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  1. Who We Are
  2. Meet the Team
  3. Staff

Staff

Find out about our great team of dedicated staff. Please remember that many of our staff work part-time hours so may not be able to respond to an enquiry straight away.

Becky Newton

Wheels to Work Project Officer

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Becky joined RAD in September 2018 as Wheels to Work Project Assistant and is enjoying being part of the team and supporting people to access training, education and employment opportunities. 

Born in Cambridgeshire Becky was brought up in a Fenland Farming community before moving to the bright lights of London to complete her degree in English and American Studies.

She spent 8 months as a residential volunteer supporting homeless people in a therapeutic farming community just outside Edinburgh when she finished her degree and loved every second, even the 4am sheep checks during lambing season!

After some adventures in Italy and Sussex Becky followed her heart and moved to Scotland’s capital in 2003 where she supported adults with learning disabilities with independent living skills.

Becky returned to England and settled in Derbyshire 12 years ago where she lives with her husband, son and ‘Nell Cat’. Becky loves spending time in nature, gardening and seeing her favourite bands. In additional to working at RAD, she is studying for a Diploma in Physiology and Anatomy, don’t ask why!

If you would like to contact Becky, email [email protected] or call 01629 592976 / 07454 230757.

Published: 25th September, 2018

Updated: 6th April, 2021

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Beverley Parker - CEO

Chief Executive Officer and tenant farmer.

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Bev was appointed to the post of CEO of RAD in April 2017. She is a keen advocate of rural issues, having grown up in a South Derbyshire village with very few services even then. Nowadays the village has no shop, no doctors’ surgery and a very occasional bus service.

She grew up surrounded by the countryside, did casual work at the local potato farm and kept a scruffy pony in a farmer's field sandwiched between the A38 trunk road and the main railway line between Derby and Birmingham.

In her career she has worked in various local authorities, mainly in culture and tourism, organising large scale outdoor events, managing a museum and country park, promoting conferences in a large seaside resort and working for a regional arts board as a senior manager. She worked for the Audit Commission for 9 years but in 2011, following sweeping political changes, the Audit Commission was demised and redundancy followed. She then spent nearly 3 years teaching at a residential school for girls with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties (a good grounding for being CEO at RAD!). She has been a school governor for many years at a local primary school.

Bev joined RAD in March 2014 as Policy and Partnerships Manager for Financial Action and Advice Derbyshire.

She lives in Staffordshire, a stone’s throw from the Derbyshire border. With her partner Ian she farms around 70 acres with around another 30 acres of grazing land on an annual basis. They have around 200 Jacob sheep and 4 Longhorn beef cattle and they produce hay and haylage mainly for the equestrian market.

She has two horses, a Jack Russell terrier and a few chickens which lay eggs for friends and family – including RAD staff.

To contact Bev: Office 01629 592971, Mobile: 07738 983 656, email: [email protected]

Published: 6th July, 2017

Updated: 14th November, 2018

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Charlotte Winterbottom

Policy & Partnerships Officer

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Charlotte is our most recent recruit, joining RAD in December 2021 and is our Policy and Partnerships Officer. She has responsibility for our rural poverty work including; Feeding Derbyshire, financial and digital inclusion and she is already enjoying being part of the team and relishing the challenges ahead in 2022.

Charlotte is originally from Greater Manchester and fresh out of University as a Politics graduate spent time working for Manchester and Bolton local authorities in housing, regeneration and policy roles. She then moved to Melbourne, Australia for 10 years (after a flippant “should we”) question from her husband. There she worked for the State Government of Victoria on a range of community programmes helping to respond to drought, bushfires, newly arrived refugees and population growth. On her return from Oz she’s been working in the voluntary sector, initially for the Workers Education Association and most recently spending four years at The Volunteer Bureau in Glossop, supporting community development work and business development.

She lives in High Peak with her husband, two young sons, two girl rescue dogs and a boy rescue cat. She spends most of her time outdoors; walking, watching football (both sons and Manchester City) and can also be found attempting to play cricket for Charlesworth Women’s Cricket Team. She also does lots of volunteering and is the Treasurer of Hollingworth Juniors Football Club which she says is “like another full time job”.

