I am delighted to be the new Chief Executive Officer at Home-Start Stroud and Gloucester and am looking forward to using my skills and experience across programme design, media, communications, and charity leadership to support families and children in the area. My background includes founding and running an award-winning children’s book company focused on inclusion, leading national campaigns and partnerships with organisations including Save the Children, KPMG, and Samaritans, and working in residential projects in the North East, where I focused on safeguarding, working with families and young children facing complex challenges. I care deeply about supporting families and communities, and it’s an honour to lead this fantastic team of dedicated staff and volunteers.

Working alongside the Board of Trustees, I’m committed to helping deliver on our ambitions for the families we serve, building brighter futures for children and strengthening the local networks that support them.

I’m an experienced early year professional with over 20 years of working directly with young children and families and providing quality improvement guidance to Early Years settings as well as training apprentices. I’ve always had a strong interest in how children grow, learn, and make sense of the world—especially through play.

I’ve completed a wide range of professional development, including a BA (Hons) in Early Years and L6 certificate in Working Together for Children. I keep up to date on key topics such as Safeguarding and EEDI and complete additional training to assist my work – such as Trauma-Informed Support, Suicide Awareness, Sleep Training and Fuel Poverty Awareness.

My approach to my work is accepting, empathetic and always friendly. I hope this makes families feel valued and enables them to make positive changes for themselves and their children.

I’ve worked at Home Start Stroud & Gloucester since 2016, initially joining a team to expand services into Quedgeley. Our team has grown, and we are now supporting families in Gloucester with Home Visiting and Group support.

I love being a mum, parenthood is a privilege, joyful, rewarding and, at times, challenging. My passion is to share the joys and support the challenges with families under stress. To give the space for this, knowing that childhood is fleeting.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy re- loving items with upcycling, I play with glass fusion and relax being on my narrow boat, taking a slower pace to life for a while. Having my family around the dinner table is a favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I left the NHS after over 25 years as an Occupational Therapist to join Home Start. For most of my career, I specialised in mental health working with women to help improve their daily level of functioning and increase their support systems. My last role in the NHS was in the perinatal team. I supported women adjusting to the demands and intensity of early motherhood by helping them to develop the lovely ‘mothering occupations. 

My job in the perinatal team was made easier knowing I could refer my families to the specialist and unique services of my local Home Start. 

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and sharing the wonderful ‘co occupations’ that have evolved over the years. 

Your journey with Home-Start might just begin with me-whether you give our lovely office a ring or drop me an email to say you are interested in our groups or referring, either way I’ll be here to help get you started.

A little bit about me…I started with Home Start in 2015 as a trained volunteer and loved every minute. My journey then led me to supporting our Best Start post-natal groups and being a parent myself, I could completely relate to those previous challenging and sometimes overwhelming days of getting to know your baby and yourself as a new parent. I then hopped on board the admin team and now help steer the ship behind the scenes for our groups and processing referrals, making sure everything runs smoothly.

When I am not ‘sailing’ you’ll often find me walking up mountains, exploring coast paths, or spending quality time with my family.

If I could share one message with every new parent, it would be:

“You don’t need to have it all figured out, just take one cuddle, one deep breath and one day at a time.

As a father of two, I know how important it is for dads to feel supported and connected. I joined Dad Matters Gloucestershire to help break down barriers, reduce isolation, and ensure every dad knows they are valued and not alone. I’m passionate about providing peer support and advocacy so fathers can confidently navigate parenting.

Following the birth of twin girls, I took a career change and completed an Early Years Degree. That was the start of a 25-year journey in the field of early childhood development and family support. I am a trained Baby Massage Practitioner, with additional training in counselling, parenting strategies, domestic abuse, mental health, and Special Education Needs.

At home I enjoy spending time with my family, and two daft spaniels. I also love running with a keen interest in parkruns, (it’s never too far for a 5k !)

I am a dad of 4 children. I’m privileged to work for the Dad Matters team in supporting Dads within the county. I am passionate about men’s mental health and supporting them in their parenting journey. Dad’s need to know that they are important too.

I arrived at Home-Start in April 2017 following seven years in primary education and 5 1/2 years in children centres across the Stroud district.

I feel very privileged to be the first group worker at Home-Start Stroud and Gloucester and to watch our group services significantly evolve since 2017.  I’m a mum to 2 boys and their early arrivals into this world significantly shaped my experience of parenting, as well as empathy and understanding of other people’s parenting paths and challenges.

I’m honoured to deliver some of our postnatal groups, to meet and support so many parents and their children across Stroud and Gloucester. We have an incredible team of staff and volunteers who are passionate about listening to and nurturing local families.

Outside of work, you will usually find me at the side of a rugby pitch or walking my 2 cheeky dogs in the countryside.

I am the group coordinator for our ‘Mothers in Mind’ groups and I also coordinate the PLAY-START sessions @ The Arkell in Nailsworth. What a privilege it is to meet the families and parents that I do from the county. I am always amazed and proud to see the incredible parenting that families give their children during sometimes challenging times in their lives.

Importantly, I am a mum to a little angel who is now turning 2! Being a mum is my biggest gift and greatest achievement so far! I didn’t have a good time with my mental health after he was born, but running groups and meeting mums who have also had difficult times reminds me that sometimes we just need to be heard and to support each other to get through!

I am a registered Social Worker and my background before now was Adult Mental Health and Adult Social Care. I really believe in quality Social Work and the positive impact it can have on peoples lives. I am and think I will always be a ‘Social Worker’ no matter where life takes me.

I joined Home-Start in 2019, shortly after my daughter turned one. My background includes a degree in Illustration and early roles in catering and retail, before moving into work with children, young people, and families across Bristol for many years.

I’ve held a range of roles in Youth Work, Family Support, Youth Justice, and Alternative Education, all of which strengthened my passion for early intervention and creative, holistic support.

Joining Home-Start was a pivotal moment, bringing together my experience and creativity in a meaningful way. I continue to develop my understanding of maternal mental health as I recognise the complex emotional landscape that comes with the transition to motherhood.

I have undertaken ongoing training to enhance my practice, including in Mental Health, Additional Needs, Domestic Abuse, Suicide Prevention and LGBTQ+ awareness.

I previously supported the Mothers in Mind project in Gloucester—something I still love to be part of when I can.

I joined Home-Start in 2021 as Best-Start Groups Coordinator, running groups in Stroud & Gloucester areas. Prior to my appointment as a member of staff, I volunteered with the organisation for nearly 4 years, supporting families as well as antenatal and postnatal groups. Being a volunteer allowed me to see firsthand the exceptional work of the Home-Start staff, who I now get to work alongside.

Throughout my time with Home-Start I continuously attend training to broaden my understanding and skills set, including baby massage, play, and infant mental health.

As a mother of two I remember and understand the challenges of becoming a parent, and I feel a huge sense of pride that I get to walk alongside the families we support in groups for a little part of their parenting journey.

Outside of work I enjoy pottering in the garden, spending time with family/friends and have recently got back into roller skating!