The Team
Please click any of the pictures, below, for further information.
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Gil HardingChairman / Volunteer
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Julie WarnerTreasurer
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Margaret FilbySecretary / Volunteer
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Anne ChamberlainExecutive Member
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Ian CooperExecutive Member
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Frances FisherExecutive Member / Volunteer
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Roz HaighExecutive Member / Volunteer
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Claire JohnsonExecutive Member
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Chris PlunkettExecutive Member / Volunteer
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Pat WinsorExecutive Member / Volunteer
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Sylvia EdwardsVolunteer
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Margaret WallVolunteer
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Kath OliverExecutive Member / Volunteer
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Dave WallVolunteer
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Sharon HardingAdministrator / Staff
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Carl AylwardVolunteer
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Michael TennisonVolunteer
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Rob LacyVolunteer
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Janice LacyVolunteer
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Becky HolboroughVolunteer
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Nicola LoweVolunteer
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Rosy WilliamsVolunteer
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Claire SmithOrganiser / Staff
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Monica SageVolunteer
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Allen PlunkettVolunteer
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Mary PearceVolunteer
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Sarah MartinVolunteer
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Sandra MajorVolunteer
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Dave MajorVolunteer
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Janet LittleVolunteer
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Elaine HobsonVolunteer
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Lesley HewittVolunteer
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Trudie HarringtonVolunteer
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Julia GendersVolunteer
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Sandie FishVolunteer
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Martin DaviesVolunteer
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Frances ChamberlainVolunteer
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Andrew BettVolunteer
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Helen BeanExecutive Committee Co-opted / Volunteer

Gil Harding
Passionate advocate for learning disabilities

Julie Warner
A welcome addition
Margaret Filby
Been with us since 2001
Margaret joined us in 2001 and was elected to the committee in 2002. She lives with her husband Fred and son Jon. She enjoys reading, music, visiting places of interest, theatre, ballet and meeting up with friends and family.
Anne Chamberlain
Elected in 2017
Anne is one of our Member Representatives and was elected to the committee in 2017
Ian Cooper
Re-elected in 2017
Ian is one of our Member Representatives. He served on the committee from 2004 to 2016, took a gap year and was re-elected in 2017.

Frances Fisher
Working with children
Frances joined us in 2009 as a volunteer and was elected to the committee in 2015. She worked with Special Educational Needs children for many years.

Roz Haigh
Re-elected in 2017
Roz joined us in 2016 and was elected to the committee for a 1 year term to cover an early retirement. She was re-elected in 2017.
Claire Johnson
Served since 2012
Claire is one of our Member Representatives and has served on the committee since 2012.

Chris Plunkett
Experienced Carer
Chris joined us in 2000 and was elected to the committee in 2002. She has a son with learning disabilities and worked as a carer for many years until her retirement in 2016.

Pat Winsor
Experienced Charity worker
Pat joined us in 2009 and was elected to the committee in 2016. Pat also works with The Chauncy Charity who provide funding for elderly groups or individuals in Stevenage & the surrounding villages.

Sylvia Edwards
Joined in 2006
Sylvia joined us in 2006, she served on the Executive Committee from 2008 to 2016. She enjoys gardening, sports and cooking. Sylvia says “the variety of activities that we do with our members ensures that I can manage to fit the tasks around my existing family and leisure activitiesâ€.

Margaret Wall
Activities Volunteer
Margaret joined us in 2002, she served on the Executive Committee from 2002-2006. She became involved with Leisure Direct through her daughter, who has been a member for over twenty years. I now assist as an activities volunteer, including being the lead for its Kurling Club.
Kath Oliver
Enjoys the sports and social opportunities
Kath joined Leisure Direct as a volunteer in 2013. She is a member of the Fundraising Team and the Hate Crime Team. Originally from the North West of England Kath moved to the South over 30 years ago. She is married with two grown-up children and works in a local nursery.
She particularly enjoys the sports and social opportunities which are offered to the members, which in turn gives her the chance to interact with them.

Dave Wall
Active Volunteer
Dave joined us in 2006 and served on the Executive Committee as our Treasurer from 2006 to 2016. A retired Bank Manager and Business Advisor, his daughter has been a member of Leisure Direct since its outset. Dave now assists with the Employment committee and as an activities volunteer.

