New recruits in Romford!
We’ve had a few staff changes recently and it is with pleasure that we can introduce two new members of our team who are based in the Autism Hub in Romford. The Hub in Romford is open to the public four days a week and we receive a variety of visitors with a wide range of issues, so it was very important to bring in people with the knowledge and experience required, and we are delighted with our new recruits.
Alex Leatherbarrow has a wealth of experience on the charity and voluntary sector, and he also knows plenty about autism, given that two of this three children have been diagnosed as Autistic and the third is presently being assessed for ADHD. He’s worked in public service throughout his life, with spells at Sure Start and also in the library service in the London Borough of Newham. He’s also volunteered at food banks and charities in the past, including Toynbee Hall, where his role included benefits and debt advice. He joined Sycamore in August, and although this is something of a busman’s holiday for him, we are looking forward to benefitting from his knowledge and experience of the public sector.
Alex will be working in the Autism Hub three days a week and joining him is Amanda Shaw, who began her role with Sycamore Trust UK in early September. Amanda hails from Chadwell Heath and is a mother of two girls, both of whom are on the spectrum, so she brings a wealth of knowledge of a family for whom Autism is part of everyday life. She actually discovered Sycamore Trust as a parent, having attended the virtual Parent Support Groups during the pandemic, having been recommended to us by a friend after her youngest daughter was diagnosed. Her twelve year old is a member of our girls group and has also attended some of our outdoor activities, so Amanda knows a great deal about the services we provide. We’d like to welcome them both the Sycamore Trust UK!
