Tom Brown CEO Expand Tom joined Green Light Trust at the beginning of 2013 to manage the Heritage Lottery Funded "Restoring the Repertoire" project. Having previously run his own arboriculture contracting company; he went on to eventually run the Arboriculture and Forestry department at Otley College. Tom also has experience of writing woodland management plans, and has written occupational standards for a number of awarding bodies. A member of the National Forestry Skills Forum, he has recently contributed to the development of the new Forestry Trailblazer apprenticeship. After almost six years at the Trust, and with the full approval and enthusiasm of our Founders, Tom took over as CEO in 2018.
Lauren Shand Operations Director Expand Over the last decade, Lauren has been working with communities and individuals to achieve meaningful outcomes. Lauren has experience in running multiple contracts within the Welfare to Work sector managing different teams to support individuals back into sustainable employment and volunteering opportunities. More recently Lauren has worked in the public sector managing a team of community development officers who have a broad range of specialisms, working with both communities of interest and place. Lauren specialised in health, wellbeing and vulnerability, bringing the Voluntary and Community voice into the wider health conversation. Lauren has worked with a vast array of communities and partners to deliver projects that have value and impact. One example of this is LifeLink a project which provides health coaching to residents across the West Suffolk area and links people in with fulfilling activities in their communities. Great outcomes will happen when there is an opportunity for people to come together to connect, learn and be part of a community. Lauren strongly believes all of those things have an impact on health and wellbeing and can genuinely change lives and communities for the better. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys exploring new destinations, long walks, training her dog and spending time with family and friends.
Alison Bone Finance Manager Expand Responsible for maintaining and developing the finance function of the Trust, Alison joined us late in 2018. Returning to Suffolk after several years away from the region, she has previously worked in the North East of the UK for a Health & Wellbeing charity. An AAT Qualified Bookkeeper, Alison has wide ranging and practical experience gained whilst working in different UK locations for charities, accountancy firms, as well as from running a small business with her husband. With a keen interest in the countryside and mental wellbeing, she is enjoying rediscovering West Suffolk and finding inspiration for her photography hobby.
Mandy Horne Head of Partnerships Expand Mandy joined Green Light Trust in May 2019 from a similar role with The Missing Kind charity, and having previously set up her own community interest company. Mandy has many years of experience in the corporate sector and moved into the charity sector in 2016 as she wanted to use her skills for good purpose. Mandy’s particular areas of interest include youth opportunity and emotional wellbeing support. Her role at Green Light Trust is to manage our funder and partner organisation relationships, with a focus on income generation for the charity, governance and reporting.
Rebecca Edgar Office & Administration Manager (Company Secretary) Expand Having previously run her own Complementary therapy business, Bec is passionate about the power of nature to positively impact mental health. She has been involved with Green Light Trust in various roles since joining the steering group for our very first Community-owned Wild Space project – 'Forest for Our Children' – in 1999. After completing her PTTLS course (preparing to teach in the adult learning sector) in January 2009 and her Level 3 Forest School Practitioner award in August 2014, Bec delivered a variety of GLT courses for several years working with all of our communities of interest. Bec became Office & Administration Manager and Company Secretary for the Trust in October 2018 and in June 2020 completed her Level 3 CIPD certificate in HR Practice & Management.
Andrew Brooks Delivery Manager - West Suffolk Expand Andrew joined our organisation after several years of training in Countryside Management, and brings a wide range of environmental skills and knowledge. From a part time role with the Trust, he stepped into his full-time remit in the Autumn of 2013. Andrew is responsible for the operational management of all programmes delivered in the West of Suffolk.
Jack Pynn Delivery Manager - Central & East Suffolk Expand Jack manages all of the activity at our central Castan woodland, and in the East of Suffolk. Prior to working for Green Light Trust, Jack worked as an Arborist, advising on and carrying out tree management operations for a wide range of clients. His career experience also includes time as an FE Lecturer in Forestry and Arboriculture at Easton and Otley College. Whilst there, Jack taught both practical skills and arboriculture theory. Jack is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience of trees with others.
