Our Team

Supporting Activity Providers and Activity Provision in care and support settings across the UK

Our Patron

Pam Rhodes

Pam is a broadcaster, author and Patron of NAPA, best known for BBC Television’s Songs of Praise.

I am a familiar face on BBC Television’s Songs of Praise programme, regularly interviewing people ranging from The Pope to Dolly Parton. I am known as an empathetic interviewer, especially when people are speaking about sensitive, perhaps traumatic experiences. I’m a presenter who truly loves hymns, old and new. If you mention almost any hymn to me, I’ll likely come back with the full story of who wrote it and why, as well as giving you renditions of a couple of tunes to which it can be sung, as you’d know if you’ve ever dipped into my weekly radio programme With Hearts and Hymnson Premier Christian Radio.

I have presented televised recordings in venues from the Sydney Opera House to London’s Royal Albert Hall, and I’m regularly asked to compere orchestral or musical events at theatres and churches around the country, including the spectacular Battle Proms concerts. I’m also well known as an entertaining after dinner speaker, as well as a mainstream author with six novels and nine factual books under my belt.

This is in addition to my very practical involvement with charities, both national and local. I’m proud to be a patron of many organisations including MHA Group, Livability, the Church Army, Papworth Hospital, Mercy Ships, and hospice provision for both adults and children across the country, and of course, NAPA.

I am married to Richard Crow and live with my family at a two acre smallholding in Bedfordshire. I enjoy dancing, so I’m often out ballroom, line or tap dancing.

Our National Team

The NAPA team is made up of experienced activity professionals, research and charity operations specialists who bring extensive sector knowledge and practical expertise to our work. We are united by a shared commitment to improving quality of life and raising the standard of meaningful activity provision within care settings.

We operate as a fully remote, UK-wide team, enabling us to support organisations and professionals across the country while remaining flexible, responsive, and closely connected to the communities we serve. Our national reach allows us to share best practice, influence standards, and ensure consistent, high-quality support throughout the care sector.

Regionally, our team extends across Sussex, Shropshire, Norfolk, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, the West Midlands, Hampshire, and Worcestershire. This strong regional presence strengthens local networks and partnerships, and ensures we remain grounded in the realities of frontline care delivery, all while delivering impact across the UK.

Chief Executive Officer

Hilary Woodhead

Hilary leads NAPA with over 30 years’ experience in social care and a lifelong passion for meaningful activity and engagement.

Hilary is Chief Executive Officer of NAPA, providing vision and leadership to ensure the charity continues to grow and make a meaningful difference across the care sector. She has worked in social care for over 30 years, with a passion for activity and engagement that began whilst working as a care worker in the late 1980s.

With a background in drama and the creative arts, Hilary was one of the UK’s first Activity Providers, using creativity to support people living with dementia. Her career has since included leadership roles in social care management, workforce development and service improvement, as well as founding a dementia specialist support agency in 2013.

Hilary joined NAPA in 2019 and is committed to ensuring the organisation is shaped by the voices and experiences of its members. She believes meaningful activity is essential to wellbeing and is passionate about supporting care services to prioritise connection, creativity and quality of life.

Hilary holds a BA in Drama and an MA in Social Work Management. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, musical theatre and interior design.

Finance and Operations Manager

Karen Birtchnell

Karen oversees NAPA’s finance and operations, supporting the charity’s stability and ensuring services run effectively to achieve its mission.

As Finance and Operations Manager at NAPA, Karen ensures the charity’s financial stability and operational excellence. Her role includes strategic planning, resource management and leading continuous improvement initiatives to support NAPA’s mission and goals.

Karen works closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to develop and manage the annual budget, oversee departmental cost evaluations and secure funding. She also leads HR processes and oversees the operational delivery of services, ensuring everything aligns with NAPA’s strategic objectives.

Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dog, Milo, whose lively presence brings joy to her days.

Services Manager

Natalie Ravenscroft

Natalie leads NAPA’s services and partnerships, bringing extensive experience and a passion for evidence based practice.

As Services Manager at NAPA, Natalie oversees key relationships and leads the development and delivery of services and programmes. She works closely with the CEO to drive initiatives and build learning partnerships that enhance NAPA’s offer and provide meaningful value.

Natalie has extensive experience as an Activity Provider, Information and Advice Practitioner and Adult Learning Practitioner. She is also a national and international speaker with a passion for evidence based practice.

Outside of work, Natalie finds inspiration in the Shropshire countryside. She enjoys cooking, seasonal decorating and researching historical periods. She values spending time with family and friends and is a proud pet owner.

Communications & Marketing Manager

Gianna Burns

Gianna leads NAPA’s communications and marketing, supporting campaigns and partnerships.

