Kathryn - Project Manager
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Kathryn has been employed by the project since 2017, initially as a project facilitator, but had been volunteering her time with them for over a decade previously.
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Kathryn has a BSc in psychology and an MSc in clinical neuropsychiatry as well as training in animal assisted therapy and breastfeeding support.
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Most of Kathryn’s spare time involves looking after her young children, but when she finds a few quiet minutes, they are used for playing a range of musical instruments or looking after her weird and wonderful animals.
Michelle - Project Manager
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Michelle has been with the project since it began 30 years ago.
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Michelle originally qualified within the childcare sector before moving on to social policy. Further qualifications in areas including mental health, domestic abuse and safeguarding combine with her strong belief in a holistic approach to supporting people when working with children and their families.
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Outside of work Michelle enjoys reading and spending time relaxing with her pets. She also spends lots of time with her grandchildren, going out for walks together.
Jessica - Project Facilitator
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Jessica initially joined the project as a parent nine years ago. Since then she has been a committee member, a trustee, a fundraiser and a volunteer.
Since 2021 she has been employed by the project utilising her knowledge of the project and community. She is currently also pursuing training in children's and adult mental health to further support our service users.
Kelly - Play Facilitator
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Kelly initially joined the project several years ago as a parent in which time she has been both a committee member and a trustee. Her knowledge of and belief in our project and its ethos shines through when she is in the groups.
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Kelly has training in EYFS as well as experience working with vulnerable members of the community and brings her knowledge and empathy with her as a member of the team.
Paula - Project assistant
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Paula initially joined the project as a parent, sharing our beliefs on family and support. Since her youngest has gone to school she has supported the project as a committed volunteer.
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After volunteering her time Paula was asked to join us as a paid member off our team to support our families and share her wealth of knowledge on topics such as breastfeeding and babywearing.
Catherine - Project assistant
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​Catherine started with the project as a parent before volunteering with us when her child started school. She is now a full member of our team and a fantastic asset helping our littlest members build their skills and confidence.
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Catherine is by far the most artistic of the green team, creating some beautiful items for our families to use.
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Trustees
As a charity, we are governed by our team of trustees who lead our project.
Michelle Dean-Netscher
Trustee
Project Chair
Raj Bandak
Trustee
Project Chair
Kelly Pitt
Trustee
Secretary
Kath Dennison
Trustee
Staff Supervisor
Parent Liason
Jo Warburton
Trustee
School Liason
Dawn Taffinder
Trustee
Safeguarding Advisor
Laura Doran
Trustee
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Jayne Stevens
Trustee
Deputy Chair
Kathryn Parkinson
Staff Liason
Deputy Treasurer
Pat
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Pat, was one of the founders of the projects to support local families over 25 years ago and in 2021 we had to say a very sad final farewell to her.
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After leaving school and training as a nursery nurse, Pat supported families in many ways in professional life included developing nursery provisions in a Dr. Barnardos Home adoption centre. Pat worked tirelessly throughout her life to support children and their families finding themselves in difficult circumstances.
She was one of the most genuinely kind and caring people you could ever have hoped to meet and will be missed very much.
David
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Although sadly no longer with us, David was a pivotal member of Families in Telford from the very beginning.
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He was Treasurer to the Woodside Playgroup from 1970 and subsequently to Woodside Family Groups from 1994. He was Secretary of Families in Telford from it's creation in 2013 till 2018.
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He is a greatly missed member of the FiT family.