Meet the Team

Our Staff

      • Katie Monette

      • CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

      • Katie was previously our Chair but became employed as Director of Strategy 4 years ago. Katie is now our interim CEO after a recent restructure and continues to drive forward the organisation. A single mum, Katie has 2 children (or young adults!) one who is autistic, has ADHD, is dyspraxic, has dyscalculia and is volunteering and doing what she loves in an animal sanctuary. Next stop employment! The other has congenital heart disease, severe migraines and Raynauds syndrome and is doing well studying welding at college. Katie attends and leads many strategic meetings across the Local Area Partnership to ensure that parent voice is at the heart of influencing services. Katie also sources funding opportunities and leads the overall organisation as well as managing our projects and services within SPCF.

      • Deborah Mitchell

      • Peer Support Manager

      • Deborah leads our Peer Support Service.

        She has over 20 years of experience working within the public sector.

        Deborah is a dedicated mother of two, and her personal journey has been deeply shaped by her youngest child’s early arrival, autism diagnosis with speech delay, and more recently, an ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) diagnosis. Navigating these challenges first-hand led Deborah to discover Sheffield Parent Carer Forum.

      • Robyn Webster

      • Training and Marketing Programme Manager

      • Robyn is our Training and Marketing Programme Manager, 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.

      • Amy Binns

      • Volunteer Coordinator

      • Amy has many years experience working in both childcare settings and with volunteers. Amy is mum to 2 teenagers, one of whom is waiting for an ADHD and Autism assessment. She is also a mum to 2 mischievous cats! In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family, meeting up with friends and going on long walks.

      • Tracy Charlesworth

      • Business Manager

      • Tracy has over 25 years’ experience in the charitable/voluntary/community sector working in both finance and development roles.

        In her spare time, she enjoys making fused glass and stained-glass decorations.

      • Sadie White

      • Communications Officer

      • Sadie is our Communications Officer and has many years experience of working in communications across the private, public and voluntary sectors.

        Sadie is a parent of two school aged children and enjoys running, reading and the Peak District.

      • 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 read and go for long walks with her family.

      • Rebecca Lewis

      • Peer Support Worker

      • Rebecca is a Peer Support Worker. She has many years experience supporting families as a family support worker and is passionate about working with parents to achieve the best possible outcomes.
        Rebecca has a son who has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and learning needs. He has an EHCP and attends a resource provision within a mainstream school.
        In her spare time Rebecca loves creating sensory play activities for her son, walks in the countryside and trips to the theatre.

      • Amanda Flounders

      • Peer Support Service Deputy Manager

      • Amanda is a dedicated mother of three children, whose needs include Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and complex medical conditions.

        With many years of experience supporting children and young people with SEND and care-experienced backgrounds, Amanda combines extensive knowledge with lived experience. After earning a Biomedical Science degree as a mature student, she returned to SEND with a passion for empowering families to advocate confidently for their children.

      • Rochelle Searles

      • Peer Support Worker

      • Rochelle Is a peer support worker. She has 18 years of professional experience working in early years and is a parent to two children, one of which has Autism and ADHD. Rochelle also has Pot’s, giving her first-hand experience of living with a hidden disability. Having personally benefited from the support provided by Sheffield parent carer Forum , she is committed to offering informed, empathetic support to other parent carers.

      • 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.

      • 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.

      • Jenny Johnson

      • Project Worker, Autism in Schools

      • Jenny works on the Autism in Schools and PINS project working with primary and secondary schools across Sheffield.

        Previously, she worked as a Social Prescribing Link Worker and has over 5 years of experience as a school governor. Jenny has a neurodivergent teenager who is awaiting assessment for autism and ADHD.

        In her spare time,  Jenny coaches the youngest junior girls group for the local orienteering club, as well as competing herself. She also likes to dance, read books (currently autism, ADHD and perimenopause being the main topics) and go to the theatre.

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.

      • Eva Juusola

      • Trustee

      • Eva has been involved with SPCF since 2009, first as a volunteer and then as a member of staff. 

        She left her role as our Director of Operations in 2025 to focus on her other passion in life – art! Eva is currently studying for a degree in Illustration at Sheffield Hallam University, but couldn’t stay away from SPCF completely… so has now returned as a Trustee. 

      • Sam Dunker

      • Treasurer

      • Sam joined the Board as Treasurer in Autumn 2025 after providing volunteer support to a recruitment panel. She is the Deputy CEO and finance lead at Learn Sheffield, the local area education partnership organisation and member of the Sheffield SEND improvement Board. Sam previously worked for the local authority providing support to education and adult social care teams.

        Sam enjoys travelling with her husband and son, who is currently studying for his A levels at sixth form.

      • 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.

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