam – the community that has always been my home.
My early life in Hallam
I was born and raised in Sheffield Hallam. I grew up in Crosspool, Fulwood, and Ecclesall, attending Lydgate Infants, Lydgate Juniors, and Tapton School. My family roots run deep here – my granddad ran the Esquire Club in the 1960s, which later became the Leadmill.
Life wasn’t always simple. Both my parents faced serious health challenges. I spent much of my childhood in Sheffield’s hospitals, where I learnt how much the NHS and social care mean to families like mine. It meant I got to have my dad around as I was growing up. I know firsthand just how important it is to protect our local NHS and care services.
At times I lived between my mum, dad, and grandma’s homes. Above all, that taught me resilience, as well as the value of family and community.
Throughout all of this, school was a safe place for me. I worked hard and achieved strong grades, but it was here that I got involved in my earliest community action, helping to start Tapton’s first LGBTQ+ support club.
For my school work experience, way before I got into campaigning, I was fortunate to get a placement in Nick Clegg’s office in Nethergreen. I saw just how hard the team worked, how well things were run, and how well represented our community was under a Lib Dem MP.
I learnt from an early age that it doesn’t matter where you come from, life can throw challenges your way. And if there is a system strong enough to support you, you can succeed. These early experiences shaped me, showing that everyone deserves dignity, fairness, and support, no matter their circumstances.
University and my political beginnings
I studied International Relations and Political Science at the University of Birmingham. I got to live in Uppsala, Sweden, through the Erasmus programme, so it’s hardly surprising I have always been something of a europhile! My dissertation explored the impact of Brexit on the NHS, connecting global politics to everyday life here in Hallam.
In 2015, I joined a delegation to Bosnia, where I met survivors of the Srebrenica genocide. Standing at the memorial in Potočari was life-changing. I saw what happens when division goes unchecked. I also saw the most unparalleled human forgiveness, with survivors dedicating their lives to advocating for peace, unity and tolerance. After that trip, I joined the Liberal Democrats as the party of fairness, dignity and democracy.
At university, I became active in the Remain campaign, serving as Campaigns Officer and later Chair of the University Lib Dems. I led teams to by-elections across the country, learning how to run grassroots campaigns and develop strong volunteer teams.
In 2016, I stood in my first election as a candidate in Sheffield.
By 2018, I was standing for Birmingham City Council, determined to be a voice for internationalism, against division and to stand up for my neighbours. That campaign taught me everything – from writing and producing leaflets, to organising big positive Action Days which attracted volunteers to help from across the country.
My career – from fundraising to social care
I started my career in charity fundraising, working for organisations like Books Beyond Words and later as a professional bid writer for the NHS and health charities. I secured funding from sources like the National Lottery, charities, and large NHS tenders. This gave me the skills to make direct asks, write persuasive cases for support, and build lasting donor relationships – skills that are vital for any parliamentary candidate.
But I wanted to be more hands-on. In 2020, I joined Sheffield Mencap & Gateway, where I now lead projects supporting children and adults with learning disabilities. I’ve also run activities across Sheffield and Derbyshire with other local charities.
Because politics and campaigning are so important to me, I made the choice to work part-time in social care. That balance means I can dedicate the rest of my week to serving my community as a councillor and campaigning for change.
Political leadership
In 2021, I was elected as a Sheffield City Councillor for Beauchief & Greenhill, and in 2024 I was re-elected with an increased majority.
On the Council, I’ve campaigned hard for better housing repairs, ADHD assessment waiting times, and support for carers. I serve as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Adult Health & Social Care and as an NHS Governor, giving me experience at both the local and strategic level.
I was also one of our six candidates in the 2019 European Parliament elections for Yorkshire & the Humber. My focus was engaging young people across the region in Sheffield, York, Harrogate and Leeds. It was an absolute privilege to stand alongside Shaffaq Mohammed and get him elected as an MEP, in a campaign that strengthened my belief in internationalism and gave me experience reaching out beyond Sheffield to diverse communities.
I’ve led on winning campaigns locally too – from securing home improvements for struggling council tenants, to leading mobilising volunteers for the Woodhouse by-election, where we beat Reform.
Through every role, I’ve put residents first. My political leadership is rooted in action, delivery, and values.
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