As Communications and Marketing Manager at NAPA, Gianna leads the charity’s external communications and marketing, ensuring messaging reflects NAPA’s values and strengthens its impact. Working closely with the CEO, she develops communication and fundraising strategies that support the organisation’s growth and reach.

Gianna oversees key partnerships, campaigns and events, bringing experience in activity provision, social care and event management. She is committed to creating inclusive content that reflects the voices and experiences of the sector.

Outside of work, Gianna enjoys spending time with her family, friends and her dog, Rocket.

Research and Impact Lead

Anqa Tirmazee-Kaleem

Anqa coordinates NAPA’s research and impact work, ensuring the charity’s activities are evidence based and effective.

As Research and Impact Lead at NAPA, Anqa coordinates research and evaluation activities, helping to assess and communicate the impact of the charity’s work. She supports NAPA’s research initiatives and ensures its work is informed by evidence and learning.

Anqa is a Business Management and Research Professional with experience across the UK and Pakistan, including roles in academia, international development research and the charitable sector. She holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance and an MSc in International Employment Relations and HRM, and has recently completed further study in Health and Social Care Research.

Outside of work, Anqa enjoys long country walks, singing and travelling. She is a keen history enthusiast, a mother of two and cares for her collection of pet fish.

Development Officer

Ellie Lucas

Ellie leads projects and partnerships at NAPA, bringing creativity and experience from activity provision.

As Development Officer at NAPA, Ellie leads key projects, including the National Day of Arts in Care Homes, and supports the development of partnerships and membership. She works closely with the Services Manager to strengthen NAPA’s programmes and extend its impact.

Ellie began her career in the care sector as an Activity Coordinator and later Activity Lead, where she developed a passion for supporting wellbeing through creativity and meaningful engagement. She holds a degree in Graphic Design, which continues to shape her creative approach to her work.

Outside of work, Ellie enjoys creative projects and spending time with friends and family, drawing inspiration from the world around her.

Communications & Marketing Assistant

Mike Butler

Mike develops communications and marketing content for NAPA, drawing on his experience as an Activity Provider.

As Communications and Marketing Assistant at NAPA, Mike develops content to promote the charity’s services, programmes and fundraising campaigns. He is passionate about creating meaningful content that connects with audiences and reflects NAPA’s values.

Before joining NAPA, Mike spent 16 years as an Activity Provider, supporting individuals living with learning disabilities and dementia. This experience shaped his understanding of the importance of empathy, creativity and storytelling, which now informs his approach to communications and marketing.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He has two young daughters who bring adventure, energy and inspiration to his everyday life.

Learning & Development Coordinator

Sue Trischitta

Sue supports NAPA’s learning programmes, helping Activity Providers build confidence and skills.

As Learning and Development Coordinator, Sue supports NAPA’s professional development programmes, coordinating training commissions, overseeing accredited learning and maintaining quality processes. She is a qualified Adult Learning Practitioner, trainer and Internal Verifier.

Sue’s passion for activity provision began whilst working in a care home, where she saw the powerful impact meaningful engagement can have. She feels privileged to support Activity Providers in developing the skills and confidence needed to enrich the lives of the people they support.

Outside of work, Sue is a Brownie, Girl Guide and Ranger Leader and enjoys silk painting, crafts and weaving. She is a proud great grandmother and loves spending time and going on adventures with her family.

NAPA Board of Trustees

NAPA’s Board of Trustees brings together a diverse range of expertise to ensure strong, effective, and forward-thinking governance. Our trustees collectively hold extensive experience across activity provision, dementia care, charity governance, business management, compliance, safeguarding, and research.

This breadth of knowledge ensures that NAPA is not only deeply rooted in best practice within care settings, but also governed with professionalism, accountability, and strategic clarity. Trustees provide oversight across financial management, risk, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and organisational performance, ensuring the charity operates with integrity and transparency at all times.

With backgrounds spanning frontline practice, senior leadership, sector research, and operational management, the Board offers both practical insight and strategic direction.

Chair of the Board

Oliver Thomas

Oliver chairs NAPA’s Board of Trustees, with decades of senior leadership experience in care homes.

Oliver joined the NHS in 1980 and worked in acute hospitals and community services before moving into the care home sector with Bupa in 1997. He held a number of senior leadership roles, becoming Director of Bupa’s UK Care Homes in 2009, with responsibility for more than 300 homes across the UK.

Following his retirement from Bupa in 2013, Oliver has continued to work in the care sector as a non executive director and advisor. He joined NAPA as a Trustee in 2019 and became Chair of the Board in 2020.