Mell Harrison Delivery Manager - Forest School Expand Mell joined the Green Light Trust in 2016 and has been facilitating Nature Connection work for over 25 years. She has worked with all ages and abilities, facilitating with the ethos of Forest School and the theories of Earth Education, Nature Connection and Environmental Education. After many years of environmental campaigning, Mell started to work within this field believing that if people felt re-connected to the natural world, they would more readily take an active role in fostering the sustainability of the planet. In 2014, she was shortlisted for Learning Outside the Classrooms national award for ‘Most inspiring Educator’. Mell was a co-creator/director of a small school, ‘Wild Meadows’, for home educated children. Together the parents and children built a straw bale building as a classroom, then developed the space and facilitated activities for families to learn together in a nature based child-led and child-centred way. In 2019 Mell was given Endorsed Trainer Award status by the National Forest School Association.
Danny Thorrington Delivery Manager - Children & Young People Expand Danny has a broad experience working with disadvantaged young people on Greencare projects and is a trained Forest School practitioner. Danny works with schools managing and developing our Natural Alternative programme as well as working as part of the team across general woodland courses at Castan Wood in Martlesham.
Peter Foster Delivery Manager Expand A former organic farmer for some 20 years, Peter joined Green Light Trust in August 2014 facilitating a wide variety of our courses. Having graduated from Harper Adams Agricultural College in 1992, he delivered an on-farm training programme for children and young adults at risk of exclusion. This saw him win a Somerset Learning & Skills Council award. In late 2012, Peter moved to Suffolk, where he has focused his career on woodcraft and nature conservation.
Ashley Parfitt Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand After graduating from a Countryside Management degree in 2015, Ashley began volunteering at Green Light Trust's Project Wild Haven in Great Yarmouth. After joining the payroll in 2017 Ashley now leads a variety of GLT courses and projects across Suffolk and Norfolk.
Michaela Woollatt Participant Experience Coordinator Manager Expand Michaela has spent her career working in the environmental sector - formally as Chief of Operations for Europe’s biggest IT recycling company. More recently she had the role of Education Editor for a grassroots environmental newspaper. Michaela is a keen advocate of raising awareness of the benefits of the natural environment on mental health. Having worked with several of Green Light Trust’s client groups, including young adults with special needs, primary school intervention groups, PRU teenagers and adults recovering from mental health issues, Michaela is now engaged by GLT to manage our Participant Experience Coordinators.
Jane Feasey Participant Experience Coordinator Expand Jane has previously worked with disadvantaged, disengaged and homeless young people in both education and housing. She has tutored in subjects of literacy, numeracy and sport, and whilst in housing was an excellence leader in delivering and co-ordinating AQA life skills. Jane is a keen gardener, allotmenteer and runner and fully embraces the health benefits, both physically and mentally, of the great outdoors.
Louise Firman Participant Engagement Coordinator - Norfolk Expand Louise joined the Green Light Trust in 2021 as Participant Engagement Coordinator for Norfolk. Prior to this, Louise worked in Higher Education for over 16 years in a managerial role supporting students with all aspects of learning and teaching at the University of East Anglia. Louise has also worked as a Resettlement Worker, working with individuals to reintroduce them into the community and to sustain independent living. She loves running and being outside in the fresh air and has taken part in a number of races on behalf of various charities.
Lucy Parker Participant Experience Coordinator Expand Lucy joined Green Light Trust in October 2020 after working for the NHS for the last 7 years and more recently as a Mental Health Nurse. Lucy’s passion is mental health care but also loves animals and being outside and wanted to work with people in a different capacity and environment. Lucy enjoys supporting people to reach their personal goals whilst developing relationships with new people and organisations & working collaboratively with them. Lucy’s particular areas of interest include safeguarding vulnerable people and perinatal mental health care.
