Meet the Team

Our Staff

      • Eva Juusola

      • Director of Operations
      • Eva first became involved with the Forum as a parent volunteer back in 2009 – and liked it so much she left her job as a translator to join our small staff team.

        Eva has a particular interest in marketing and communications, and writes most of the articles for our newsletter and this website. She oversees our finances and our IT systems.

        In her spare time, Eva enjoys painting, printmaking and photography.

      • Katie Monette

      • Director of Strategy
      • Katie was our Chair for several years and has recently become an employee. She is a single full-time mum of two girls. Her eldest has verbal dyspraxia, autism and ADHD and is in mainstream school. Her youngest has no special educational needs, but does have various health issues. She has had major open heart surgery and suffers from extreme migraines, Raynauds syndrome and hyper mobility.

        Katie attends many strategic meetings as a parent carer representative. She is also trying to strengthen our links with local parent support groups by setting up an Affiliate Membership scheme.

      • Robyn Webster

      • Neurodisability Training Project Manager
      • Robyn manages the Neurodisability Training Project, designed to help improve signposting among professionals, through parent carer voices.

        She has recently finished her master’s degree in Psychology where she specialised in Autism and SEN education. Robyn has also previously worked on mobility access and emergency accommodation projects and has many years’ experience working with children, young people and families. Robyn has a daughter who has a diagnosis of autism and is waiting on an ADHD assessment.

        In her spare time, Robyn loves to create tailored special interest education materials, read, play video or board games and attend Aerial sport classes.

      • Sharon Blagden

      • Peer Support Manager
      • Sharon leads the Peer Support Service.

        She retired from a career as a primary teacher and Headteacher where she led on parental involvement and inclusion.  Sharon worked for many years in communities where families spoke over 30 first languages.  She is a trained mindfulness teacher and has a strong interest in self compassion and well-being.

        In her free time Sharon loves to read, be out in nature and spend time with her family, especially her two young grandsons.

      • Celia Pritchard

      • Senior Administrator
      • Celia started working with us in May 2022. She has many years of experience working within administration and is passionate about working with SPCF.

        In her spare time, Celia loves to explore the Peak District with her two young boys and enjoys crotchet.

      • Amanda Flounders

      • Peer Support Worker
      • Amanda started working for Parent Carer Forum as a peer support worker in November 2022. Amanda is passionate about supporting families and has substantive experience of the benefits process gained from previous job roles. Amanda is a single carer to 3 children with complex needs, including autism, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Amanda has experience of adoption and the experiences of adopted children in education.
        Amanda likes to spend her spare time cooking and spending time with friends and family.

      • Hazel Cade

      • Peer Support Worker
      • Hazel is a proud “momma” of two beautiful children. Her son has a diagnosis of autism and her daughter has been referred for an autism and PDA assessment.

        Hazel has over 16 years’ experience working with children. She holds a Diploma in childcare, but her passion is SEND and helping families. Hazel volunteers at Discover SEND run by the Health Visiting team, and she is a volunteer parent group leader, running parenting groups for families with autistic children.

        Hazel loves to spend time with her family and friends. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, reading, and making bespoke alternative clothing.

      • Sarah Hinchliffe

      • Peer Support Worker
      • Sarah has two amazing boys, her eldest has an ADHD and autism diagnosis and attends an Integrated Resource, and her youngest is in infant school. Sarah is a strong advocate for inclusion, particularly in education, and is a SEND Parent Governor at a primary school. Before she was a parent carer, Sarah worked for 15 years in Marketing and Internal Communications in the finance and regeneration sectors.

        Sarah loves to travel and is happiest by the sea. Peer support has made a huge difference for Sarah and her family, and is the reason why she helps other parents and children on their SEND journey.

      • Shameela Sadiq

      • Peer Support Worker
      • Shameela has three young children, one of whom has dyslexia and dyspraxia. She is originally from Birmingham, but now Sheffield has become home for her. She has actively been part of the local community through voluntarily running a toddler group, being part of her children’s school PTA and attending coffee mornings. She herself has gone from pillar to post to gain help for her child and is passionate about helping others who are in a similar position to her.

        Away from work, Shameela has a desserts business which she takes great pride in. She also loves art and enjoys spending time with her family.

      • Hayley Horton

      • Peer Support Worker
      • Hayley has a degree in Psychology and Criminology and an MSC in Marketing. She has experience of working in admin, marketing, school support and as a PA to support a disabled professional.

        Hayly is mum to two children, one of whom has dyslexia and is awaiting an ADHD assessment. Hayley has ADHD herself. She is passionate about improving outcomes for neurodiverse children, and believes that parents having the right support and information is of great value.

        In her spare time, Hayle loves to read, travel and snuggle on the sofa with a good movie.

      • Rebekah Lawler

      • Peer Support Worker
      • Rebekah started working with Sheffield Parent Carer Forum in September 2024. She has many years of experience working in support and has two awesome neurodiverse kids, as well as having ADHD herself. She has lived and worked abroad for many years and understands the challenges that come from raising children in a country far from home. She is passionate about helping and supporting other parents on their journey.

        In her spare time, Rebekah loves to explore the UK with her family and enjoys gardening and crafting.

