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Meet the Team
Saffron Walden Mencap Society employs a small team of dedicated staff to run their clubs, many of whom have several years of experience of working with individuals with learning disabilities. Volunteers also play a vital role in our activities.
All staff and volunteers hold current DBS checks.
Cath Read - Go With Our Flow and Music Man Project
Cath has been working with individuals with additional and complex needs, and their families, for nearly 20 years. She is passionate about ensuring that individuals can make choices about their lives and to make sure they have a voice, regardless of the way they communicate.
Cath has a BA Honours Degree in Children’s Special Educational Needs and Inclusion and has worked for many years on behavioural therapy programmes with individuals with autism.
Cath is currently working part time as a Learning Support Assistant at Thaxted Primary school. She also works in a variety of roles with other children, young people and adults with additional needs, in the local community.
Favourite book: Where the Wild Things Are.
Favourite film: Educating Rita.
Superpower I would choose: Telekinesis
Cath has been working with individuals with additional and complex needs, and their families, for nearly 20 years. She is passionate about ensuring that individuals can make choices about their lives and to make sure they have a voice, regardless of the way they communicate.
Cath has a BA Honours Degree in Children’s Special Educational Needs and Inclusion and has worked for many years on behavioural therapy programmes with individuals with autism.
Cath is currently working part time as a Learning Support Assistant at Thaxted Primary school. She also works in a variety of roles with other children, young people and adults with additional needs, in the local community.
Favourite book: Where the Wild Things Are.
Favourite film: Educating Rita.
Superpower I would choose: Telekinesis
Dianne King - Go With Our Flow
Dianne has worked in Primary Schools for over twenty five years. She enjoys supporting children and young people with their learning and seeing them grow in confidence and maturity. Dianne has continued to learn herself by taking part in numerous training and online courses. In recent years, she studied and completed her Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning, then going on to achieve a BA Honours Degree in Childhood and Youth Studies.
Dianne currently works full-time at Thaxted Primary School as a Learning Assistant. She also works with a number of young people with additional and complex needs. Being passionate about making a difference, she strives to give young people with additional needs a voice!
Favourite book: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Favourite film: Pretty Woman
Superpower I would choose: To be able to see into the future!
Dianne has worked in Primary Schools for over twenty five years. She enjoys supporting children and young people with their learning and seeing them grow in confidence and maturity. Dianne has continued to learn herself by taking part in numerous training and online courses. In recent years, she studied and completed her Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning, then going on to achieve a BA Honours Degree in Childhood and Youth Studies.
Dianne currently works full-time at Thaxted Primary School as a Learning Assistant. She also works with a number of young people with additional and complex needs. Being passionate about making a difference, she strives to give young people with additional needs a voice!
Favourite book: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Favourite film: Pretty Woman
Superpower I would choose: To be able to see into the future!
Julie Brassington - Go With Our Flow
Julie is passionate about enabling people with special needs to lead a full and fun social life, and to encourage decision making and independence wherever possible. As
well as working for GWOF, Julie also works with other children, young people and adults with additional needs, in the local community.
Julie trained in Art at Middlesex Polytechnic and The Chelsea School of Art and Design, and has worked for many years as a specialist Art and Design Technology
teacher, both in schools and with home-educated children. She enjoys bringing her creative approach to Mencap projects such as the design and making of this year’s
carnival float.
Favourite book: All the Harry Potters!
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Superpower I would choose: To be able to fly
Julie is passionate about enabling people with special needs to lead a full and fun social life, and to encourage decision making and independence wherever possible. As
well as working for GWOF, Julie also works with other children, young people and adults with additional needs, in the local community.
Julie trained in Art at Middlesex Polytechnic and The Chelsea School of Art and Design, and has worked for many years as a specialist Art and Design Technology
teacher, both in schools and with home-educated children. She enjoys bringing her creative approach to Mencap projects such as the design and making of this year’s
carnival float.
Favourite book: All the Harry Potters!
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Superpower I would choose: To be able to fly
Abby Fenton - Go With Our Flow
After having previously worked in the charity sector and undertaking many volunteer roles, Abby is excited to support young people with additional needs at Go with Our Flow. She’s very interested in different forms of communications and the different roles types of communication can play in supporting minoritised groups. Abby has an intermediate level of British Sign Language after initially taking level one as an extracurricular whilst completing her degree at Durham University. Abby has read many books (especially as she did an English Literature degree!) but her favourite is Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.
After having previously worked in the charity sector and undertaking many volunteer roles, Abby is excited to support young people with additional needs at Go with Our Flow. She’s very interested in different forms of communications and the different roles types of communication can play in supporting minoritised groups. Abby has an intermediate level of British Sign Language after initially taking level one as an extracurricular whilst completing her degree at Durham University. Abby has read many books (especially as she did an English Literature degree!) but her favourite is Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.
Shanetell Smith - Go With Our Flow
I worked in adult social care for 25 years in varying roles supporting people in all areas of their lives and ensured they were central to the support they received.
I now work as a teacher’s assistant with 6th form students in a SEN school. I particularly love supporting people to access employment, the local community and any hands on activities such as gardening and cooking. Advocating for people and supporting them to speak up for themselves is really important to me. I have a passion for nature and love trees! If I can be out walking in the countryside then I am happy!
I worked in adult social care for 25 years in varying roles supporting people in all areas of their lives and ensured they were central to the support they received.