Oliver lives in Yorkshire and enjoys walking, photography, following his football team and spending time with his family.

NAPA Trustee

Sue Goldsmith

Sue is a NAPA Trustee and Quality and Clinical Director with over 30 years’ experience in the care sector.

I have worked within the care sector for over 30 years, beginning my journey as a mental health nurse working in acute settings before moving across to older people’s services. I am now a Quality & Clinical Director working for a medium sized provider. Throughout my career, I have always had a keen interest in the psychological well-being of the people that I support, especially the need for people to continue to enjoy social engagement with others and to feel valued within their communities.

My involvement with NAPA has allowed me to contribute to how wellbeing is viewed, promoted and celebrated within the care sector; being able to support an organisation whose focus is to champion fun, engagement and inclusivity is both an honour and a pleasure. The work of NAPA has been a great inspiration to me over the years and I hope to be able to give a little of this back through my contribution as a Trustee.

NAPA Trustee

Ed Watkinson

Ed is a NAPA Trustee with 30 years’ experience in social care and regulation.

For the past 6 years I have been a Trustee of NAPA. I have been involved in social care for over 30 years and have held many roles, from care assistant to strategic commissioner, but my main focus has been regulation, and in this area I have worked for CQC, corporate care home companies and local authorities. My focus has always been to help services understand what they need to do to meet the regulations and make peoples lives more fulfilling, and activities have always been central to this.

I feel that assisting residents of care homes to live full lives is vital to their wellbeing, and NAPA is a hugely valuable resource to make this happen. Away from my work, I live by the coast and enjoy everything this offers and focus a lot of time on our 13 years old springer spaniel who is entering his twilight years.

NAPA Trustee

Sue Ascott

Sue is a NAPA Trustee and Learning and Development professional supporting skills across social care.

I am a Learning and Development professional, now working independently to further skills development across the social care sector. My career has covered leadership and management and I remain passionate about building confidence among social care workers at all levels.

During my career I have spent time in various care settings and seen first hand the difference that can be made through high quality activity provision. This sparked my passion for the work achieved by the team at NAPA and I was proud to become a trustee in 2019.

As a Trustee, I work to support NAPA to evolve and continue to serve our members as their trusted partner.

NAPA Trustee

Scarlet Leatham

Scarlet is a NAPA Trustee with over 20 years’ experience and a passion for activity and community connection.

I have been involved in the Health and Social Care Sector for over 20 years now, initially running a small residential care home before moving to Barchester Healthcare where I worked for nearly 14 years starting out as an Activity Coordinator before taking on a range of roles but always retaining involvement in activities.

My passion is enabling those living within a care setting to retain links within their communities, feel valued and welcomed as part of that community, and live their lives to the full even as they move into a different stage in their life journey. I have always been aware of the lead in the development of the Activity Provider role that NAPA has championed and have attended their conferences, used their resources and training, and have been inspired by their initiatives to assist their members to develop professionally. I am honoured and excited to become a Trustee and to contribute in any way that I can to the further development of NAPA as it continues to evolve and champion its members and those that they support.

NAPA Trustee

Kieun Kwon

Kieun is a NAPA Trustee and Associate Director of Wellbeing and Dementia, with over 20 years’ experience in creative, person-centred care.

As the Associate Director of Wellbeing and Dementia at Runwood Homes Group, I have dedicated the past 22 years to enhancing the quality of life for our residents through creativity and compassionate care.

With a degree in Fine Art complemented by various Dementia Studies, I bring a unique artistic perspective to dementia support and wellbeing innovation. My career has been defined by a deep commitment to person centred care, supported by over two decades of volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Society and a long standing membership with NAPA. I am truly passionate about leading initiatives that inspire excellence and foster a vibrant, creative environment across all our homes.

My Creative Inspiration

Outside of my professional role, I find that my personal passions and my work often flow into one another. Whether I am wandering through the quiet halls of an art gallery or immersed in the history of a museum, I am constantly searching for that spark of inspiration, a colour, a texture, or a narrative, that I can bring back to our residents.

There is something profoundly moving about settling into a seat at the theatre. As the lights dim and a play begins, I am reminded of the incredible power of storytelling. For me, these moments are more than just hobbies; they are a way to witness how art bridges the gap between memory and emotion, helping us all stay connected to the very essence of who we are.

NAPA Trustee

Dr Isabelle Latham

Dr Isabelle Latham has over 30 years of experience in social care and research, with a particular focus on dementia care and improving quality of life through evidence-based practice.