If you would like to contact Charlotte, email [email protected] or call 01629 592970/07871 729990

Published: 22nd December, 2021

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Claire Symonds

Suicide Awareness Project Lead

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Claire joined RAD in October 2016, project managing the Suicide Awareness Training. She works with the Public Health Team at Derbyshire County Council to organise and deliver the free training sessions throughout Derbyshire.

She began her career working in finance and project management and after retraining a few years ago she moved towards the area of Health & Social Care - although her financial training still comes in very handy!

Claire enjoys getting out and about in the great outdoors to exercise and she also enjoys all things musical, particularly playing in a brass band and dancing. Her love of travelling has taken her around the world, driving across America getting her kicks on Route 66 as well as a trip on the Orient Express!

To contact Claire, email her on [email protected] or phone 01629 592970.

Published: 30th November, 2017

Updated: 29th April, 2022

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Emily Brailsford

The Willow Project Officer

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Emily started at RAD on 1st August 2018 as Chaplain for young farmers, working with Alan Griggs to support young farmers and the wider agricultural community across Derbyshire. She also provided admin support for the project and for the Village Halls Advisory Service.

She is now project officer for The Willow Project, our Rural Domestic Abuse Awareness project.

She lives near Matlock and is a married mum of three children aged 16, 10 and 8 so certainly has her hands full.

Emily says "I seem to have followed a roundabout route to essentially come back to where I started. I am the granddaughter of a farmer and spent my youth herding cattle on my horse. I then became a beauty therapist, then worked in a bank, trained as a Teaching Assistant and have now returned to the world of farming.

"My church life has also gone full circle. I attended Sunday School as a child but avoided church when a night out with my friends was more interesting. I came back to the church after the birth of my first child and last year was licensed as a Lay Reader in the Church of England. On the rare occasions I get any time to myself I like to spend it reading or doing embroidery.

"It's great to be involved in other parts of RAD work too, I'm learning so much!"

If you would like to contact Emily, call her on her mobile 07594 088858 or the main office number (Emily is part-time and normally out and about, but you will be able to leave a message for her) on 01629 592970 or email [email protected].

Published: 30th July, 2018

Updated: 21st April, 2022

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Emma Simpson

Head of Communications and Administration

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Emma joined RAD in June 2006, but then left at the end of 2011 for a two and a half year break in Guernsey, coming back in September 2014. She is part of the senior management team, she runs the oil buying scheme and is responsible for RAD marketing and administration.  

Her experience comes from a number of different areas. Horses and skiing have had an impact on her career path. She is a qualified riding instructor and has worked in England, Spain, America and Australia with horses. She has also had 4 seasons working as a Resorts Manager for a ski company in Italy. Now more grounded in Derbyshire with a son and a dog you are more likely to see her walking in the Derbyshire Dales.

If you have a general enquiry about RAD's work, marketing or would like to speak to her about the oil buying scheme call her on 01629 592970 / 07540 736118 or email [email protected].

Published: 2nd November, 2017

Updated: 6th April, 2021

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George White

Marketing Executive

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George first joined RAD on an internship back in June 2019, helping to develop a membership programme for their Village and Community Halls Advisory Service. In a short space of time, George felt a strong connection to the charity, and has been working for them on and off ever since. 

In January 2022, George joined the cause on a permanent basis as Marketing Executive, helping the wonderful team with marketing, admin and research support. 

In his free time, George loves to get some fresh air and stretch his legs by going on walks around the gorgeous Derbyshire countryside, and is a big fan of football and films. 

If you would like to contact George, please email [email protected]. 

Published: 4th February, 2022

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Helena Stubbs

Village Halls and Community Buildings Adviser

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Helena joined RAD in September 2002 as a Rural Officer. Before joining RAD Helena had been working as a research consultant studying the impacts of Foot and Mouth in the Voluntary Sector in South Derbyshire, the social needs of older people in a number of rural Derbyshire villages and the evaluation of sheltered housing and day care services.

