The Families InFocus staff and trustee team, standing and sitting.

Meet our team

Our Team

Our team of friendly and experienced staff  have a range of skills, knowledge and experience. They work across Essex to support SEND families.

Our staff team are supported by a team of skilled volunteers and trustees.

I felt overwhelmed with everything and anxious. I felt understood, listened to and respected by staff who helped me so much. I am so grateful.”

Team Members

Families InFocus promotional bugs. They are blue.

Alex Appleby

Activity Club Coordinator

Alex is the Coordinator for our activity clubs in Colchester and Chelmsford. She started working for Families InFocus Essex in 2018 and is currently studying physics at the University of Kent as well as teaching and learning competitive figure skating.

Families InFocus promotional bugs. They are blue.

Lily Copeland

Activity Club Worker

Lily is an Activity Club Worker at our club in Colchester.

Kirsty the CEO is talking to a colleague. She is wearing glasses and a black dress.

Kirsty Cornell

Chief Executive Officer

Kirsty joined us at CEO in September 2020. She has over 20 years experience in the voluntary sector, mostly working for organisations who support adults with learning disabilities or Autism. Most recently Kirsty was CEO of Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service, and worked as an independent consultant to the not for profit sector.

Family Support Advisor Tereasa sat at her desk working on her laptop. She is wearing a green jumper.

Tereasa Cosgrave

Family Support Advisor, South Essex

Tereasa joined Families InFocus in April 2022 as the Family Advisor for the south Essex area. Before becoming part of the team Tereasa has worked in both mainstream and specialist schools supporting children and families with a wide range of special educational needs. She has set up both SEMH and nurture provisions in mainstream schools. She enjoys working for Families InFocus to help families achieve positive outcomes for their children in education and life.

Orla, a family support adviser is looking back at the camera smiling.

Orla Deevy

Family Support Advisor, Chelmsford

Orla is our Family Support Advisor for the Maldon area. She joined Families InFocus in April 2022, and has previously worked in schools and as a professional photographer. Orla kindly took lots of the photos on our website!

Vicky, a family support adviser, is sat at her desk talking to her colleague

Vicky Faulks

Family Support Advisor, North Essex

Vicky joined Families InFocus in 2021 as a Family Support Advisor, and works in North East Essex (Colchester and Tendring) specialising in neurodiversity. Vicky is a SEND parent who was previously supported by Families InFocus and has a disability herself.

Matt Hume

Peer Support Service Manager

Matt joined Families InFocus in April 2023 with over 4 years in the voluntary sector. Matt has successfully developed and delivered many other Essex-wide projects, including the successful Men’s Shed project, along with 18 months experience supporting SEN students at a local academy. Matt thrives on community engagement and is at his happiest when helping others.

Family Support Advisor Linsey is talking to a colleague. She is wearing glasses and smiling.

Linsey Hyde

Operations Manager

Linsey joined Families in Focus in 2013 and is the Family Support Advisor for Braintree District and Uttlesford. Prior to this Linsey worked for a national disability charity providing advice and support and had graduated from Anglia Ruskin University with a First class Honours Degree in Early Childhood and Education Studies.

Kate Robertson

Family Support Adviser, Braintree District

Kate joined Families InFocus in June 2023 and is a Family Support Advisor for Braintree District. Kate has previously worked as a Primary School Teacher and Forest School Leader. As a SEND parent herself, Kate is also a volunteer Family Champion with Essex Family Forum.

Tracey, a family support adviser, is sat at her desk talking to a colleague. She is wearing a pink top.

Tracey Jarvis

Family Support Advisor, mid Essex

Tracey joined Families InFocus in 2020 and is a Family Support Advisor for the mid area. Tracey worked in schools for 10 years and with her lived experience of 23 years, she has used her experiences in her work advising and supporting many families through the SEND processes.  Tracey believes that every child, no matter what their situation, deserves an education that is suited to the young person or child.

Karen wearing a Families InFocus T Shirt and standing next to a brick wall.

Karen Mathews

Family Support Advisor, West Essex

Karen is our Family Support Advisor for West Essex. She has worked for Families InFocus in different roles for 12 years, but first sought support from the charity as a parent. After volunteering in befriending and admin roles, and at our Saturday Activity Club, she became a paid employee of the charity in 2010. Before becoming a Family Support Advisor three years ago, she worked as a PA to the Director and then as an Independent Supporter. Prior to her employment at Families InFocus, she worked for a local counselling service on their helpline

Julie, the Senior Family Support Advisor is at her desk. She is wearing a white jumper and smiling.

Julie Neilson

Senior Family Support Advisor

Julie started at Families InFocus in 1998 as a volunteer befriender.  A few years later she secured a job as a part time Admin Assistant and is now our Senior Family Support Advisor.  Previously Julie had a varied career in the Women’s Royal Naval Service and Lloyd’s of London.

Helpline Worker Jo is on the phone. She is wearing a blue jumper.

Jo Sapstead

Helpline worker

Jo joined Families InFocus in 2000, and over the years she has seen many changes within the charity. Her roles have varied throughout her time at Families InFocus, but now she manages the Helpline, providing empathy and information to all our enquiries via telephone and email.

Work, life balance is important to Jo, so she likes to keep fit at the gym.

Family Support Advisor Terri is talking to a colleague. She is wearing a brown jumper and her glasses are on top of her head.

Terri Towler

Family Support Advisor, North Essex

Terri started working for Families InFocus in 2019, and is our Family Support Advisor for Colchester. Away from her role as an FSA she is a Mum to 3 boys, Two of whom have SEND. Before joining Families InFocus Terri spent many years supporting parents and carers as a parent mentor at The Maze Group and she is also Chair of Colchester Parent Support.

Wendy a family support adviser is sat at her desk.

Wendy Potter

Family Support Advisor, North Essex

Wendy joined Families InFocus in 2021 as a Family Support Advisor for North Essex. Before joining Families InFocus, Wendy worked for 10 years supporting SEN children in a Primary School, and for a local charity supporting autistic young people aged 16-25.

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