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.
Leanne Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator - Mental Health specialist, Children & Young People (CYP) Expand BA HONS (Fine Art Photography), PG DIP (Mental Health Nursing, RMN), SCMA (Sound Therapy) Lea began working with Children and Young people within disadvantaged communities in London; teaching them photographic skills in youth clubs. She trained as a Mental Health Nurse 12 years ago and has since been striving to see a change in the way, we, as a society view and understand the difficulties that children and young people may face within various phases of growth and development. Lea has had the privilege of working with children and young people across all ages and in environments which are sometimes last options for families, as well as within their own communities and education settings via PRU’s (Pupil Referral Units). A true desire to be part of the learning and healing that can come about through spending time connected with the natural world, is what drew Lea to Green Light Trust. ‘We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children’.
Adam Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator - Mental Health Specialist - Adults 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.
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.
Lisa Wellbeing in Nature Facilitator Expand Lisa has a degree in youth and community work and is experienced working with children and young people of all ages. After experiencing the transformative power of nature and the outdoors for herself and witnessing the effect on young people, Lisa decided to pursue a career outdoors. She has previously volunteered with Green Light Trust, worked in a Forest Preschool and is currently studying for her Level 3 Forest School Practitioner Award. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys exploring nature with her own children, cycling and wild swimming.
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.
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.
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.