Claire Participant Engagement Coordinator Expand Claire joined us in October 2021, having spent over 20 years working within the mental health and alternative education sector. Claire is passionate about supporting young people experiencing mental health challenges and is a licensed Thrive practitioner and Lego Therapist. Claire is excited to be able to promote the positive impact nature has on mental health and well-being, for all. In her own time, Claire loves to spend time crafting, especially up-cycling furniture and sewing. She is looking forward to developing her own greenwood skills, especially whittling!
Nicky Participant Engagement Coordinator (PEC) Team Leader - West Suffolk Expand Nicky has worked in therapeutic residential care for over 10 years providing 360 support to children of all ages and adults. She has L3 Diploma in children and young peoples' workforce and social care and L3 EYFS children in early years along with various other training. Nicky is currently studying her L3 Forest School qualification, continuing her drive and passion to help and support others. In her spare time Nicky enjoys cooking, cycling, walking, kayaking and swimming. She is also a keen detectorist, though yet to find gold!
Jim Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand James started volunteering with GLT in January 2022 on Earth, SBS & Natural Alternative where he was everything we could ask for in a volunteer. This led to GLT nominating James for Suffolk Adult Learners Health & Wellbeing Impact Award in July 2022, which he won, along with the overall Volunteer of the Year Award too.
Rebecka Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator - EHCP Tutor Expand My background is in Beauty Therapy and I have always enjoyed the more holistic side, helping people to feel better and de-stress. I’ve been teaching Beauty Therapy in further education for the past two years, to both 16-18 year olds and adults and for me the biggest reward in this role has been helping students through any challenges they may face. I’m a big believer in nature being comforting and good for the soul, so I incorporate holistic therapies into my own lifestyle. In my spare time I love walking my Golden Retriever Mabel, crafting and spending as much time as possible with my family.
Adam Mental Health Manager Expand Adam has worked as a nurse in the NHS since the mid eighties and is now semi retired. Adam is a dual qualified learning disability and mental health nurse and has worked in a wide range of specialist services. These have included working in an institution as part of the closure process moving everyone to community care services, small community group homes, a low secure forensic unit, community nursing and presently in a learning disability/mental health crisis team. Adam has specialised in clinical risk minimisation, risk management, positive behaviour support and working with individuals with complex needs.
Emma EHCP 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.
Dianne Participant Engagement Coordinator Expand Dianne has been with us at GLT Lawshall since September 2021, having spent the previous 5 years working as a higher educational lecturer at the University of Suffolk. She has worked with a range of ages and abilities, teaching the theories of child development and Safeguarding. Her particular research focus is play and creativity. Dianne is passionate about promoting outdoor play for all no matter age or experience. She is currently studying for her Forest School Level 3 qualification and is excited to put her learning into practice in Frithy Woods. In her own time, Dianne loves to spend her time outdoors, walking, cycling, gardening and geocaching.
Kit EHCP Tutor Expand Kristina joined GLT in August 2021. Her background has involved working in education for the last seven years. Prior to this she spent 20 years working in the field of substance misuse, encompassing mental health & sexual trauma, specifically relating to individuals working in the sex industry. This varied work history has allowed her to develop skills that have led her to GLT. Kristina is deeply committed to the philosophy that everyone deserves support to embrace life & all its opportunities.
Claire Head of Development and Impact 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.
Zach Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand Zach particularly enjoys animal and fungus IDing, I’ve been a youth worker most of my adult life and love the opportunities green light gives me to make a positive impact on the lives of young people and help them to see their full potential. In my spare time you’ll find me Djing or tinkering about under an old Volkswagen.
Lauren Shand CEO 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.
Jon Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand Having originally trained and worked in graphic design and illustration, Jon decided to bring his lifelong passion for nature to a career in conservation. He originally volunteered as a marketing assistant for a wetland charity. From there Jon started working in outdoor conservation education and has done so ever since; eventually managing education and events for a wildlife park. Jon has continued to do related design work, illustration, video editing, photography and social media, as well as learning support and tutoring for an animal management college. The threads which run through all of this work are a joy in communicating with people about nature and a fulfilment from helping others get the best from themselves.
Ali Participant Engagement (PEC) Team Lead - Norfolk Expand Ali's background is in tv, film and theatre in London for around 25 years mainly as a Production Manager. Following this Ali worked in a drug and alcohol detox unit as a Detox Practitioner and Administrator and as a Senior Support worker specialising in substance misuse at an emergency homeless provision in North Wales. Ali is an outdoorsy person and loves spending time walking her dog in the countryside and paddleboarding.
Grace Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand Grace is an Occupational Therapist and a massage therapist who works with children and young people; howeer she comes from a background of working within the charitable sector with young adults and children with complex emotional and physical health needs. She has long since found that nature has a power to calm and support during difficult times, and it is often the place that helps her to ground and re-connect with herself. Grace has an allotment filled with rescue chickens. She finds that this and gardening organically support her with the daily pressures that life brings. When not at work or at the allotment, Grace can be found on her paddleboard or in her kayak; going for a run through the countryside with her dog and exploring new places with her husband.
Louise Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand As a primary school teacher with over 30 years teaching experience, I have embraced many changes in trends and thinking, expectations and requirements in Education but one of the most powerful and transformative experiences for me has been an introduction to Forest School. Forest school sessions have served to reinforce my belief in how much children benefit from being immersed in the natural world, discovering and learning in this contextual environment through practical skills and problem solving, communication and self-awareness, investigations and discoveries, fresh air and freedom. I love to spend time with my family, dog walking, being creative and I am very privileged to volunteer at Riding for the Disabled where I have met some incredibly inspiring people.
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.
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.
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.
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.