Claire Randall
Manager, Operations & Finance
After leaving school I turned my weekend job at Tesco into a full time job and soon found myself on their management training program. From this I gained many transferable skills that I now use.
I joined Home-Start in 2004 as an Organiser working in the rural area and since 2012 have been Co-Scheme Manager with responsibility for day to day scheme running and finance.
Outside of work I love spending time with my family. Duncan and I have been married since 1998 and we have two big children, Hana and Luke. We have four French Bulldogs, Nala, Kobe, Odin & Lilo who take up a lot of my time and fill the now empty nest. I also have a passion for coffee, baking, window shopping, eating out and the cinema. I am also the proud owner of The Dog House micropub in Smeeth.
Kat Wiles
Manager, Safeguarding & Fundraising
I have worked at Home-Start Ashford & District since 2002 taking on a variety of roles including volunteer training and support, family work, community development, group facilitation, supervision of staff and currently fundraising.
In addition, I have worked on other projects through the voluntary sector most notably for Canterbury Open Centre and Catch 22 (formerly Rainer) on some challenging projects with homeless people and mentoring services for ‘Looked After Children’ and you offenders.
Prior to working in the voluntary sector I completed my studies at Canterbury Christchurch and Kent University with a Degree in English and Art and a Post Graduate Degree in ‘Modern Literature and Culture’.
I love to view (and occasionally make) art whenever possible and visit large and small exhibitions both locally and nationally. I enjoy comedy evenings, film, reading, and walking. I also volunteer as a parent helper at Tenterden School Federation.
I live with husband, Matthew and daughter, Amelia.
Katie Davis-Clifford
Family & Volunteer Coordinator, Youth Mental Health Champion
I have proudly volunteered with Home-Start since 2014. Having faced some difficult times myself I needed a new direction and a focus. I always enjoy supporting my friends and family through challenging times so this seemed a great opportunity for me and I haven’t looked back since!
As a volunteer, I have supported five families and can really credit Home-Start with guiding my career choice of helping others. I was thrilled to be able to join as Family Support Worker in 2019 and am now Families and Volunteer Coordinator, a role which I share with my lovely colleague, Talitha.
I really enjoy meeting families and assessing how we can help. Alongside this, I help recruit, train and supervise our volunteers and work one to one with children in schools. I am a Drawing and Talking practitioner and also support children using sand play. I am enjoying working with young people as part of our mentorship project and supporting them to become more confident and to work through any worries. I am our Young People’s Champion, and I facilitate our annual youth council. In addition to my role at Home-Start, in April last year I qualified as a Children’s Mental Health Coach. I am currently training to become a Parent Coach as this is an area I feel passionate about, with support for parents too. If we look after our parents, we are looking after our young people too.
I have a busy life with 3 children who all have varying hobbies and a busier social life than me! I love working for Home-Start and I have seen at first hand the impact our service has on families to become more confident in their own abilities and supporting them on that journey.
Talitha Peck
Family & Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Champion
I first joined Home-Start Ashford & District as a volunteer after completing my A-levels in 2019 and quickly moved into the Coordinator role in 2020. I have over a decade of experience working in the charity sector, including volunteering in dementia care, teaching children about outdoor sustainability, and supporting disabled adults in a residential holiday home.
I believe every child deserves a stable, loving upbringing—it’s the key to building resilient, well-rounded people and, ultimately, a better society. In my role, I love bringing people together, supporting our amazing volunteers, and leading informative training sessions.
I’m also working towards a degree apprenticeship in Project Management, which has helped me to efficiently create and run various projects within my role at Home-Start.
Outside of work, I’m a proud cat mum to Luna, my gorgeous black cat. When I’m not cuddling her, you’ll usually find me singing in a choir, watching musicals, or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
Anna Riding
Group & Events Coordinator & Family Support Worker, SEND Champion
I originally joined Home Start in 2020 as a Volunteer, which I very much enjoyed. I was then given the opportunity to become a Family Support Worker and have been doing this since September 2021. I am also studying towards a Childhood and Youth Degree.
