Season 9 · Episode 112 · 28 Jan 2026
112 - Rachel Woolf
With Rachel Woolf
“"I said to Islington Council, If you give me a building, I think I can fill it in about three or four weeks. I filled it in three days, so after that, I knew there was a need"”
Reflections
Q1: Place
If we could do a flypast on any part of the world that is significant to you, which place, city or country would it be and why?
Parents home in Gloucestershire UK
Q2: Life
Give us a glimpse into your life story so far with an emphasis on what you are doing currently?
I went to Cambridge University and I worked in the city as a PA. Lived and worked in London, got married and I loved my life. But the culture just wasn't me. It didn't speak to who I was as a person and what I wanted to do with the privilege that I'd been given. I needed something with more purpose and something that I would be proud to say that I did day in day out. So I started volunteering with Karis winter night shelter in Islington, and it was the highlight of my week and I took a job actually coordinating that winter night shelter. I've have also worked in mentoring and befriending and drug and alcohol rehabilitation and then then realised that there was a huge gap in the sector. For people who don't have a place to store their belongings when they suffer from homelessness, street homelessness, eviction, going out of prison, fleeing domestic abuse. Today, Street Storage is the only UK storage provider of free and accessible safe storage for people experiencing homelessness. We have six staff and developing the work nationally.
Q3: Reset
Where on earth is your place or reset or re-charge?
A bath and good sleep
Q4: Wonder
What wonder of the natural world excites you the most?
The serenity of Mount Rainier in Washington State
Q5: Hopefulness
What is your story of hopefulness (not your own) about a person, business or non-profit who are doing amazing things for the world?
Location
Flyover
Parents home in Gloucestershire UK
Guest
London