Testimonials

Lara Hawkins, Senior Media Manager at Freedom from Torture

“I had the pleasure of working with Helen on Freedom from Torture’s recent art auction (which raised £251k), where she provided freelance PR support for us. She was an absolute delight to work with – professional, proactive and creative. She developed strong media angles, crafted compelling stories and secured great press coverage for the event. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for skilled and reliable PR support.”

Art Auction Freedom From Torture

Robin Deacon, Artistic Director of SPILL

“Helen Oldfield leads PR activity for SPILL, an internationally renowned performance festival and arts charity based in Ipswich, Suffolk. I worked closely with Helen on our most recent festival.., and she proved to be a valuable and supportive presence throughout. Whether organising a fantastic range of coverage with local, national and international reach or providing supportive briefings before live interviews on TV and radio, Helen was a brilliant asset in such a high-pressure festival context. It was wonderful to work alongside somebody who clearly believes in our organisation and what it is trying to achieve.”

Anna Pool, Director-Composer-Writer

“I hired Helen for an individual (PR) coaching session back in the late Spring of 2024. I felt very lucky to have lots of work as a composer, director and performer, but had noticed that I wasn’t necessarily getting asked to do the work that I really wanted and was unsure about where to focus.

A session with Helen really helped me work out the direction I wanted to take. Note only does working with Helen feel like she is always rooting for your success, but she actually gives meaningful, actionable steps to achieve your goals. For example, I redesigned my website and biography with a focus on the future, and emphasising elements of my work which would highlight why I was the suitable candidate for the roles I wanted. Being able to distil my work down into something I can describe and talk about has helped me no end and has already born fruit in success in funding applications and interviews. Thanks Helen!”

https://www.anna-pool.com

Aly Tipping. Executive Director, First Light Festival CIC

“Helen is.. a wonderful human who is an asset to any team…..always calm, always proactive. Making the impossible look effortless.

“Helen is an excellent PR consultant and coach with in-depth knowledge in the industry. She asks the questions that you’ve never really thought about, and isn’t afraid to challenge (in a good way and when needed). Helen has a cheerful disposition, is easy to work with and has a clear and defined approach. I would highly recommend her.”

Caz Slota, Director of Spark AM PM (Marketing lead at Brighton Fringe)

“Thank you so much for saving our bacon (and our sanity) at Brighton Fringe this year. We don’t know where we would have been without your talents, calm advice and macaroni cheese-making skills”.

Katrina Wood, CEO & Founder of MediaXchange Ltd (The TV Drama Accelerator).

“I hired Helen for PR Coaching to explore and drill down into all our sales and marketing data, to underpin a comms strategy that would enhance our clients’ customer experience -learning how other people outside our organisation perceive the MediaXchange brand and our offering, offering advice and recommendations on how better to stand out, through our newsletter and website messaging.

We worked together one to one on Zoom, or occasionally with me and a team member with responsibility for a particular part of our service. It was super easy to set up and keep up with the steps we agreed together.

I would hire Helen again the moment I had to plan our next phase in strategy for expanding our ambitions for enhancing and adding to our services. Her advice is invaluable in clarifying thinking and analysing marketing goals.”

John Ferguson, Commercial and Personal Branding Photographer

“I’ve had the pleasure of working and collaborating with Helen on a number of occasions now, and I can confidently say without doubt that the effort and commitment Helen puts into her assignments are second to none. She works tirelessly in producing the work required, making sure all corners are covered; from funding, organisation, local and national press exposure, to forging new and strong relationships between all concerned parties.

Helen’s name and brand are well known in the Suffolk and especially the Ipswich areas, where she has worked on and facilitated many diverse projects and groups, and all to great success, due to her unflinching determination and great organisational skills.

She’s a whirlwind of energy and exuberance, all executed with a broad smile and a happy face.

If you’re looking for a good, reliable and competent professional PR, then I have no hesitation in recommending Affinity PR, they’re sure to surpass all your expectations.”

www.johnfergusonphoto.com

Shelley Nott, Fine Art Photographer

“Helen really got to the heart of my business and what I’m trying to do. She analysed my strengths and produced a document that spurred me on to concentrate on what I should be doing and jettisoning what I don’t – I wish I had such a clear thinking brain. I found her incredibly easy to work with and flexible in both attitude and proposals. I had the distinct feeling of working as a team and feel I can pick up the phone to ask for the odd word of advice which is such an advantage in today’s changing environment.”

Shelley Nott Fine Art Photography

Catherine Riley, Head of Comms & Partnerships, Royal Society of Literature. Advisory Board of Primadonna Festival

“Helen took on local PR and audience development tasks for the 2022 edition of the Primadonna festival. She did fantastic work, securing print, online and broadcast (radio and TV) coverage across a range of titles and outlets as well as furthering our outreach into local businesses and arts organisations. She was key to the festival’s overall success, and provided invaluable help in further embedding Primadonna in Suffolk’s arts and culture scene.

