My name is Suki and I am the Charity Manager at KidsAid. I have worked in local charities in Northamptonshire for 25 years and have never felt more passionate about an organisation as I do about KidsAid. I am very proud of the outcomes that KidsAid achieves with children, young people and their families and I hope that we continue to reach more and more families that need us each year.

I have always enjoyed working with young people and families and since graduating in 2010 with a BSc Hons in Public and Community Health I have worked in various positions within foster care and adoption and young people’s services until joining KidsAid in 2016. I am passionate about my role working for KidsAid and feel inspired being part of something so positive for our local community. I love music, cooking, walking my dog and spending time with my family and friends. – Becca

Hi, my name is Kat. I am an Art Therapist and have been working for KidsAid since November 2016. I completed my MA in Art Therapy at the University of Hertfordshire. I have experience of working of within an acute psychiatric settings as well working in the community setting. I am currently working with KidsAid to support children, young people and families to help them to find creative ways to solve problems and difficulties that they have experienced. Kat F.

My name is Sarah and work for KidsAid as Dramatherapist. I am passionate about helping children and adolescents have a space to explore, address and deal with personal and social difficulties can be too difficult to talk about through creative mediums. I enjoy swimming, films and anything Disney. – Sarah

Hi, my name is Lape and I’m a Dance Movement Psychotherapy graduate from Goldsmiths University of London. I LOVE the way that dance and movement can empower us to express and explore our life stories in ways that can sometimes be difficult using words alone… Supporting children and young people on their unique therapy journeys is a treasured privilege.

"I trained as an art therapist at the university of Hertfordshire and qualified in July 2017 having followed my dream of being able to use art-making in bringing change into the lives of others given personal experiences from my own art-making. Art therapy provides a unique medium for self-exploration through connections with the unconscious mind without the need to depend much on words which could be difficult to access in certain situations especially given other underlying issues. It is a real privilege being able to facilitate and witness positive change in the lives of the young people and families with whom I work at KidsAid". – Raphael

“My name is Katrina and I have worked as an Art Psychotherapist with KidsAid for almost a year. After qualifying from Goldsmiths University in 2014, I remained in London to run an art therapy group for refugees whilst working with children and young people in a pupil referral unit. Prior to training I mostly worked with adults in hospice and mental health settings, but became passionate about working with children when I recognised their huge capacity for initiating their own change when given the right tools (and art materials!), no matter what their circumstances in life or trauma”.

We first communicate through our bodies whether in utero, through our mother’s holding and later, with body language - often revealing what words seek to conceal. Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) is based on this body-mind link: that our thoughts and feelings affect and reflect our patterns of movement and relationship with the world around us. DMP also works with the transitional space between people, the play space where the unconscious can be unlocked, brought to mind, integrated and accepted into our being. With children, DMP, provides a medium for self-expression, exploration, and reflection without focus on purely verbal communication: particularly helpful where the child may have difficulty with naming emotions or lack the vocabulary to describe difficult and troubling thoughts. Bridget holds an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy from Goldsmith’s College, London, and has worked with children in schools and other settings, with adult mental health in residential and community venues, and with people living with neurological conditions. Bridget also teaches dance in schools and adults. She enjoys camping, being in nature and curling up with a good book. – Bridget

I joined KidsAid in a voluntary capacity towards the end of 2017. I work on a Monday and support the therapists with anything they need me to do. I have two daughters myself who sadly lost their father to cancer in 2015 − this has given me an insight into how trauma in childhood can affect adult life. I feel passionate about Kidsaid and the work they do and I am proud to be able to help them.

My name is Tessa and I have worked within various positions within foster care and adoption, acute psychiatric services and the voluntary sector. I am extremely proud to be part of the KidsAid team and the vital work that KidsAid provides for the local community. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, travel and entertaining.

I am a drama and movement therapist currently training as a child and adolescent psychotherapist. I am passionate about working with children and families and use Theraplay to support the parent-child relationship. I have two boys aged 10 and 11.

Victoria is a graduate of the University of Roehampton and is fully HCPC registered. Combining her MA Dramatherapy training with a B.A in ‘Early childhood and Education’ Victoria has specialised in working with children and young adults with complex health and behavioural needs, gaining experience of working therapeutically in a wide variety of settings including SEN schools and Youth Offending services. Victoria also works therapeutically with children in mainstream schools who are experiencing difficulties accessing the curriculum and/or emotionally and socially.

“My name is Hellie. I have been Managing Director of two businesses locally for the past 7 years, love the world of the private sector but wanted to bring my business acumen to KidsAid and give something back to a charity close to my heart and the local community”.

Before becoming a trustee, I was a head teacher of a local Primary School for over 20 years. I retired 2 years ago and now work with trainee teachers at the local university and am a chair of governors at a large multicultural primary school. − Duncan

I have been practising as a Family Law Barrister for nearly 25 years. As a result, I have first-hand knowledge of the lamentable lack of therapeutic provision for children who have suffered abuse, bereavement, bullying and other traumas. So often these experiences manifest themselves years later when the child becomes an adult and inflicts abuse and/or bullying on other children and young people. It became clear to me that in the absence of reliable Local Authority or government initiatives something had to be done by the voluntary sector to try to break this invidious cycle, so just over 10 years ago I helped to co-found KidsAid.

Nick Griffin was a Consultant Paediatrician at Northampton General Hospital for 25 years until his retirement in 2009. He had a particular interest in the emotional and social effects of illness and handicap on the patient and family. He was the founding Convener of the British Association of Child Mental Health. He often acted as an expert witness in Child Protection cases, particularly those associated with emotional abuse or neglect. Since retirement, apart from his work with KidsAid, he is involved in a number of organisations associated with the Arts.

I started work in children’s homes in the early 90’s and have worked with vulnerable children and families since this time. I qualified as a Social Worker in the late 90’s, mainly working with adolescents to try to keep them out of the care system. I then moved to statutory safeguarding work in 2004, managing various teams, in all areas of Northamptonshire, until December 2016 when I moved across to Quality & Performance within Children’s Services. This role oversees planning for all children open to Children’s Social Care, ensuring their Care Plans are delivered effectively and challenging services if there are concerns about how this is being done. I joined KidsAid as a trustee as I was aware of excellent work that had been completed with some very vulnerable children and believed I would be able to offer current and statutory Social Work input into the charity. – Sean

John Duggan is an experienced businessman, Non Executive Director (NED) and Chair with experience mainly in the Not for Profit Sector. He has a particular interest and experience of developing an open, effective and energised leadership style and culture necessary to underpin high performing, socially and environmentally responsible organisations.