Our people

Anna-Clare joined Step Together in September 2018, having previously been CEO of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum. She has over 10 years' experience of senior management in the charity sector, primarily working in the health and social care sector. Anna-Clare also brings experience of the commercial sector, where she focused on business development and income generation. Outside of work, Anna-Clare has a busy family life with her husband and twin boys and enjoys getting out in the fresh air for runs or dog walks.

Deb joined in January 2021, from Headway Bristol (a brain injury charity) where she led on all charity operations from HR and fundraising, to finance and governance. She previously ran her own boutique legal recruitment consultancy and professional CV writing business and spent over 25 years in the industry as a successful recruiter, manager and careers coach. ACIPD qualified with many years’ experience in business start-ups, sales and operations, she has responsibility at Step Together for managing our volunteer project management team and core program delivery. Deb lives in Bristol, is married and a mum to two grown up children. To relax, she enjoys working on her allotment, cooking, drawing, musicals and watching live bands.

Gillian joined in January 2021, after working as a paralegal in education law, primarily supporting families of children and young people with special educational needs. She has worked with several charity organisations, including Citizens Advice, and Asylum Welcome, and has a particular interest in the legal issues that vulnerable people face. In her free time, Gillian studies Arabic, enjoys painting, and going on long walks.

Laura’s background is in Clinical Physiology, where she worked for several years within the NHS. Laura also has experience of working directly within the armed forces community for several welfare organisations, both overseas and the UK. Being a military spouse, she shares an insight and understanding of what military life is truly like. With an interest in personal development, she is passionate about helping those around her by providing a supportive network, enabling people to develop their potential. Laura is married and lives in Salisbury with her two children.

Sarah joined Step Together Volunteering in October 2023, having run her own business for many years, and recently launching a social enterprise supporting military spouses into local employment and volunteering placements. As a military spouse herself, she has relocated her family across Europe whilst supporting her serving partner’s career, working within the Armed Forces Community in each posting. Sarah is an advocate of the military community, passionate about supporting and empowering those that need a helping hand to achieve their goals and meet their full potential. Sarah recognises the unique barriers and disadvantages that service life presents, and believes that volunteering is a great opportunity to overcome these challenges. In her spare time, you will find Sarah in the garden and greenhouse where she loves to grow her own produce and flowers, or walking and exploring the Dales. Sarah lives in Richmond North Yorkshire with her husband, two children and Frank the Jack Russell.

Dana joined us in October 2024, after serving 5 years in the RAF and following medical discharge. During her Air Force career she visited a variety of Stations across the UK and collaborated with naval and army personnel. She continues to be part of the Armed Forces community as a military spouse, following her RAF Regiment husband's postings. Additionally, she has connections with the wider uniformed service community, supporting and promoting the ambulance trusts in which her husband volunteers. She now uses her lived experience to facilitate the Step ToGetHer project, helping other female personnel through their medical discharge journey. Currently based in Lincolnshire, she also regularly supports local mental health projects and research groups to improve the wellbeing services across the county. Outside of work and volunteering Dana lives with her husband, Matt, and Springador, Casper. She spends her free time relaxing in nature or writing music and novels.

Sally joined us in January 2025 and is an Armed Forces veteran with over 10 years experience in both the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, providing emergency medical care and field hospital based care to battlegroups. She was awarded a Queens commendation for Bravery medal whilst on tour in Afghanistan in 2009 working in a forward operating base providing medical support to an infantry regiment during foot and vehicle patrols. Sally left the army in 2016 due to having her two children. Sally has been a registered nurse for over 10 years and since leaving the army has mostly worked in acute medical settings in hospitals helping people with both physical and mental health problems, she has also worked in nursing homes and as a nurse functional assessor.

Mel joined Step Together in September 2021, having worked with Young People for 20 years in a wide range of roles, including mentoring, family support work, delivering groupwork and detached youth work. Alongside her role as Sessional Worker for Step Together, Mel is a qualified Forest School Leader and runs forest school sessions for 4-16 year olds. Mel also has her own allotment where she grows her own fruit and veg, and enjoys painting, sewing, cooking and anything crafty. She also loves to paddleboard and travel – preferably together!

