I am a freelance journalist specialising in social affairs and lifestyle. 

I worked as a staff reporter for the Southwark News and the South London Press. Here, I covered everything from hard news to restaurant reviews and reported on issues of national importance. 

My ability to build relationships quickly translates into colourful and exclusive stories. An example is my front page scoop about Charles, an asylum seeker who fled kidnap and torture for his LGBT activism in his native Senegal. 

I was awarded the Journalism Diversity Fund in 2017 to train at Press Association. I was selected for the award by a panel of senior editors from the BBC, the Guardian and the Financial Times.

In my 'other life', I work for a national homelessness charity. During my career, I've worked for leading UK charities in the fields of mental health, HIV and diversity and inclusion. 

I'm a trained copywriter and have written text for acclaimed photographer Martin Parr's exhibition space.  

I'm a (slow) marathon runner. I have recently acquired a bicycle but it mainly sits gathering dust because it turns out I have a pathological fear of London roads.

Contact

Email: kirstypurnellwrites@gmail.com

Tel: 07853 654 313

Twitter: @kirsty_purnell