Pia Bennett Emotional Wellbeing in Schools Practitioner Expand A member of the team since 2016, Pia has spent a considerable part of her career in environmental education, working with disaffected young teenagers as well as those with special educational needs and/or mental illness. Her work with the Green Light Trust', continues to play a massive part in the wellbeing and recovery of many individuals attending the programmes. Pia is currently involved with the 'Vision & Voice' partnership, where her main role is School Wellbeing Practitioner at The Alde Valley Academy. Much of her spare time is spent with family, enjoying the countryside, whilst she also contributes time to charities both locally and overseas.
Ben Pentney Digital Marketing Expand Ben manages our digital marketing, helping to raise awareness of the work we do as well as the impact we have. Although most of his work is done in the digital world, he’s always had a passion for the outdoors and is keen to have an impact on the well-being of others, therefore the work he does for Green Light Trust is particularly important to him.
Shona Sundhari Forest School Tutor Expand Shona has moved from SEN teaching to a world of Forest School facilitation and magic in nature. Sitting beneath a tree or wild river swimming is where she’s happiest. Shona is excited to be co-tutoring with Mell on the Forest School training at the Green Light Trust and is looking forward to new adventures ahead!
Megan Lefaye-Osborne Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Megan joined us in March 2020 from a background of working with young people with challenging behaviour and specific learning needs. Meg is currently completing her L3 FS training with a view to assisting Mell with future FS training courses. Megan also assists with Step by Step and other EE delivery, primarily in the West of the County.
Neil Charnaud Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Originally trained as an actor, Neil has spent the last 8 years working in a variety of settings supporting and teaching individuals. Previously working with adults with Mental health and disabilities to help them engage into employment or education, Neil has also worked with young people, teaching both in a SEN setting and supporting college students with welfare issues and progression. He is passionate about the work Green Light Trust does in his community.
Connie Barnes Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand After completing her BSc in psychology, Connie began work as a teaching assistant at a local special school, then as a mentor for a local charity supporting young adults with learning difficulties. It was whilst supporting a young man attending GLT that she developed her passion for outdoor learning and the mental health advantages of working outside. Connie completed her Level 3 Forest School Practitioner Award with Green Light Trust in 2016. Having joined the Trust as a member of staff in early 2017, Connie now facilitates a variety of GLT programmes, as well as volunteering with the local Community Wild space Project Forest for our Children.
Nik Vyse Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Nik is part of the Environmental Education team for the west of the county and works across all GLT programmes at and around the Foundry. Nik’s background is working with hard to engage young people in Alternative Provision. He has also worked for Autism Anglia.
Bryony Ryba Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Bryony started as a volunteer with us in 2016, and received the Suffolk Adult Learners Health and Wellbeing Impact Award for her contribution to our work. With a background in working with Special educational needs, mental health and addiction, Bryony's special interests include mindfulness and nature connection to facilitate emotional and mental wellbeing for our project participants; she also completed her level 3 Forest School Practitioner qualification with Green Light Trust in Aug 2019. Bryony joined our delivery team in Sep 2018.
Will Poyntz Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Will has been at the Green Light Trust since 2016, and works primarily in Frithy Wood near Bury St Edmunds, with adult mental health groups and excluded teenagers. He previously worked for several years as a bushcraft instructor, leading courses camping in forests with children and adults, including fire lighting, shelter building and practical carving, and has also been on training courses in Sweden, Namibia and Borneo. Since joining Green Light Trust, Will has completed Forest School training and become enamoured with the seasonal cycle of the coppice, cutting and clearing to leave space for the wildflowers, that give way to brambles that shelter wildlife, that in turn protect the returning tree growth. Seeing the woods throughout the seasons and nesting in woodland camps that make doing so a pleasure, Will loves making woodland furniture and carving useful things, as well as looking out for the muddiest and smelliest signs of wildlife. Will’s favourite time of the year is the first frost of Autumn, when leaves are at their crunchiest and the ice makes them sparkle in the morning.