Previously my roles have been mainly administration based but within a variety of sectors including the Local Council. I am a mum to a wonderful son, who keeps me on my toes whilst not at work!
Amanda Clayson
Family Support Worker, Adult Mental Health Champion
I have lived in the rural areas of the Ashford since I was 4. When I was 18 I started work in the Motor Trade as a parts advisor, after a couple of years I left to have my first child, I am now a mum to 3 girls, a dog, a cat and a fish.
My family and I had the help of a Home-Start volunteer while my children were young and we adjusted to family life. After developing an interest in psychology I studied and gained a level 5 qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which I used to facilitate some Self Help Awareness Groups in the local community. When my youngest started school, I decided I would like to pursue a career in the social sector, preferably working with families with young children. I completed my Volunteer Preparation Course with Home-Start Ashford in 2018 and volunteered with a family, I thoroughly enjoyed the volunteering. In February 2019 I started working for Home-Start Ashford as a Family Support Worker.
In addition I have volunteered for The National Childbirth Trust, helping to organise events and fundraisers. In my spare time I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and exploring new places to visit with them.
Claire Tipping
Family Support Worker, Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Champion
I joined Home-Start at the start of 2019 and really enjoy working with our great team of staff, volunteers and families.
I have always lived in Ashford and spent almost 20 years as a dental nurse.
Wanting a change I spent some time as a teaching assistant at Wyvern school, helping children reach their full potential.
I am passionate about supporting families from pregnancy and beyond.
I am lucky to be a Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Champion for Home-Start Ashford. I am always looking to improve my knowledge and skills.
After attending a course as a baby massage instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage, I am able to support parents learn baby massage techniques. Baby massage can provide a wonderful opportunity to bond through loving touch, eye contact and special one to one time. It provides many more benefits for baby and parent too. It is such a lovely skill to learn.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children, who are now adults. I like yoga, reading and being out walking in my favourite muddy boots with our bouncy springer spaniel. Owning him has certainly been an adventure!
Trina Mealham
Family Support Worker, DA Champion
After being a part of a Home-start project helping families with children unable to attend school, I quickly realised what an amazing charity Home-start is and the incredible work they do, so I completed the prep course and became a volunteer. A year later in 2022 an opportunity to become a family support worker arose and I jumped at the chance.
I love supporting our Home-start families and being a part of their journeys.
I am married to Mark and we have 2 teenage children and a mad cockerpoo called Ralph, we spend our spare time travelling all over the UK in our camper supporting our son with his passion for Enduro motorbike riding
Vicki Foley
Family Support Worker
I moved to Tenterden in 2018 with my family and was lucky enough to experience the incredible support of Home-Start first-hand. During a challenging time with my disabled little girl, our volunteer, Dorothy, provided care and practical support when we needed it most. Now, I’m eager to give back and support other families in the same way.
Before moving to Tenterden, I spent 12 years in Vancouver, where I experienced a strong sense of community spirit and a focus on wellbeing. I hope to bring those values into my role with Home-Start and help make a difference in our community.
As a family, we love spending time outdoors. My son is passionate about geocaching, and we often go on adventures together. My daughter also loves being outside and enjoys visiting family and friends.
I’m really looking forward to working with the Home-Start team and supporting families in our area. It feels amazing to be part of such a special community!
Richard Henderson
Patron
My working life ended with me being MD for Henderson Global Investors plc in the Varieties and Private Clients Division.
Following my retirement I have had various roles including Chairman National Trust Finance Committee for Southern England, Chairman Kent Magistrates Association, Vice Chairman Governors Ashford School, Church Warden and Treasurer for Warehorne Church and Warehourne Parish Councillor.
I am married with four children and four grandchildren. I joined Home-Start Ashford & District in 2002 after being introduced by a mutual friend. I served as Chair for over 10 years and have recently stepped down but remain actively involved.
