Our Team
Our team drives Kids Inspire forward, working alongside one another and towards the one constant in our work ‘the child at the centre’.
Together with our staff, our volunteers are an integral part of Kids Inspire, gifting time and knowledge to enable our charity to aspire to even greater things. We could not exist without them all.
Senior Management Team
Sue Bell OBE – Chief Executive & Clinical Director
Sue founded Kids Inspire in 2007 as a qualified Teacher and Counsellor specialising in helping individuals with emotional, behavioural and developmental issues. Sue has thirty years experience of working therapeutically with children and young people. A qualified and experienced Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and NeuroAffective Touch Practitioner, Sue runs a unique organisation, directing the team based on experience and evidence.
Vicky Haylock – Chief Operating Officer (COO)
A teacher by profession, Vicky joined Kids Inspire in 2018 after heading up a primary school in West Essex. As Headteacher, Vicky’s school community experienced a number of devastating incidents in quick succession, and she became increasingly frustrated with the lack of funded services available to support pupils and families through challenging times. Kids Inspire’s mission resonated with this experience so she joined the team.
Kamila De Nadai - Deputy Clinical Director for Service Development
Kami brings with her a wealth of experience to our Senior Management Team. She is a UKCP Gestalt Psychotherapist, DBT and EMDR Therapist, Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society and Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Brazil. Kami has worked for many years in private practice, and also within HR. After moving to the UK from Brazil, she spent three years working as a Senior Practitioner for CAMHS.
Emma Ritchie - Deputy Clinical Director for Teams
Emma first heard about Kids Inspire in 2007 and was inspired by our vision. She joined as a student in 2010 and moved into the clinical admin team in 2013. After qualifying as an integrative counsellor, she transitioned into clinical practice, working with parents, families, and adolescents. Emma has over a decade of experience, with training in attachment narrative therapy, Non-Violent Resistance (NVR), and EMDR. Previously a case manager, she became Deputy Clinical Director in September 2024 and is proud to be part of the dedicated Kids Inspire team.
Paula Ashfield- Head of Fundraising
One of the longest-serving team members, Paula has been a part of the Kids Inspire team since 2009. Prior to joining Paula had a lengthy career in international banking before retraining as an Interior Designer and freelancing her skills in Project Management roles. Volunteering for a number of good causes along the way, Paula’s earlier career in international banking suitably led her to the Fundraising Team at Kids Inspire where she instantly saw the amazing potential for doing great work in the community.
Winston Wong - Head of Finance
Winston began his career in Ernst and Young (Hong Kong), where he went on to work for over ten years. After his time there ended, he worked as Finance Director and CFO for various companies across different industries, including asset management, investment banking and property management. Originally from Hong Kong, Winston moved to the UK in 2020 and joined Kids Inspire in February 2022 after he was impressed by Kids Inspire’s work. He said “the idea of working with so many passionate individuals and for such a meaningful charity gave me all the motivation I needed to join the team.”
Helen Crumley - Head of Marketing and Communications
Helen joined Kids Inspire in May 2023, following a 20-year career in communications, PR and marketing across the public sector and within the NHS. Her experiences in the latter during the pandemic led her to the role at Kids Inspire. She is passionate about using her skills and knowledge to help the organisation, promoting the vital work it does to support the mental health of children and young people.
Our Patron
Ruthie Henshall
Since 2015, our wonderful ' Leading Lady’ Patron has helped us to spread the word about our work and to reach more children and their families.
Ruthie Henshall's multi-award winning career has seen her star in the most popular musicals of the past thirty years including Cats, Miss Saigon, Crazy For You, She Loves Me, Marguerite, Oliver!, A Chorus Line, Les Misérables, Billy Elliot and Chicago. She has also enjoyed tremendous success in plays, in concert and on television.
Ruthie recently starred in the Toronto transfer of 42nd Street. Its London run marked her return to the West End after playing ‘Mama Morton’ in Chicago, which made her the only British actress to have played all three leading female roles in the show.
Introducing
Sophie Griffiths
Sophie Griffiths is a singer-songwriter from Brentwood, Essex. She is an old soul locked in a digital age.