Sharon Harding
Managing the day-to-day
Sharon joined us in 2014, she works full-time in the office, managing the day to day paperwork and anything else that needs doing.
Carl Aylward
Our IT Expert

Michael Tennison
Michael joined us in June 2019

Rob Lacy
Rob joined us in October 2018. “My working life has been in horticulture and landscaping sales and have traveled all over the UK and parts of Europe. I have always had a sporty outlook playing in football and cricket clubs. I have an interest in most sports and since retiring play indoor and outdoor bowls.
My interest as a volunteer comes from the support my son has enjoyed with the SA Programme of events.
Other interests include singing in a choir and working on my allotment plus traveling on holidays to interesting places abroad.”

Janice Lacy
Janice joined us in October 2018. “I have supported my son Ben with his 10 year membership of Supported Activities and that now I have taken early retirement I have time to volunteer for such a worthwhile organisation. Professionally I was a nurse , working in Potters Bar, Lister Hospital, QE11 Hospital and lastly at Garden House Hospice. I still maintain my links with G H Hospice by volunteering for them too. I keep busy looking after our baby granddaughter, singing in a rock choir, belonging to a book club, a walking group and a flower club. I also love the theatre, holidays and eating out!”

Becky Holborough
Becky joined us in March 2018

Nicola Lowe
Nicola joined us in November 2017.

Rosy Williams
Worked with learning disabilities
Rosy joined us in 2007. She worked within a learning disabilities environment and has two daughters with learning disabilities.

Claire Smith
Organiser
Claire joined us in 2006 and works part-time. She is responsible for planning, organising and running most of our activities. The rest of her time she works as a fitness instructor.

Monica Sage
Ex-teacher
Monica joined us in 2014 and is an ex-teacher and a member of the Stevenage Lions
Allen Plunkett
Joined in 2006
Allen joined us in 2006, he loves being able to contribute to helping the members enjoy themselves.
Mary Pearce
Arts & Crafts
Mary joined us in 2013. Mary is very creative and helps with organising art and craft sessions, she also runs flower arranging activities.
Sarah Martin
Helping with Admin
Sarah joined us in 2015 as our Accounts lady, she comes in once a month to do the Accounts, payroll and pension and is great fun to work with.
Sandra Major
Experience of learning disabilities
Sandra joined us at the very beginning, served on the Executive Committee from 2000-2017, has family experience of learning disabilities and loves the feeling of making a difference. Sandra is a Lead volunteer for our knitting group and organises our Sale Tables.
Dave Major
Experience with learning disabilities
Dave joined us in 2006, he has family experience of learning disabilities, attends activities that fit around his other commitments and loves to help our members.
Janet Little
Providing Admin support
Janet joined us in 2001. She served as an Executive Committee member from 2004 -2016 and provides admin support for us.

Elaine Hobson
Has lots of creative ideas
Elaine joined us in 2016. She is creative offering lots of ideas for activities. Elaine has fostered children with learning disabilities in the past
Lesley Hewitt
Retired PE Teacher
Lesley joined us in 2006. A retired PE teacher Lesley is a keen advocate for sport and fitness and also runs our Art Club and offers advice for our small garden. A keen lover of the outdoors, Lesley enjoys challenging walks in the Lake District.

Trudie Harrington
Works for Age UK
Trudie joined us in 2008, she works full-time for Age UK Hertfordshire and likes, the cinema, cooking, reading and travelling.

Julia Genders
Talented Musician
Julia joined us in 2013. A talented musician, Julia runs music and singing sessions for us.

Sandie Fish
Works with learning disabilities
Sandie joined us in 2015. She works with adults with learning disabilities and fits her activities around her other commitments

Martin Davies
Musician & Singer
Martin joined us in 2010, he helps on activities and provides discos or a band for evening entertainment. He is a talented musician and singer.

Frances Chamberlain
Experienced in Education and Leisure
Frances joined us in 2017 and has many years of experience working with people with disabilities in both education and leisure environments.
Andrew Bett
Joined in 2005
Andrew joined us in 2005 and helps with activities and odd jobs in the office

Helen Bean
Joined in 2013
Helen joined us in 2013. She works full time so the varied programme of activities allow her to attend events that fit around her busy schedule. Helen is our Social Media co-ordinator and ensures activity photos are uploaded promptly to our Closed Facebook group for the members to see. Helen was co-opted to the Executive Committee in 2018
Why not contact us today?
For more information on the above and if you live in the Stevenage or North Hertfordshire area, please Contact Us or telephone using 01462 485534 and we will be glad to answer all of your questions. Alternatively, for more information on becoming a member of Supported Activities Programmme, please visit our Members section, or visit our Volunteers section if you would like to become a volunteer. We could not run without volunteers and there are various roles available.