She feels privileged to help make a difference to people's lives throughout her time so far at RAD working with communities, supporting shops, post offices and pubs and for the last 8 years helping with community buildings. Helena says, "travelling around such a beautiful county and meeting such interesting people all with a common goal of trying to improve their local communities really makes my job special. Work is never boring and each village hall I work with presents me with its own unique issues which need investigating."

Helena has lived all her life in Derbyshire's farming community. She is part of a large bustling family with two grown up children, a beautiful granddaughter and 19 nephews and nieces so there's always a family gathering to keep her busy. 

If you would like to contact Helena, email [email protected] or phone 01629 592973.

Published: 8th November, 2017

Updated: 25th September, 2018

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Iona Peat

Rural Services Assistant

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Iona joined RAD in April 2022 as Rural Services Assistant as part of the Kickstart Scheme.

Born and still living in Derbyshire, Iona has been brought up on a small holding and loves the countryside and the many activities on offer.

As well as working part-time for RAD she is a fashion design student at Sheffield Hallam. She is combining her studies and part time work at RAD with a part-time work placement at a fashion house in London.

During her free time, Iona enjoys going for long walks with family as well as making her own clothing and painting.

Iona's sister also works at RAD. Although they used to bicker when they were younger, they are now getting along well both inside and outside of work!

To contact Iona, email [email protected] or call 07563 394900.

Published: 29th April, 2022

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Joanne Peck

Project Coordinator - Feeding Derbyshire & Digital Inclusion

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Joanne Peck joined RAD in August 2018 as a Project Assistant. She has worked on our Wheels to Work project, the Suicide Awareness Training Project and supported Helena Stubbs, our Village Halls Advisor with event management.

She is currently working as Project Coordinator for Digital Inclusion and supporting some of the Feeding Derbyshire work. 

Jo was born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk but her family moved to Derby when she was 8. She returned to Norfolk to get her degree in Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia. Jo has lived in Scotland and Cambridgeshire, but returned to Derbyshire with her family in 2007.

Jo worked for many years as a Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant and then moved to employment with the Derbyshire Libraries as a Library Assistant and then Manager of the Matlock branch.

As well as a busy life as a working mum, over the years Jo has also found the time to fit in some volunteering at a museum, running Fairtrade stalls at local events and children's holiday clubs. 

When not working Jo enjoys reading, baking, gardening, yoga, badminton and walking Pudding, her rather lively Cockapoo.

If you would like to contact Jo, email [email protected] or call 01629 592978 / 07738 107072  

Published: 7th November, 2018

Updated: 5th May, 2022

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Kevin Fleming

Peaks & Dales Sales Assistant

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Kevin was born in Derby and has lived there most of his life. He joined RAD in April 2022 as Sales Assistant for Peaks & Dales e-bike hire and some additional support to Wheels to Work. 

Kevin has spent many years working as an engineer in the world of banking. Travelling vast distances every day to provide technical solutions to customers. Then 9 years working for a charity, teaching bicycle mechanics, working with volunteers to provide clients with bikes to help them become more travel independent.

The bikes kept coming and the jobs kept changing. Like for many, redundancy repeatedly reared its head but that then lead him to RAD, where again he was able to work for this wonderful charity and support those in need with transport solutions in Derbyshire.

He is a busy father of 2 and enjoys spending time with the family, being out on a bike and pottering in the garden.

To contact Kevin, email [email protected] or call 07563 393883.

Published: 28th April, 2022

Updated: 29th April, 2022

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Laura Mitchell

Wheels to Work Project Manager

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Laura joined RAD in September 2016 working on the Wheels to Work project. Laura says, "I love meeting the clients and seeing how their careers and education opportunities develop once they have access to their own transport and seeing the knock-on effect that this has on their confidence."  

Before working at RAD Laura spent 9 year working in the tourism industry in Finnish Lapland (yes, she has met Father Christmas), before returning “home” to Derbyshire.

When she's not at work she loves spending time with her two boys, which usually includes hanging out at the skate park trying not to have a heart attack!  

To contact Laura email [email protected] or call 01629 592975 or 07588 848664.

