Caro Interim Head of Fundraising and Marketing Expand Caroline began her career in IT but soon realised her heart lay working for charitable causes. Over the past 30 years she has worked for various disability, animal welfare, heritage and environmental organisations in senior fundraising, marketing and operational roles. This included 7 years with the RSPB running their trading activities and most recently 11 years at the National Trust managing over 30 historic properties across the east of England. Caroline first joined Green Light Trust as a consultant in 2021 helping with the specification of a new integrated contact management system. She is currently leading fundraising and marketing activities on an interim basis, assisting the charity to achieve its long-term strategic plan. When she’s not working, Caroline enjoys spending time nurturing her newly landscaped garden, taking long walks in the local countryside and being a human slave to two demanding but adorable Maine Coon cats.
Ed EHCP Tutor Expand Ed believes in the power of the outdoors for all ages, backgrounds and abilities. He has delivered outdoor learning and experiences to a range of age groups, including growing food, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, outdoor cooking and guided walking. He would rather be outdoors than indoors, whatever the weather or time of year. As well as working in schools, Ed has also had careers in journalism, communications management and running his own property maintenance business. In his own time, Ed spends time on his three allotments, walking his two dogs and on Norfolk and Suffolk's amazing beaches.
Tim Finance Director Co. Sec. Expand Tim joined GLT as a Professional Volunteer in February 2019 and took up the role of Finance Director in 2021. He is also our Company Secretary. After working in the commercial sector as Finance Director for a private company involved in property development, a restaurant and building a chain of retail outlets across the South West, Tim changed tack and joined a major UK conservation charity on a short-term contract which ended up being a 25-year stint. After various roles he became Head of Finance leading a team of 35 and working closely with senior staff and trustees on a number of strategic initiatives. Tim was also a Trustee of the charity’s defined benefit pension scheme. Tim’s connection with conservation and his personal experience of mental health and wellbeing have now driven him to contribute his time to help Green Light Trust. Tim and his wife completed a personal ambition to complete a self-build house. Now that he has ‘semi-retired', Tim's next ambition is to drive down his golf handicap to single figures!
Jan Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand Jan has a history of working as a 1:1 with SEND young people and joined Green Light Trust in May 2019 as a mentor for our SEND Step by Step participants.
Ryan Delivery Manager - Participant Enablement Expand Ryan is passionate about youth work and believes in the limitless potential of all young people. He joined the Green Light Trust in March as a Green Mentor, having spent the previous 7 years supporting young people in a range of roles for The Mix Stowmarket. In January 2023 Ryan was promoted to Delivery Manager in charge of participant enablement. Ryan is a musician and audio engineer and thrives when supporting others creativity. Ryan loves nature and the outdoors and is never happier than when in the woods with his son on a stick hunt.
Lana Participant Engagement Coordinator (PEC) - Children & Young People (CYP) -Central Expand Lana's background has seen her supporting in Specialist Provision and Mainstream High Schools. Being outdoors is important to Lana who loves walking and cycling.
Nicky Participant Engagement Coordinator (PEC) - First Response Service (FRS) Expand Nicky has worked in a variety of role within charities, including befriending coordinator, community connector & Employment Support Officer working to assist people to overcome their barriers and find employment. Nicky is currently studying to become a Life Coach including NLP and CBT elements. In her spare time Nicky enjoys camping, gardening and cooking for friends.
Jay Social Media & Filming Expand Jay posts on GLT social media channels, developing content to support our brand building. Jay has many talents including being a professional musician as well as looking after Ralph Fiennnes to help him improve his Suffolk accent on the set of The Dig. Since then, he has built up a number of clients building brands in the social media sphere. Jay works with Claire Whittenbury creating videos for GLT.
Tina Business & Systems Manager Expand Tina joined us in August 2022, taking over the administrative and systems side of the Charity. For the last 26 years Tina worked for a software development company. Her role supported staff and senior management in the delivery and implementation of systems to customers in the public and private sector, ensuring risk and compliance was maintained. Tina is committed to applying values to support and promote the health and wellbeing of colleagues. With a love of gardening and baking, Tina has started to grow her own fruit and veg. In her spare time she enjoys waking dogs with family and friends.
Claire Impact Enabler Expand Claire has held a variety of roles across the voluntary and community sector and within health and social care. This has included 13 years working for a Disabled People’s Organisation and over four years running a community transport charity in North Norfolk. Claire has worked across a range of areas including business development, fundraising, and change management. She also has a passion for personal development and supporting people to change their lives for the better. Claire enjoys woodland walks with her family, lifting weights at the gym, and trying to grow as much of her family’s fruit and veg as possible on her allotment.
