Management

I spent my professional career in Human Resources ending up as HR Director in a number of blue chip companies. I live in South Wales on a smallholding with chickens, horses and a small collection of dogs. I’m a keen environmentalist, walker and gardener. I have three children, the eldest Daniel is in supported living with the Trust. My wife and I helped set up the charity Headlines which supports children and young adults with Craniofacial conditions.
I have been involved with the Trust since 2008.

Cathy has been CEO since 2017 and worked for Orchard Trust since 2014 as Finance Manager.

Cathy’s passion is people - supporting everyone to reach their potential and to have fun along the way. She is delighted to lead a charity which shares these ambitions and works daily to ensure the best environment for the Trust’s clients; their families; employees; bank staff and volunteers.

Alongside her CEO role, Cathy sits on the SW Regional Stakeholder Network for the Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office supporting Government to understand and reduce the challenges faced by those with disabilities, and the Skills for Care SW CEO Network reviewing Training needs within Adult Social Care.

Prior to working for Orchard Trust Cathy’s career has been either within the not for profit sector or for organisations focussed on helping people. She worked within accounts for Priory Education and Children’s Services and as Finance and HR Manager for NFU Mutual. She also enjoyed many years as treasurer and payroll clerk and committee member for her local playgroup.

A passionate believer in lifelong learning Cathy achieved her accounting qualifications 2008 then, having realised her passion was people not pennies, changed her job and career focus completing CIPD levels 4 and 5 in Human Resource Management by 2014. Following her promotion to CEO she continued her personal development and undertook CMI level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership in 2018.

Away from the Trust Cathy is a Governor with Heart of the Forest Community Special School supporting the Head Teacher and team to provide inspiring education to the pupils. In her spare time she enjoys relaxing with her family, reading, and exploring the countryside in her campervan.

I have worked with people with Autism and Learning Disabilities since 1994, and hold an NVQ4 RMA. I have worked at all levels from Support Worker, to Registered Manager, to Head of Support and Operations supervising our Residential Managers and supporting them to deliver an excellent quality of care, and now on to my current position of Operations Manager responsible for Health and Safety, transport and our properties. I have worked at the Orchard Trust since 2013. Prior to this, I worked with various local and national providers including the National Autistic Society.

I have previously been a board member of the Gloucestershire Care Providers Association representing the interests of disability service providers. I also sit on various steering groups and partnership boards, working with other stakeholders to improve the range of services in the county.

I am also a LeDeR reviewer, gathering evidence, preparing and presenting review reports, regarding mortality in people with a learning disability. This is a national programme being led through Bristol University and working with Local Authorities, NHS and volunteers.

I have also been a Team Coordinator for the National Autistic Society’s Accreditation Service, periodically visiting settings specialising in providing services for people with an ASC to review their service provisions against that of the N.A.S. Accreditation Standards.

I joined the Orchard Trust to work at Hilltop in 2013, firstly as a Deputy Manager and then became Registered Manager in April 2021.

I have worked in health and social care with adults with learning disabilities all my working life. At age 15 I went to Deanhill Hospital on work experience and started there as a full time care assistant when I left school at age 16. When the hospital closed I was seconded to Aspire Living Ltd based in Herefordshire and worked my way up the ladder. Firstly as a team leader and then Deputy Manager by age 23. Two years later in 1998 I became a Registered Manager for the first time.

I worked for Aspire Living Ltd for 20 years, during this time I managed three different homes and finally became Service Manager for Aspire’s supported living service.

In 2013 I was made redundant and decided to take a step back to concentrate on my teenage children and successfully applied for the Deputy Managers post at Hilltop.
I have 35 years experience and an NVQ4 RMA, I also enjoy delivering training. I am a sociable bubbly character and love working with people. I am very passionate about my role.

I started working for the Trust in October 2012 as the registered manager of The Orchards and Offa’s Dyke. I previously worked for a similar Charity for 16 years as a registered manager of a care home and home care and support service in the neighbouring county of Herefordshire.

I became the Head of Support for the Trust in 2023. I am a qualified social worker and hold the Registered Managers award along with diploma’s in Health and Social Welfare levels 3 and 4. I am also an NVQ assessor and Social Work practice teacher and Institution of Safety and Health (IOSH) trained and Positive Behaviour Support trainer.

Originally from the Forest of Dean, I still live locally on the Herefordshire border with my wife, 4 children and our dog. I am a local Scout Leader and school Governor, with responsibility for safeguarding and LAC. I enjoy the outdoors and take advantage of living in this beautiful area and enjoy walking, canoeing, climbing and camping.

Originally from Brazil, I moved to the UK in 2010 and I joined the Trust in June 2019, as I felt highly connected and drawn to Orchard Trust’s ethos and values. In January 2021 I stepped up as Day Services Manager, which has led me to my current role of Stowfield Development Manager.

My passion lies in bringing people and the community together:

“At the heart of everything I do I aim to provide a safe space for people of any ability to access play and creativity, in order to build courage and embrace all of who they are!”

My background is in performing arts and therapy. I have studied different therapies, including Co-Counselling, Dramatherapy and Voice Dialogue, as well as holding a BSc degree in Psychology with Counselling. For many years I worked as a facilitator delivering workshops around the art of bringing fun into our stressful lives and the stresses of the world we live in today.

I have delivered my work in many different settings, including schools, underprivileged communities, and other groups, such as Misfits (a theatre company for adults with learning disabilities). I have also co-directed and managed other companies, supporting with funding applications, budgeting and project development. Alongside working with the Orchard Trust, I sit within the directors of a CIC called The Original Spinners delivering dance and play to hospitals and care homes, these include Southmead Hospital, BRI Hospital and Weston General Hospital.

In my free time amongst many things, I enjoy long walks in nature, playing volleyball and rugby, canoeing and playing in a band!

I joined the Orchard Trust Finance Department in November 2015 and was promoted to the role of Finance Manager in Spring 2017. I have worked in finance for over 20 years and I achieved my AAT qualification whilst working in my previous role for a multinational manufacturing company.

I applied to work for the Orchard Trust as I wanted to work for an organisation where what I did made a difference. Working for a charity that enhances people’s lives gives great job satisfaction. I enjoy visiting our services, it is great to see the bonds that are formed between our support workers and their clients.

I am a trustee for the Charity Finance Group, a membership body who support finance professionals in the charity sector. This is a rewarding role where I am able to not only contribute to the great work of the CFG but also provide a voice for charities within the care sector and in more rural locations.

Outside of work I enjoy going camping with my family, baking and reading.

Prior to joining the Trust in 2016 I enjoyed developing my skills and experience by working in the travel industry and public sector, as well as running a pet care franchise for several years. I have had a varied working background in a number of different training and managerial roles, hold a B.Ed Honours teaching degree, a Level 4 diploma in Learning and Development, am a qualified Assessor and Internal Quality Assurer, and also hold a Level 3 diploma in cat behaviour!

In charge of training for the Trust I passionately believe in my ability to work closely with others in order to make a real difference to the quality of our clients lives through enabling a wide variety of training and upskilling opportunities for our staff. This is now achieved through a variety of ways for staff to learn such as in the classroom, via online webinars, and elearning.

I actively participate in working groups at local and national level which influence change in the training provision for the social care sector, and represent the Trust at various forums.

In my spare time I enjoy painting, swimming, walking, and skiing. I also still love to travel.