The Team
Mark Kingston, Chief Executive
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Mark Kingston joined us as Chief Executive in 2018, having spent more than 20 years working in children’s services.
Previously he worked for Action for Children where he specialised in family placements. Mark is a qualified Social Worker and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Services Management from Birmingham University. |
Sasha Hart, Service Manager
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Hey ! I'm Sasha and I manage the edge of care and support services across Community Family Care. I joined CFC in 2012 and feel very lucky to get to work with such great people every day. From the young people and families to my fab team, every day is not only different but usually completed with a big smile.
I have a degree in psychology from Cardiff uni and a qualification in Leadership and Management. My background has been in working with children, young people, and families across Children’s Centres, family support, youth work settings and family courts. At home you'll usually find me out walking and exploring National Trust sites and the coast. I also love music, I collect vinyl and try to get to gigs regularly. |
Dan Whitson-Jones, Business Development Manager
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Dan joined us in November 2016, having spent six years as a member of our sister charity's Fostering Panel.
Prior to this he was Deputy CEO for a transition charity who offered supported accommodation to homeless young people and those with mental health issues. Dan is a qualified youth and community worker and spent five years working for Young Gloucestershire where he managed their county-wide youth work provision. |
Cally Williams, Family and Placement Support Worker
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Hi, I'm Cally and I'm a Placement and Family Support Worker mainly covering Swindon and Wiltshire. I am responsible for direct work and activities with our young people across Community Foster Care and also support young people in our edge of care services too. I love working directly with young people and apply my knowledge in attachment to best support their needs.
I have previously worked for Swindon’s Looked After Children Education Service for nine years and at a behavioural school for a year before joining CFC. Out of work you'll find me running around after my dog and my gorgeous grandchildren! |
Gemma Nield, Family and Placement Support Worker
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Hi! I’m Gemma, a Placement and Family Support Worker for CFC. After many years working in the Early Years sector, I wanted a new challenge and due to being a “people’s person” felt that this role was perfect!
I spent 3 years studying early childhood at the University of Gloucestershire and my work really utilises the things I have learnt. I absolutely love getting to know all of the families that I work with, whilst using a friendly and understanding approach. I like to think that my relaxed and welcoming style of working encourages Young People and adults to feel comfortable with me. I feel truly lucky to love what I do! |
Emma Coombs, Youth Support Worker (BoA)
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Hi, I'm Emma and I'm a Youth Support Worker for BoA Youth based in Bradford on Avon. I have a qualification in Youth Work and have been working with young people for over 13 years, I also attended the Youth Centre in BoA when I was younger! I have a passion for helping young people and have worked in various settings over the years including youth centres and schools, and have worked in safeguarding as well as community work.
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Alan Bell, Youth Support Worker (BoA)
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Hi I'm Alan and I'm a Youth Support Worker for BoA Youth in Bradford on Avon. My role involves directly working with young people as well as supporting with detached work in the local community.
My background has been in teaching and more recently in counselling. I am a trained counsellor and love using my skills working 1:1 with young people to enable positive changes to be made. |
Cherry Riley, Youth Support Worker (BoA)
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Hi, I'm Cherry and I'm a Youth Support Worker for BoA Youth in Bradford on Avon. I have qualifications in counselling and am also currently training to be a PCSO!
I love working as a Youth Support Worker and my role is very varied from organising activities for the youth groups, doing detached work out in the local community, to supporting young people on a 1:1 basis. I love cats and outside of work I have two cats who keep me very busy! |
Amanda Culverhouse, FGC Project Lead (North Somerset)
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I’m Amanda Culverhouse and I am the Project Lead for the Family Group Conferencing Service at CFC based in North Somerset. I absolutely love my job and thoroughly enjoy meeting families and especially children during the short time we work with them. I have a great team behind me and we bring lots of different skills to the organisation. Along with an FGC qualification I am also a trained Child Advocate and Mediator.
In my spare time I like to socialise, walk, book holidays and spend time with my family. I have recently started growing my own veg and I own 8 chickens! In the olden days (pre children) I was a Synchronised Swimmer and Golfer for the county of Somerset! |
Teresa James, FGC Co-Ordinator (North Somerset)
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My name is Teresa James, and I have been a Family Group Conference Co-Ordinator working with the FGC Team since January 2018. My background is in Education, having trained as a teacher, and worked in schools in Dagenham, Luton and North Somerset. I was also a SENDCO and have a keen interest in supporting children and families with Additional Needs. I currently work as an Education Welfare Officer alongside my FGC Co-Ordinator role. Working with families and children is my passion.
Outside of work, I have been married to Andrew for 31 years, and we have four grown up children. In my spare time (when I have any), I enjoy knitting, crochet, reading, family history research, going on day trips with my family and discovering new places. |
Sarah Timms, FGC Co-Ordinator (North Somerset)
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Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm a Family Group Conference Co-ordinator for CFC. I’ve worked for many years in Safeguarding and Family Support work and thoroughly enjoy my role with CFC as a Family Group Conference Co-ordinator.
I live in North Somerset and I’m a single Mum to three grown up children, two of whom live at home with me. We have two dogs so life is never dull, especially when we go away in our camper van! I love exploring the country in the van and the dogs just love van life, which invariably involves long walks. |
Ola Jance, FGC Co-Ordinator (North Somerset)
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Hi! My name is Ola. I am a Family Group Conference Coordinator for CFC. I enjoy empowering the children by offering the families the opportunity to get together to voice their concerns and improve their family life.
I'm originally from Albania and speak many different languages. I love spending time with family and friends and have recently taken up fishing. |