Abbie started out as a volunteer and peer ambassador for Step Together Volunteering and is now employed as our Allotment Assistant, supporting Mel to run sessions at the 'Get Growing!' young people’s allotment. Abbie trained in animal care at college and has a level 2 and 3 qualification in Animal Care and Welfare. Abbie is a carer for a family member and in her spare time she enjoys gardening, photography and baking. Her chocolate orange cake is legendary at the allotment!

Aimee-Claire is passionate about improving the lives of young people, having spent the past 12 years working in a range of youth work roles including Teaching Assistant, Foster Carer, and Young People’s Advocate. Alongside working for Step Together Volunteering, Aimee-Claire works for Bristol City Council supporting schools across the city to get more pupils walking and cycling and also runs a community gardening project for children in her local area. Aimee-Claire is always busy juggling her multiple roles and voluntary projects and can often be found whizzing across the city on her bike. In her spare time Aimee-Claire is surrounded by her favourite people (her partner, friends and family) and pets (dog, horse and tropical fish!). Aimee-Claire loves sweet treats, going on adventures outdoors, and hitting the high notes singing karaoke!

Alice has a background in supporting young people. This started out through volunteering as a mentor, then after completing her training in Careers Advice and Guidance, she has worked in schools, colleges and within the community. Most recently she has worked as a Job Coach with young people with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism, supporting them into work experience and employment. Alice has a passion for making a difference to people’s lives and believes in using a person-centred approach to achieve a positive outcome for those she works with. Married and a Mum of two, she enjoys walks with her dog Tammy and yoga in her spare time.

Paul began his career in the Motor Trade before changing gear and taking a voluntary role with Mentoring Plus, a Crime Concern charity, before working for the Bath & N.E Somersets Youth offending Team. Paul has a passion for helping show that all young people have something to offer society - it's all about finding the approach and innovation to make that happen, to allow them to shine. Outside of work, Paul loves growing & cooking food. Paul also has a love for classic cars and has been slowly renovating an Austin A40 Farina, as well collecting vinyls.

Helen joined the team in May 2024, and has a long background in Mental Health Nursing (since 2002) working with Young Adults and Adolescents in both the community and in-patient setting. In addition to her Nursing role, she has experience of Group Family Therapy work, delivering Group Work sessions on Anxiety and Depression and helping Young People into Education/employment. Her foundation for working with people has always been with a person-centered approach and a keen interest to help them with where they really hope to be. In her spare time you will find her either in the greenhouse pottering, designing and printing t-shirts, or touring around the beaches and hills of the South West in her Campervan with her husband, 2 young children and cheeky old Westie dog, Alfie.

Paul joined Step Together volunteering in May 2024, having worked with young people for eighteen years in a variety of roles, including delivering groupwork and one to one support in schools and mentoring with youth justice. In addition to his current role as Step Together Volunteering project manager with the Young Peoples Programme, Paul currently works part time with the local authority as an Autism Outreach officer supporting young people in schools as well as parents and families. In his spare time Paul enjoys his role as a football coach, mountain biking and spending time with his family.

Roger has a business background in branding, marketing, strategy development and change management consulting. He started his career in the City and then moved into consulting for service based industries, both in the UK and overseas. The last five years saw him working in Sydney where he transitioned into the charity and voluntary sector, working for Mission Australia and Opportunity International, and on the board of Leprosy Mission Australia. In 2016 Roger and his wife volunteered for 3 months in Sri Lanka. He is also a trustee of EMMS, a charity based in Edinburgh which works in the palliative care sector. His interests include fly fishing, classical music, opera and cricket. He is married to Janet and they have two sons working in London.