I now work as a teacher’s assistant with 6th form students in a SEN school. I particularly love supporting people to access employment, the local community and any hands on activities such as gardening and cooking. Advocating for people and supporting them to speak up for themselves is really important to me. I have a passion for nature and love trees! If I can be out walking in the countryside then I am happy!
Sanchia Wooddisse- Go With Our Flow
Sanchia has previously worked as a solicitor and a family liaison officer, and volunteers with her local branches of Oxfam and The Royal British Legion.
She loves walking and has trekked in Nepal and completed the Three Peaks Challenge and the London Moonwalk, but is just as happy walking her dog in the local countryside.
A mum to two teenagers of her own, she enjoys spending time with the young people at Go With Our Flow and working with such a fun and supportive group.
Favourite book- The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, or anything by the wonderful late Dame Jilly Cooper
Favourite film - Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Superpower I’d choose - to be able to fly
Sanchia has previously worked as a solicitor and a family liaison officer, and volunteers with her local branches of Oxfam and The Royal British Legion.
She loves walking and has trekked in Nepal and completed the Three Peaks Challenge and the London Moonwalk, but is just as happy walking her dog in the local countryside.
A mum to two teenagers of her own, she enjoys spending time with the young people at Go With Our Flow and working with such a fun and supportive group.
Favourite book- The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, or anything by the wonderful late Dame Jilly Cooper
Favourite film - Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Superpower I’d choose - to be able to fly
Kitty Tilston - Side by Side Club Deputy
Hi my names Kitty, I started out as a volunteer at SBS to help with craft nights and fell in love with it. Now I plan the craft nights and help run and assist our Wednesday night group. I love seeing our members have fun whether that is playing games, creating seasonal crafts or just watching a movie. I can’t wait to see what fun we get up to!
Hi my names Kitty, I started out as a volunteer at SBS to help with craft nights and fell in love with it. Now I plan the craft nights and help run and assist our Wednesday night group. I love seeing our members have fun whether that is playing games, creating seasonal crafts or just watching a movie. I can’t wait to see what fun we get up to!
Jacquie Lucas - Administrator and GrowAbility Volunteer
I became involved in Saffron Walden Mencap through volunteering at the Side by Side club - I occasionally helped out for my daughter Aimée on the nights she couldn't volunteer - that was several years ago and I had so much fun I became a Trustee and never left!
I enjoy helping out at our GrowAbility allotment club on Wednesdays where we do everything from planting seeds to harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables together. I also write a regular GrowAbility blog and share photos of our hard work. You might also see me driving the minibus or car to events and clubs, or helping out at fundraising events.
More recently I've become the administrator for our charity, mostly doing a lot of work on my computer - forms, policies, emails, helping to plan for events and meetings and making sure everything we need to help us run our charity is up to date.
The best thing about being part of Saffron Walden Mencap Society is getting to know and work with such a fabulous group of people, our members, volunteers, staff and trustees are all part of a friendly and supportive community and there is always something to look forward to!
I became involved in Saffron Walden Mencap through volunteering at the Side by Side club - I occasionally helped out for my daughter Aimée on the nights she couldn't volunteer - that was several years ago and I had so much fun I became a Trustee and never left!
I enjoy helping out at our GrowAbility allotment club on Wednesdays where we do everything from planting seeds to harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables together. I also write a regular GrowAbility blog and share photos of our hard work. You might also see me driving the minibus or car to events and clubs, or helping out at fundraising events.
More recently I've become the administrator for our charity, mostly doing a lot of work on my computer - forms, policies, emails, helping to plan for events and meetings and making sure everything we need to help us run our charity is up to date.
The best thing about being part of Saffron Walden Mencap Society is getting to know and work with such a fabulous group of people, our members, volunteers, staff and trustees are all part of a friendly and supportive community and there is always something to look forward to!
Nicola New - Music Man Project Leader
Nicky grew up within a family who provided respite for young people with complex needs, and has balanced clinical care alongside her work as a musician.
Since graduating from the Royal College of Music, Nicky has been a music teacher within a special school, has worked for music schools and specialist centres, has tutored on residential music courses, has been on the panel for festivals and competitions, and has taught Royal Marines bandsmen in barracks.
Nicky now works for charities, accompanies choirs, teaches for a music school in Cambridge and is the Director of Music in a lovely church in Essex.
When she is not working, Nicky likes to spend time with her family, to visit sculpture gardens, and to draw pictures of animals. She is enjoying seeing the brilliant progress being made by each of the Mencap Music Man Project members.
Well done everyone!
Nicky grew up within a family who provided respite for young people with complex needs, and has balanced clinical care alongside her work as a musician.
Since graduating from the Royal College of Music, Nicky has been a music teacher within a special school, has worked for music schools and specialist centres, has tutored on residential music courses, has been on the panel for festivals and competitions, and has taught Royal Marines bandsmen in barracks.
Nicky now works for charities, accompanies choirs, teaches for a music school in Cambridge and is the Director of Music in a lovely church in Essex.
When she is not working, Nicky likes to spend time with her family, to visit sculpture gardens, and to draw pictures of animals. She is enjoying seeing the brilliant progress being made by each of the Mencap Music Man Project members.
Well done everyone!
Jane Bailey - Volunteer
"Alone we can do so little; TOGETHER we can do so much"
By Helen Keller
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