Helen works with enthusiasm and energy, and was a pleasure to deal with at all times. We’re very grateful for all her excellent input and hope to work with her again in the future.”

Emily Balsdon, Immigration Advisor and Case Work Assistant, Norfolk Community Law Service & former Norfolk Community Advice Network Director

“Helen started by volunteering with NCAN during the first lockdown. She helped us start and develop our social media presence and offered PR coaching to our members. This was so important to us at a time when face-to-face engagement with vulnerable people was not an option. Following on from this we then offered Helen a paid role. She supports NCAN to enhance and deliver our social media platforms, provides advice and coaching to our members about how to engage the public and the press, and she also has supported us to create content for online and print publications. Nothing is too “silly” or big a question. From coaching about how to write a good Linked In post, to how to plan a fundraising campaign.

Continued…

Emily Balsdon, Immigration Advisor and Case Work Assistant, Norfolk Community Law Service & former Norfolk Community Advice Network Director

Helen is so easy to work with. She is both straightforward but nuanced in her approach and knows that one size does not fit all when it comes to working with charities. She manages to make comms and PR feel like something that is fun, worthwhile and achieveable rather than an additional, unachievable chore. Working remotely with Helen has been easy, she knows when it is best to email, call or WhatsApp.

She has added so much value to NCAN as a partnership. With her guidance we have gone from having zero social media presence to an active Facebook and Twitter. Most importantly she has helped us to reach people who can benefit from our advice and support, most recently throughout engaging with (our regional news publishers) in the “There With You This Winter” campaign. Helen’s approach means that our work is sustainable and that skills are developed within an organisation; she is always on the lookout to build skills and confidence within our staff so that we are able to develop ideas and action ourselves.”

Caroline England, Director of Featherbed Tales, beautifully illustrated and personalised digital storytelling books for children and young people.

www.featherbedtales.com

Rachel Rogers, Executive Producer at DaDaFest, Liverpool

“Helen was recommended to me by a colleague as someone who could confidently step in to a remote Producer’s role on our busy international festival. Working with Helen was great from the off – excellent and clear introductions and briefing, ensuring clarity around her role and responsibilities and forward planning to mitigate the limitations of being remote until the event itself. Super clear workflow process and detailed update / handover notes each week. Helen has a positive, solution focused approach and excellent communication, particularly around timelines and capacity, meaning achievable targets and definite delivery dates : ). Working with Helen in person on the event programme was even more fun. Unflappable and more than willing / capable to step up / step in wherever needed. Definitely looking forward to an opportunity to work together again!”

DaDaFest

Dave Powles, CEO of Norfolk Community Law Service and Norfolk Community Advice Network

“The team and I really enjoy working with Helen and her PR support for NCLS and NCAN has been vital over the years to helping us to increase awareness of the organisations and the issues our clients face. Helen is always full of tremendous ideas and has a great feel for what types of content a modern media is looking for across differing platforms. She is dogged and determined and has been a great advocate in general for the work we do.”

Norfolk Community Law Society

Galina Wilkinson, Head of Development & Communications, Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance

“I was delighted to be introduced to Helen Oldfield. Following a lengthy delay, we were relaunching a capital appeal to improve our facilities. With pressing deadlines (including planning permission) we were looking for someone to work with us at a fast pace to help write our case for support. We needed someone who could quickly understand who we are and what we were trying to achieve. Someone who could help us articulate our message in a powerful way. Helen did just that. From the start, she showed a genuine passion for wanting to understand everything about Rambert School. Her willingness to engage with us meant she was able to get to work quickly and write passionately and powerfully about our work. We were delighted with the results and the language she used is being embedded across our communications. Her warmth and approachable nature made her an absolute pleasure to work with and I hope to have more opportunities to further our partnership in the future. It is without hesitation that I would recommend Helen.”

Julia Cheng, West End and Broadway Choreographer of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (starring Eddie Redmayne). Street Dance Mentor for BBC Young Dancer 2022. Founder of House of Absolute, an all-female multidisciplinary powerhouse of creatives and artists (formerly Artists in Residence at The Philharmonia).

“I recently booked two hours of one-to-one consultancy with Helen, to review my own dance company’s brand and marketing assets, and to look expansively through my PR and messaging “blind spots”. It really has been one of the greatest investments and business choices I’ve made. I really appreciated the level of detail, invaluable knowledge and advice Helen gave me, in order to action positive changes in perceptions of me and my brand, with such profound impact. I now have a way to re-structure and implement changes that I had not thought about before. Helen’s honesty and sincerity is what I am grateful for, and she went above and beyond her call of duty in the research and preparation for that meeting. I am looking forward to continuing working with her again soon.”