Jamie is from a small town in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in Vancouver, Canada before moving to the UK in 2007. Jamie commenced her financial services career in London where she started in internal audit. She subsequently worked in compliance and risk in asset management and now manages a finance and HR team. Jamie is a successful leader and loves managing people and watching them gain confidence as they increase their skillsets. She sits on her company’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Consultation Group and volunteers for a charity that promotes asset management as a solid career choice for young women. Jamie is passionate about travel, and also enjoys sailing and photography.

Originally from a small and mostly unknown mining town in the northern part of South Africa, Scharmarie now lives with her partner in a small village just south of Bristol. Scharmarie's background has been primarily in corporate finance and accounting and more recently she has moved into asset/wealth management and financial advisory, an area that she feels more passionate about, where she can help people with financial education. Scharmarie has international offshore funds and finance experience, having lived in Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Bermuda. She currently works in investments and finance for a small company in the Cotswolds. Outside of work Scharmarie attends gymnastics and trampolining classes (her childhood sports of choice) and also does Ballroom dancing with her partner. She is an avid Crossfitter and always up for anything outdoors and adventurous.

Maurice, or Moz as he's known, has a background in the media industry having started in publishing before moving into branding, advertising and digital marketing. He currently works for a London based marketing agency as Resource Manager, and has over 20 years managerial experience. Moz has held a lifelong passion for sport, including supporting Watford FC, and still enjoys keeping fit. Moz was introduced to Step Together via an offer of pro bono support to help us with our brand refresh and clearer messaging. Together with his contacts in the industry, who also offered their support pro bono, Moz provided Step Together with a vibrant new logo and simple, concise messaging. Having shown such a keen interest in the charity and its work, Moz was subsequently invited to join the Board of Trustees, and was appointed in July 2020

Ralph served for 30 years in the British Army commanding on operations in Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2015 he has been the Director of Operations at a large school in North London responsible for coordinating the delivery of all non-teaching aspects of the school and supporting the school’s outreach programme, Shaftesbury Enterprise; he also sits on the school’s Charity Committee. He is a Trustee of The Rifles, his former regiment and a member of the Grants Committee supporting Rifleman and their families. He lives in South West London and has been a volunteer with HANDS since 2011, a local charity providing meals for the elderly living alone in the area. A former rugby player and rower his interests include rugby, fitness training, open water swimming, skiing, music, food and wine and reading.

Elizabeth is a qualified solicitor working for Osborne Clarke LLP and with more than 10 years’ experience advising UK and international clients on a variety of business matters. Having trained in London, she moved to Bristol in 2015 and started putting down roots. She is at heart a people person, passionate about the stories and experiences that make us who we are and allow us to connect with each other. She is an active member of her church, having been church warden for a number of years. She loves to read, cook and sing – and will try to combine all three at once.

Holly has worked for charities and third sector organisations in the young people and education sectors for over 15 years, in a range of leadership and management roles spanning service, operations, people, and governance. Currently, Holly is Head of Service and Operations at Reach Volunteering, the leading skills-based volunteering charity in the UK, and the single biggest source of trustees for the voluntary sector. Her passion lies in supporting all people to develop the skills and confidence to thrive. Outside of work, Holly loves spending time with her young son, volunteers at her local school, and is a keen gardener, knitter and singer.

Mary Mawhinney is Chief of Staff at the British Red Cross, a key strategic leadership position working across the span of domestic and international operations. Mary collaborates with, advises and supports the Board, Committees and Executive to make sound, evidenced based decisions and to maximise impact for people in crisis. She provides counsel to the Chief Executive and her Executive team, and to the Board of Trustees as their Head of Governance. Mary engages broadly with colleagues across the organisation, actively contributing to ensuring the organisation is run effectively, transparently and accountably. She has spent her career advising leaders at the highest level, including the United Nations in New York; and at the apex of the Australian Government, serving as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; and adviser to the Trade Minister. Mary was raised in an Australian country town. She holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science and International Relations; an MSc in Development and Demography; and most recently an LLB. She joined the Board of Step Together Volunteering in February 2024. She is an avid traveller, reader, committed humanitarian and incurable optimist.