Credits

INTERVIEW
Helen Richardson-Smith
BALANCING ACT
Helen Richardson-Smith is a space planning specialist for Virgin Money, designing the office
interiors for the bank. In her spare time, Helen is involved in the fast-paced contact sport, roller
derby
at current trends and love finding new, exciting
furniture.
It was my husband who suggested I take up roller
derby. I attended a beginners’ session in February
2014. It takes 15 weeks to learn the minimum skills
required, but unfortunately I failed to make the
grade on my first attempt. I was gutted, but by then
I had the bug and didn’t give up. I tried again in
2015 and was delighted to pass. It has been a long
journey but I have loved every minute.
Roller derby is played on quad skates with teams
of five players taking and skating in the same
direction.
Game play consists of a series of short match-ups,
or jams, in which each team designates a jammer,
who seeks to score points by going all-out to lap
members of the opposing team. The other team
members attempt to physically block and stop the
opposition’s jammer and in doing so assist their
own player to score more points.
Like any other contact sport, there are impacts and
there is a chance that you could get injured. We
wear protective gear to minimise the risk, including
safety helmets, mouth guards and wrist guards, plus
elbow and knee pads.
I play for Newcastle Roller Girls and train up to
four times per week; games are held throughout
the year. Our home venue is the Walker Activity
Dome in Newcastle.
i
VIRGIN MONEY
uk.virginmoney.com
Newcastle Roller Girls holds
a new skater intake each
year. For details visit www.
newcastlerollergirls.org.uk
86
I
design office interiors with the aim of
providing Virgin Money colleagues with the
best workspace possible. I have to consider
layout, interior design, space utilisation and
furniture requirements, ensuring that the space
is used to its maximum efficiency, as well as being
practical, fun and on brand.
Virgin is a cool, fun and exciting brand that is
instantly recognisable across the world and it’s
important that this comes through in our interiors.
We look to innovate and do new and exciting
things; we never stand still. I’m always looking
The sport is growing in Newcastle. There’s a male
team called Tyne & Fear and a new junior league
in Newcastle. There are also teams in Sunderland,
Durham and Middlesbrough. We play teams across
the UK and have played against American and
European sides.
Roller derby is a grassroots sport, so the league is
run entirely by volunteers and we all work hard to
raise funds to cover things like team travel and kit.
Roller derby is suitable for all ages, shapes
and sizes, but you do need to be 18 to play for
Newcastle Roller Girls or Tyne & Fear.