Our people

Lucy is a qualified psychotherapist, trained in integrative, systemic and family therapy. She is passionate about nurturing the well-being and potential of young people and bringing a new creativity, emotional intelligence and inspiration to the fields of education and youth work.

Rachel joined the LIFEbeat team recently, coming from a background of working in the creative and performing arts across the UK. Over the years she has led a number of organisations, working with a wide cross-section of communities and ages – professional, amateur and voluntary, supporting them to deliver life-changing activity. LIFEbeat’s mission and values are close to her heart, having witnessed at first hand the transformational and empowering nature of creativity.

Rachel has been working as a vital member of the LIFEbeat Core Team since 2021. Initially in a consultancy role, and now acting as Programmes Manager, heading up Somerset and the South West. As a former teacher, Rachel works closely with outreach in the south west, schools, and young people. Her favourite thing about working for LIFEbeat is watching young people grow and hearing their stories. Rachel says: “It’s great to be a part of a passionate and committed team!”

Claire was born in the UK and moved to Zambia with her parents at 2 years old where she stayed for 25 years.

After finishing school, she worked as a bookkeeper for two companies as well as carrying out freelance work, gaining all her experience on the job.

Claire met her partner and had two children in Zambia. She and her partner ran a successful business there for 6 years before moving back to the UK in 2001.

Claire then studied further and gained qualifications in bookkeeping and management to set up her own bookkeeping and finance business which ran for 7 years with LIFEbeat as one of her clients for two of those years.

In 2018, Claire decided to move away from being self-employed with LIFEbeat taking her on permanently in an employed position.

Sarah joins the LIFEbeat Core Team in September 2023, as our new Fundraising Manager! She has spent 19 years in the international development sector, and is excited to engage with our generous donors and raise vital funds for LIFEbeat. 

Kitty studied English at Edinburgh University and began her career as an arts journalist. In 2011 she became the Assistant Editor at IdeasTap.com, a youth-focused organisation helping young people to find pathways into the creative industries. She helped IdeasTap to form working partnerships with The Old Vic New Voices Program and The National Youth Theatre. Having fallen in love with youth-focused work, Kitty took the role of Head of Digital at Partners for Youth Empowerment, where she worked for 3 years helping to create an online network for partners around the world. At LIFEbeat Kitty takes the role of Partnerships and Outreach Manager, helping to grow the organisation’s connection with local and national youth-serving organisations.

Phoebe has recently joined the LIFEbeat Core Team in June 2023. She is a Youth Alumni who previously attended camps every year since 2014. She graduated from University of Bristol with a degree in Philosophy and French, and is passionate about working with young people in creative and supportive ways.

Steph joined the team as the Somerset Training Coordinator in summer 2023, working as a virtual assistant. She works on a part-time basis, allowing her to spend time with her daughter and continue her passion of Silversmithing. Steph says: “LIFEbeat is an inspiring charity, and I am in awe of the positive impact they have on the people they help through their camps and training.”

Louise has over 15 years’ experience in fundraising, marketing and communications, sales, account management and management within the corporate, social enterprise and charitable sectors. Louise has been in executive and senior management positions within the charities MyBnk, Lessons for Life (now merged with Street Child) and Power2 before joining Diabetes UK in early 2021 to work on delivering excellent customer experience across the organisation. Louise has been aware of the great work LIFEbeat does throughout her career and is proud to join the community and the Board of Trustees. She is excited to share her expertise and help the team at LIFEbeat give more young people the skills and inspiration to overcome the challenges face and lead confident, healthy and purposeful lives.

Tonie has recently retired after working in primary education for thirty six years. She has enjoyed teaching children in their early years, working with families and school communities and was the headteacher of a primary school in Somerset for 15 years. Tonie became aware of LIFEbeat through their work with schools and the Somerset Wellbeing Framework. She is pleased to join the Trustees to support LIFEbeat’s mission and their valuable work enabling young people to connect with their creativity.

Dr Mma Yeebo is a Clinical Psychologist based in Newcastle upon Tyne. She has been working in NHS mental health services since 2015 and has a passion for supporting racialised communities with their mental health needs. She is passionate about encouraging people to engage in therapy through adapting psychological therapies to be inclusive, creative spaces where people can think about how to bring about more joy in their lives. Mma has been a staff volunteer at LIFEbeat camps since 2018 and is delighted to join the board of trustees.

Mark Cheng is founder of Chelwood Capital, an advisory firm which works with social enterprises seeking to access the capital markets. He is also the UK Director of Ashoka, the global network of leading social entrepreneurs. Mark is also a founding member of the Clearly Social Angels network in the UK, which provides early stage seed capital to social businesses.

Charles completed his military career as Defence Attaché in the British Embassy in Washington DC and Head of the British Defence Staff throughout the USA. Since retiring, he has worked as chairman of three companies and has combined a commitment to a variety of voluntary organisations with his role as a strategic adviser on political risk to a number of UK and US companies.