Taking cues from legends such as Duffy, Amy Winehouse and Norah Jones but delivering with a modern twist, Sophie showcases a sharp turn of phrase and gift for ear-worm melodies that can be compared to contemporaries including Emie Nathan and Maisie Peters.
The last 12 months (January 2023) have been a whirlwind for Sophie Griffiths, from placements on Love Island US & UK and I'm A Celeb, to gaining her Radio One plays (Mollie King, Maia Beth, Gemma Bradley) as well as consistent support from Spotify UK. This year has also seen her play choice sets at Latitude Festival and 110 Above Festival, with her latest EP ‘Note To Self’ already eclipsing 330,000 streams across all platforms.
Our Trustees
The Trustees of Kids Inspire are legally responsible for the charity
We value our board of trustees and the skills, experience, passion and engagement they bring to Kids Inspire.
Nick Tesseyman
Specialism: Governance and Finance
Nick joined the board as Chair in September 2024. He spent most of his career in international development finance before switching to work in education as the COO of Christ's Hospital. He is a non-executive director of banks in Moldova and Bosnia, trustee of two educational charities and an independent visitor for a care experienced young person.
Simon Carpenter
Specialism: Education and Governance
Simon was a founding trustee of Kids Inspire when it first began in 2007 and re-joined the board in November 2020, and served as chair from September 2021-2024. He is a retired secondary school headteacher and has supported schools and local authorities around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), excluded pupils and those at risk of exclusion. He has worked on school improvement in the UK and the UAE, supported the establishment of new schools and he is also a school governor.
Stuart White
Specialism: Business Development
Stuart joined the board of Trustees in 2023. A Chartered Building Surveyor he is the Managing Partner of Barker Associates. Alongside accountability for strategy, operations, finance, and staff development he also leads on new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, and acquisitions at the property consultancy.
Dave Monk - Vice Chair
Specialism: Communications
Dave has had a varied background; including owning his own firm of solicitors, a wine bar and bistro, run a disco and worked in nightclubs, as well as lecturing in law. He has been with BBC Essex since 1986 and is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Essex. Dave took on the position of Kids Inspire Trustee in 2019.
Caroline Dollery
Specialism: Physical and Mental Health
Caroline joined the board in early 2020 as the pandemic set in. As Clinical Mental Health Lead and former Chair of Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, as well as a practicing GP, her experience and wealth of knowledge on mental health is welcomed among the board.
Gillian Box
Specialism: Leadership and Development
Gillian joined the board of trustees in December 2023, having worked closely with them as a trustee of Inspire Wellbeing Services. Gillian has worked within school governance for over 20 years and is passionate about children, adults and organisations reaching their potential.
Yvonne Spence
Specialism: Education
Yvonne joined the board of Trustees in 2020, having got to know Kids Inspire well during her year as Mayor of Chelmsford. Yvonne’s career was largely spent in teaching, latterly in Chelmsford, but earlier in challenging communities in Scotland and Birkenhead. She has extensive community interests, including her current role as Parish Councillor, spells as City Councillor, as a school governor and involvement in organisations such as Ladies Circle, Tangent and Rotary.
Louise Loon
Specialism: HR
Louise joined the board of Trustees in 2017 and is immensely proud to be part of the trust board and to be involved with such a valued and committed team at Kids Inspire. Professionally, Louise’s HR consultancy works with businesses by offering practical and realistic solutions to help them to grow and develop.
Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors have been recognised for their support of Kids Inspire. Awarded with the Kids Inspire crest, they regularly volunteer their time to mentoring, fundraising, attending social events or representing us at community events.
Thanks to all of our Ambassadors for their ongoing support:
Allison Marshall
Barry Milchem
Beverley Swan
Cristina Mead
Dave Adkins
Giovanna Hale
Kevin Attwell
Lane Line
Maddie Loveday
“We wanted to do something in recognition of all the hours they’ve gifted towards the Kids Inspire cause, we’re proud to have our Ambassadors onboard!”
Marian Williamson
Martyn Mead
Megan Ingram
Michelle Kopf
Pamela Rew
Sue King
Tony Stringer
Veronica Mead
Page updated: 6 November 2024