My hobbies include amateur painting, travelling through old Soviet Union, theatre trips and I’m an active member of Ashford Choral & Kelly’s choir.
Steph Senior
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Katy Pauley
Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
I have worked in schools and education as a teaching assistant, teacher, and Early Years practitioner for the last 14 years, and have been an Ashford Borough Councillor for the past 5 and a half years.
As part of my councillor role, I joined the trustee board as a representative of the council, but I made the decision to become a trustee in Summer 2024, offering my knowledge and experiences as a trained teacher and councillor.
My husband Elliott and I grew up and still live in Ashford, with our daughter who attends one of the local primary schools. We enjoy music, attending concerts and the theatre, and visiting English Heritage/National Trust properties on family days out.
Julie Blake
Safeguarding Trustees
I started volunteering with Home-Start Ashford in 2021, initially as a Home-visitor and then took on the additional role of Trustee, with the responsibility for safeguarding in 2023.
Having retired following a 35-year career in various nursing and safeguarding roles in the NHS, I wanted a voluntary role that kept me in contact with families and kept the grey cells working! Retirement and a move to Ashford also gave me more time to pursue interests such as conservation volunteering, walking, and travelling. Volunteering has also enabled me to get more familiar with the Ashford area and to meet new people locally.
I have supported 2 families so far and have enjoyed building up a trusting relationship with the families and seeing the children thrive. I particularly enjoy the visits outside of the home setting, supporting the family to go shopping, attend a baby group or a visit/walk to the local park. Often in my experience, the family has wanted to chill and talk and that’s a great opportunity to get to play with the children and for parents to ‘off load’ if they need to.
The Trustee role has been a great way to understand the wider aspects of Home-Start and to consider long term strategic goals of the local programme adhering to Home-Start UK policies and procedures. It has also been an opportunity to meet the Home-Start team and Board members.
I have felt very welcomed by everyone at Home-Start and supported by regular supervision, coffee mornings, volunteer celebrations and various informative training opportunities. A fab charity to volunteer for.
Alex Reid
Legal & GDPR Trustees
For the last 17 years I have worked as a solicitor in a city law firm, specialising in construction law. Whilst interesting and rewarding, I wanted to explore volunteering opportunities that I could become involved in that had more of a direct impact on people and their families, which brought me to Home-Start Ashford. After meeting Steph, Kat, Claire and the team, I was delighted to become a trustee in October 2023 and offer whatever assistance I can from a legal standpoint.
Becoming involved with HSAD is important to me because I grew up in the Ashford area and have always had an interesting in children and their development. I almost studied psychology at university and spent time doing work experience with psychologists and speech therapists whilst I was determining my eventual career path.
In my home life, I live in Tenterden with my husband and two young(ish!) children and our black labrador. I enjoy all sorts of hobbies including tennis, running, dog walking down at the beach and eating out at local restaurants.
I am delighted to be part of the remarkable HSAD network of trustees, family support worker and volunteers. It really is a privilege to be a part of it and to be able to help in whatever small way that I can.
Kathy Corby
Trustee and Volunteers’ Representative
I became a home visiting volunteer in 2007 – 2020 and have supported many families over those years and joined the Board of Trustee in 2011 to represent the volunteers.
I was born and lived in Greater London until 1989, when my job as Fundraising Manager for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in London moved me to the south-east. I was responsible for community volunteers raising funds to support lifeboat crews in Kent and East Sussex until my retirement in 2004.
Whilst living in London I was a volunteer for a charity providing a 24/7 telephone helpline called ‘Parents’ Anonymous’ for eight years, taking on the responsibilities of Secretary,
S. London Co-ordinator and organising the monthly on-call Duty Rota.
My husband Richard and I live in Tenterden and we have two daughters and a son, and seven grandchildren ranging in age from 6-34years. Many of our family live and work in USA and Middle East, therefore holidays are often focused in opposing directions.