Jane Dyball, Non-executive Director & Founder of Lafittes

“I have worked twice with Helen, in 2021 and in 2022, both times at Primadonna Festival where I am a Board member. Helen was our local Press and Audience Development rep. She secured 40+ pieces of press coverage in the six weeks before and during the festival, including live TV and radio broadcasts, dozens of interviews and editorial features. She also secured valuable publicity via partners, and a BBC radio show takeover where Primadonna Festival contributors gained all 3 hours of airtime.

My experience of working with Helen was extremely positive. I was involved in doing many of the radio and print interviews, and Helen always briefed me effectively ahead of each one, ensuring I was well-prepared and had guidance on which talking points to focus on without duplication of content. I noted that she had a really well-established and very cordial relationship with local media. She has a very strong work ethic, is good humoured and I look forward to working with her again.”

Remi Morrison, Director of Red Cactus Media

www.red-cactusmedia.com

Michelle Emmerson-Grey, former Head of Communications at New Wolsey Theatre

“Helen has the most fantastically fun and client-centred approach to her work – and that’s what makes her so inspirational and unique in her approach. I am always enthralled by Helen’s enthusiasm and creative ideas and would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a truly marvellous PR and communications guru.

As Head of Communications at the New Wolsey Theatre I knew exactly who to call when we needed an Interim Marketing Manager and substantial PR support for two major UK stage premieres. Helen was a fantastic colleague to work with at the theatre’s busiest time of the year; providing media liaison, managing press trips and writing informative, creative and engaging copy. We were so impressed with Helen’s work on the high-profile show Our Blue Heaven (in collaboration with Ipswich Town Football Club), that we were delighted she was available to assist us again for Once the Musical. Thanks to Helen’s exceptional input and innate ability to nuance messaging in order to attract extensive media interest, Once was a resounding success with the public and went on to tour the UK.

Helen’s reputation and expertise speaks for her; she is a thoroughly supportive individual and has always been an authentic, honest voice when I have needed support and guidance in my own career. I have no hesitation in recommending her work and I hope that we can work together again in the future.”

Steph Vidal-Hall, Facilitator and Coach at Making Meetings Matter

“I’ve known Helen for 3 or 4 years, and she came to me highly recommended by another creative founder. Helen has a real drive and attention to detail and she gently held my feet to the flame (with lots of supportive advice), until I’d finished the copy for my website (something I’d been putting off for years). She also made sure I knew exactly who my key client was before I started so I had a clear picture of my audience. I particularly appreciate Helen as someone who is neurodivergent – knowing this gave me the confidence to be myself and be clear about what I find difficult and what I need in a coaching relationship. If you have a marketing and PR challenge, then give Helen a ring!”

www.stephvidalhall.co.uk

Chris Cozens, Director of Life Arts Mind Body Spirit & Festivals

“I had the absolute pleasure of working with Helen Oldfield, and I can wholeheartedly say that she is a gem when it comes to professional Communications and PR support. Helen took complete charge of our Communications and Media Plan, helping us reach under-represented audiences with a well-thought-out strategy. She liaised seamlessly with media on our behalf, allowing us to focus on other essential tasks, and produced high-quality, engaging content for press releases, newsletters, and event programmes.

Helen’s dedication didn’t stop there – she went above and beyond by organising interviews, even stepping in to represent us on local radio when we couldn’t. Her efforts to network with community and charity organisations across Suffolk and Essex were incredible, fostering greater involvement in our events at Trinity Park. She even secured extra touches, like arranging complimentary support from local suppliers.
Helen is not only highly professional and talented but also a warm, kind soul. I have the utmost respect for her expertise and her ability to elevate any project she touches. I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone in need of top-tier communications and PR support. It’s been a privilege to work with Helen, and I know her skill set will be a true asset to any future events or organisations lucky enough to have her on board.”

https://lifearts.co.uk

Ann Osborn, CEO of The Rural Coffee Caravan

“Wholeheartedly recommend Helen as a PR and Comms expert. Highly respected and in much demand, we have been extremely fortunate to benefit from her work pro bono and she brings the same professional approach to that as she does to all her work. She is thorough, patient, listens well so she knows she fully understands what is required and then adds her own magic. She finds time for us no matter how busy she is and we are privileged to receive such a high standard of professional help and guidance with all our pr and comms needs. “

Rural Coffee Caravan

Jordan Holder, Head of Talent & Culture, East of England Co-op;

“I have known Helen for a few years and was introduced to her as being “The Queen of PR” and so when I met her, I had high expectations. Ever since, she has far exceeded my expectations and those of any clients we have collaborated on together. When it comes to branding, PR, marketing, strategy, digital and even Directing a crowdfunding film, Helen has been superb. In addition to Helen being an excellent PR guru, I look to her as a mentor and she has supported my own start-up business and aided us in branding and our key message. I could not recommend Helen enough; if you’re looking to take your business that next step and you need an expert with you, she’s the woman!”

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