      • Sharon Court

      • Project Worker, Autism in Schools
      • Sharon works on the Autism in Schools project. Her background is mainly administrative and mentoring autistic young people. Sharon has two children, the youngest has a diagnosis of autism, ADHD, an array of other medical issues and currently attends a mainstream school with SEND support.

        In her spare time Sharon is doing a part-time MA in Autism, so her hobbies are currently finding/reading research papers and stock piling highlighter pens. But she also loves walking in the Peaks and the Lake District with the family and the dog.

      • Anna Marie Emmett

      • Project Worker, Autism in Schools
      • Anna works on the Autism in Schools project.

        She has a background in Training and Development. Her son has a diagnosis of autism, he has an EHCP and attends a mainstream school. Her brother also has a diagnosis of autism.

        In her spare time, Anna attends Martial Arts classes and she also enjoys crafting.

      • Kathleen Green

      • Project Worker, Autism in Schools
      • Kathleen is the mother of three children with various additional needs including autism, PDA, adhd, dyspraxia, Tourette’s and learning difficulties. She is also autistic.
        One of her sons is in mainstream and two attend specialist schools. She is familiar with the process of accessing support and the challenges it can bring and passionate about empowering all children and their families to live their best life.
        Kathleen was a midwife before her responsibilities as a parent carer took precedence.
        Kathleen loves to sew and read. She finds joy with her animals, long walks in the Peak District and most of all her children.

      • Susan O’Shea

      • Project Worker, Autism in Schools
      • Sue works with primary schools that participate in the PINS project across Sheffield.

        Previously, she worked as a primary school teacher for 17 years before having her two wonderful children. Sue has first-hand experience of neurodiversity in her family and is passionate about supporting families of children with additional needs.

        In her spare time Sue likes to visit the theatre, take her dog on walks in the local countryside or read a good book.

Our Trustees

      • Laura Gillespie

      • Chair
      • Laura is our Chair. She was a Physiotherapist prior to having children, specialising in Neurology. Laura has two children, a son and a daughter. Her son has a diagnosis of autism and attends Club 61 and Mencap Gateway for his adult social care. Laura is interested in inclusion and preparing our amazing children and young people for adulthood.

        Laura is one of our parent carer representatives and supports our volunteers. She is also Chair of Sheffield Lightning Athletics Club and Chair of Governors at Bents Green Special School. She is also a Director of Learn Sheffield.

        In her spare time, she loves walking in the Peak District, holidays in Cornwall and is a season ticket holder with her family at Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Club.

      • Jane Carr

      • Trustee
      • Jane has two sons, the eldest of whom has autism and ADHD and attends an Integrated Resource.

        Jane has worked for the Department for Education since 2005, on numerous policies spanning children’s social care, early years, schools and apprenticeships. With a colleague, she set up a support group at work for parents of children with SEND.

        Jane has also volunteered for Mencap and was the SEND link governor at a local primary school for seven years.

        In her spare time, Jane enjoys travelling with her family, going on walks and trying to fathom the complicated board games her older son enjoys.

      • Joel Hardwick

      • Trustee
      • Joel has three children. The middle one has a rare chromosome disorder (2q23.1 Microdeletion Syndrome), attends an integrated resource, and enjoys climbing hills in the Peak District (or at least the snack stop at the top!).

        Joel previously worked for the local authority in planning and commissioning the Sheffield education system and is now Assistant CEO at Nexus Multi-Academy Trust, who have 10 special schools across South Yorkshire.

      • Cathy Wilson

      • Trustee
      • Cathy has two children, both with a rare chromosome disorder and an array of diagnoses including ASD, ADHD, learning disability and attachment difficulties. She worked at the Forum from 2018 to 2022 on the Sheffield Local Offer and now works for a neighbouring authority on their Local Offer.
        She has a particular interest in improving the experiences for families of care-experienced children where SEND intersects with trauma and adverse childhood experiences.

      • Clare Peck

      • Trustee
      • Clare has two daughters in their twenties, the younger one has Down Syndrome.

        Clare has retired from general practice and is learning the saxophone (has the instrument, now needs to practice!). She is an active member of her local Christian community and is busy learning Makaton to sing and sign. She loves walking, gardening and reading.

        Since retirement she has become more involved in our outreach work, meeting parents in Sheffield schools and nurseries.

      • Jayne Woodward

      • Trustee
      • Jayne is mother to two sons; her eldest attends social care day services and is autistic and has dyspraxia, ADD and oral dyspraxia. Her youngest has graduated from university and has SpLD.

        Jayne works part time as a Disability Adviser at the University of Sheffield which involves supporting disabled students. She has been involved with the Sheffield Parent Carer Forum since its inception, and was chair of the organisation from 2008 to 2017.

      • Julie Chambers

      • Trustee
      • Julie became involved with the forum after her daughter was diagnosed with subcortical band hetereotopia, a rare genetic condition, and it became clear that she would need an EHCP. Julie recently became a trustee, and has a particular interest in working with the local authority on trying to improve the whole EHCP experience for other parents and children. Amongst other things, Julie represents the forum on the EHCP QA group where they review the quality of EHCPs and feed back recommendations to the SEN team. Julie previously worked as a research scientist but is now a full-time mum to her two daughters.