My other interests are gardening, yoga and history and I am the Excursion Secretary for the Tenterden local history society.
Sara Emmerton
Wellbeing Trustee and Family Representative, Home Visiting Volunteer Service
I was brought up in the beautiful Peak District in Derbyshire, but it was too land-locked for me and I eventually found my way to the North Kent Coast in 2002 (via Newcastle to study English Language and Linguistics, and London where I met my husband and trained in Speech and Language Therapy).
I worked across East Kent as a Speech and Language Therapist working with adults for 10 years, during which time I enjoyed hobbies of sea swimming, yoga and my lifelong passion of creative writing.
I have three children, aged 9, 6 and 4. My eldest child has autism with a profile of pathological demand avoidance and presents with violent and challenging behaviour. This has been extremely traumatic and difficult for all of our family. We became a Home-Start family in Autumn 2017, and our volunteer as well as the whole team have had an incredibly practical, positive and valuable impact on all of our lives.
I look forward to helping to support other families in difficult situations by offering advice and input as Family Advisor.
Jerry Evans
EEDI Trustee and Family Representative, Additional Services
My family and I have lived in Charing since 2009. We are, Jerry, Mel, Alex and Corey and we live with our 2 Labradors, Lacey and Rosie.
I have been a teacher since 2004, working through a selection of Primary schools until I joined the Caldecott Foundation in 2014. I started there as the Primary School Teacher and progressed to become Virtual School Lead – working with young people unable to access traditional classrooms – then as whole school SENDCO and currently as Assistant Head with SEN responsibility. As part of my role I am a Level 3 Qualified Forest School Leader and find this one of the most amazing parts of my job as I get to ‘play’ in the woods and see the young people thrive.
I love spending time with the family and due to both boys having a diagnosis of Autism I can safely say we are busy every minute of the day, from when we get up to when we go to bed. We love walking the dogs around our pretty village and take part in riding, swimming and countless other activities provided by the many support networks in and around Ashford. Some seven or so years ago, my introduction to Home-Start was coming home to be told by Mel that I was signed-up to attend a Chill with Dad session – the rest as they say is history.
I love to cook when I can, we also like to eat out supporting local pubs and restaurants – at least that is our excuse. When I get any free-time I read and love to be around motorcycles – a left-over hobby from an earlier time.
I hope that my experience to date is of benefit to my latest role as a Trustee of Home-Start and I am very honoured to have been given this opportunity to support an incredible charity.
Jo Gandolfo
Trustee
Norma Smyth
Trustee
My working life was spent as a teacher both in the North of England and here in Ashford. I became Head of English and Deputy Head as well as a House Tutor, which was, in effect, a pastoral role.
My experience has extended to trusteeships in various charities. I was, for example, Chair of Folkestone and District ‘Mind’ for many years and was on the Board of ‘Find a Voice’, a charity which supplied equipment to those with severe communication difficulties. I was also on the Board of Ashford Volunteer Bureau.
My ideas of relaxation, however, are reading, theatre, cinema and eating out with good friends.
Although my students were of secondary age, I have always recognised the importance of children getting the best possible start in life. I was, therefore, particularly honoured to follow in my husband’s footsteps and become a Trustee of Home-Start.
Amy Honey
Education Advisor to the Board of Trustees
I am currently employed by Goldwyn School where I work as a Specialist Teacher in the Ashford District for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. My role entails: supporting schools and individual pupils within mainstream Primary and Secondary schools; delivering core and bespoke training to schools; offering recommendations to schools with regards to referred pupils to support with inclusion and effective intervention strategies and resources.
Previous to this role, I worked at Furley Park Primary Academy for 14 years as a Primary Teacher and SENCO.
In my own time, I like to do simple things like: spending time with my children; gardening; reading; and experimenting with textiles on my sewing machine. I keep meaning to get back in to my love of arts too…and will do when the moment catches me.