Published: 7th November, 2017

Updated: 16th July, 2021

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Paula Dealtry

Project Assistant - Wheels to Work & Feeding Derbyshire

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Paula joined RAD in December 2020 working part-time on the Wheels to Work project.  “I applied for the role as I found RAD a very interesting and worthwhile organisation with a good ethos and working on causes very close to my heart”.

She has increased her hours and expanded her work to help support some of the Feeding Derbyshire work.

Her previous background is in senior sales management for a hot drinks company where she worked for over 20 years. For the past 7 years she has run her own coffee supplies and dog walking businesses, both of which she still continues to enjoy.

When she is not working, she loves to spend time with her 2 children, family and friends and her many pets.

If you would like to contact Paula, email [email protected] or call 01629 592976 / 07549 127707.

Published: 6th April, 2021

Updated: 29th April, 2022

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Sally Salisbury

Finance Manager

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Sally has been working at RAD since 2001, starting in an admin support role for Peak Rural Welfare Rights before moving into accounts.  In 2001 rural communities were coping with the devastating effects of the Foot & Mouth outbreak, a very difficult time indeed for livestock farmers throughout Derbyshire. The former coal mining areas in the north eastern area of Derbyshire were also a priority.

There have been many changes at RAD since Sally started, ranging from the Village Agents scheme to current day projects helping with transport, oil buying, financial capability and wellbeing as well as working within communities supporting their village halls and neighbourhood plans. Sally says, "It's a really interesting charity to work for and it's rewarding that indirectly I am helping to support the frontline workers."

Sally is Derbyshire born and bred, living in the same village she was born in - Hognaston. However, she also loves Cornwall and visits at least twice a year and is one day hoping to move there.

She has had an interesting working career working mostly in and around Ashbourne with a building company producing handmade bricks and tiles, an estate agents, advertising agency and Agricultural Training Board.

She qualified as a professional photographer when her daughter was very young and has also taken her accountancy qualifications.

Sally is an avid (passionate?) follower of the Levellers and Ferocious Dog, regularly going to music festivals and gigs, usually with her daughter in tow. She is a long time dog lover with two Golden Retrievers and was secretary of the local dog training club for many years (so her dogs are obviously very well trained!).

When she's not walking her dogs she likes to spend time in the garden.

To contact Sally email her at [email protected] or telephone 01629 592972.

Published: 7th November, 2017

Updated: 22nd January, 2019

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Samantha Mumby-Harrison

Project Coordinator Feeding Derbyshire

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Samantha joined RAD in January 2020 as part of an Intern programme with the Driven team at the University of Derby. She started off as Graduate Market Researcher, but her skills soon meant that she was helping to support other projects and then taking charge of our Batch-Cook programme. She is now a project coordinator within the Feeding Derbyshire team with a focus on developing the Community Pantry network.

After graduating with a BA(Hons) in Digital Media Design, focusing on Photography she went on to complete her MSc in Marketing Management. During her studies, she worked as a support worker for people with mental health or learning difficulties and as a café assistant.

In her free time, she enjoys doing photography, with the occasional wedding and product shoot, baking, going out with her husband and her mixed-breed rescue dog (Husky, Hound, Rottweiler & Doberman) Keeta and enjoying all things Japanese including anime.

Published: 17th April, 2020

Updated: 5th May, 2022

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Skye Peat

Events & Marketing Executive

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Skye has joined RAD in March 2021 as part of the Kickstart Scheme, and now works full time as an Events & Marketing Executive where she will also be working on the Village Halls project & The Willow Project.

Born and still living in Derbyshire, Skye has been brought up around many farm animals and loves the countryside.

After graduating with a BSc (Hons) in International Events Management at Sheffield Hallam University, she went on to work for a local events company. During her studies, she worked for a year at an international events agency, holding events in multiple counties.

During her free time, Skye enjoys going for long walks with her dogs, bike rides, cooking and posting on her food blog and of course enjoying time spent with her friends and family.

If you would like to contact Skye, email [email protected] or call 07745 539445.

Published: 6th April, 2021

Updated: 28th January, 2022

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Rural Action Derbyshire is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England Company No: 3320404 Charity No: 1061531 VAT No: 253 691 980.
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