Connie Step by Step Coordinator - 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 has facilitated a variety of GLT programmes, as well as volunteering with the local Community Wild space Project Forest for our Children. Nov 2021 saw Connie promoted to Step by Step coordinator, our programme for young adults with SEND.
Ash Delivery Manager - Norfolk 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 lead a variety of GLT courses and projects across Suffolk and Norfolk before being promoted to Delivery Manager for Norfolk in Spring 2021.
Bec HR Manager 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, completing her Level 3 CIPD certificate in HR Practice & Management in June 2020. Following the success of the charity and subsequent recruitment of a Business and Systems Manager in 2022, Bec moved exclusively to managing our HR department.
Jack Regional Manager - Suffolk Expand From managing all of the activity at our central Castan woodland, and in the East of Suffolk, Jack was promoted to Regional Manager for Suffolk in February 2022. 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.
Andrew 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.
Bryony Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator 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. Bryony completed her level 3 Forest School Practitioner qualification with Green Light Trust in Aug 2019 and Freedom project training in 2021. Bryony joined our delivery team in Sep 2018 and in 2022 was promoted to Volunteer Coordinator for West of Suffolk.
Emma Forest School Tutor Expand Emma is a qualified Forest School practitioner and began her career with GLT working largely with school groups; as well as assisting on other environmental education courses. Her background is in Bushcraft and Forest School. Emma completed her PTTLS qualification in 2021 and in 2022 started assisting with our Forest School Training programme. Emma also runs her own Forest School in Lavenham.
Kristine Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand Kristine joined Green Light Trust in November 2020 with a BA in Outdoor Education, having taught environmental education and bushcraft for several years working all over England, as well as overseas. She is a qualified Forest School Practitioner, with a huge passion for our UK woodlands and loves to hug trees on a daily basis. Kristine is happiest in nature and loves to help guide and support others in entering this magical world of wonder and beauty. Constantly discovering, exploring and being creative. Kristine took on the role of volunteer coordinator for Central Suffolk in 2023 and Site Coordinator for our Castan Wood site in Martlesham in January 2023.
David Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator - AIR coordinator Expand After studying Environmental Science as a mature student, David left university without a clear plan of what to do next. David volunteered in various roles until one day he helped out with an environmental education group. At that point everything fell into place. After 7 years of working in environmental education, including two years spent running a Forest School at a school for boys with BESD, David found himself mostly working in an office, organising everyone else having fun, with limited contact to the people he wanted to help. In his spare time David likes to ride push bikes both on and off-road, race push bikes, go on bike packing trips, watch videos of other people on bikes, plan bike trips and talk about cycling to anyone who will listen. He's found it to be the most incredibly rewarding hobby for his mental, physical and social wellbeing.
Danny 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.
Jane Head of Participant Engagement 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. Whilst Jane joined us in April 2020 as a Participant Engagement Coordinator for Central Suffolk, January 2023 saw her well deserved promotion to the role of Head of Participant Engagement. Jane is a keen gardener, allotmenteer and runner and fully embraces the health benefits, both physically and mentally, of the great outdoors.
Lisa EHCP (Educational Health Care Plan) Manager Expand Lisa's background is in further education teaching 16–25-year-olds with special educational needs a variety of subjects. Lisa has an interest in the natural world and over the last few years completed a BSc Environmental Sciences along with volunteering with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, with the aim of eventually working within the environmental education sector. Lisa joined GLT as EHCP Manager in October 2021. Outside of work Lisa enjoys walking, birdwatching, gardening, music and cooking.
Tom Brown CEO Expand Tom became Chief Executive Officer of The Green Light Trust in 2018, having joined the charity in 2013. At GLT Tom has united his passions for the environment, social equity and education overseeing the development of the charity to one on the cutting edge of nature-based interventions. During his tenure as CEO at GLT Tom has enabled the charity to demonstrate its impact through novel academic research. With a broad range of experience and academic qualifications, Tom has grown the charity and sits on various regional and national panels contributing to the health and education agenda. Having grown up on the Suffolk Coast he is passionate that access to high-quality natural habitats is a basic human right regardless of a person’s background or socio-economic standing. Tom is a non-executive director for Orwell Housing Association Ltd.
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.