Dr Isabelle Latham has 30 years’ experience in social care, having started her career as a care worker in care homes for older poeple. In the last decade she has specialised in in research within care homes, advanced dementia and education and training for frontline staff. She is currently Researcher-in-Residence for Hallmark Care Homes and honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester. She is the UK’s first researcher-in-residence within a care home organisation and supports Hallmark’s care homes to undertake research of importance to them in ways that include all members of their communities. She ensures research evidence is translated into practice change that positively impacts people’s day to day lives.

Ambassadors

The voices of NAPA’s Ambassadors, including those with lived experience and our Sector Ambassadors, are central to our work and ensure everything we do remains grounded in real-world insight. By sharing their perspectives, experience and expertise, they help shape our strategy, inform our resources and influence the development of our programmes. Their contribution ensures our work reflects what truly makes a difference to quality of life, wellbeing and meaningful engagement.

Our Sector Ambassadors are respected professionals and advocates who champion the value of activity providers and high-quality activity provision across health and social care. Through their leadership and influence, they help raise awareness of meaningful activity as a fundamental part of quality care.

NAPA Ambassador and person living with dementia

Chris Maddocks

Chris is a NAPA Ambassador and dementia activist who shares her lived experience to raise awareness and support others.

My name is Chris Maddocks and I am a retired police officer. In 2016, at the age of 60 I was diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia. Since then, I have also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Following my diagnosis, I was determined to make a difference, and I now proudly describe myself as a dementia activist.

I am an ambassador for several dementia charities including the National Activity Providers Association, (NAPA). I was deeply honoured to be awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Kings Birthday Honours 2025 for my advocacy work, particularly supporting people living with Lewy Body dementia and those in LGBGTQI+ communities.

I enjoy spending time outdoors and in nature, especially attending a dementia cafe in the woods. I also enjoy visiting my local beach to watch and photograph the sunrise. Helping others gives me a strong sense of purpose, and I dedicate time to raising awareness and working with researchers and charities on a range of involvement projects.

I am incredibly proud to be a NAPA ambassador. I believe everyone needs a sense of purpose, which can come from meaningful activity. NAPA works to ensure that people living with dementia can access meaningful activities wherever they live, including care homes. It is vital that we see the person first, not just their dementia.

NAPA Ambassador and person living with dementia

Ronald Ferguson

Ronald Amanze lives with dementia and uses poetry, creativity and lived experience to inspire others, challenge perceptions and encourage meaningful change across communities.

Ronald Amanze is living with dementia in a way that brings creativity, honesty and deep humanity to the spaces he enters. Through poetry and lived experience, he shares powerful reflections that encourage others to see dementia differently and to value connection, compassion and authenticity.

As a contributor to the EMPOWER Dementia Network and wider dementia conversations, Ronald brings openness, curiosity and a willingness to learn that inspires those around him. His words translate complex feelings into meaningful and accessible poetry, helping people from all backgrounds connect with the emotional realities of living with dementia.

Ronald’s work encourages others to live fully, speak openly and recognise that everyone has the ability to make a positive difference within their communities.

NAPA Ambassador

Dr (h.c.) Jen Blackwell BEM

Jen is a community dance leader and NAPA Ambassador, inspiring others through DanceSyndrome.

“Dream, Believe, Achieve” is Jen’s mantra. She says, “With the right support at the right time we can go further and further”.

Jen co created DanceSyndrome in 2009 with her parents after they had searched for years to find the right support to enable Jen to become the community dance leader she had always dreamed of. Jen has Down’s syndrome and says, “my disability doesn’t define me”.

Jen continues to co lead community dance sessions and is an active role model for the thousands of people who connect with DanceSyndrome every year. She has received many awards for her work, including a British Empire Medal and an Honorary Doctorate for her Services to Dance.

Jen says, “I’m honoured to support NAPA as an ambassador and want to show others what’s possible, with the right support. I want to get the world dancing!”

NAPA Ambassador

Sylvie Silver

Sylvie is a former Director and Ambassador, continuing to support training and champion meaningful engagement.

I am proud to have worked as the Director of NAPA for 15 years and constantly say they were the best years of my working life. Since retiring in September 2019, I have been able to lead some NAPA training days and support some NAPA project work in a freelance capacity, but carrying the title of Ambassador gives me the greatest pleasure.

I am a passionate advocate of the need for meaningful engagement to bring happiness and wellbeing to people. Supporting and delivering activity in a care setting takes a range of skills and attributes. NAPA leads the way in setting the standards for these and raising awareness at every level.

Retirement has given me the opportunity to do more work in some other volunteering roles that matter to me. I am now a Trustee of the My Home Life Charity and Chair of the Air Cadet Association. I have also continued as the Treasurer for Surrey Wing Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

Like most Activity Providers, I enjoy being busy, so hobbies like gardening, sewing, painting and reading fill my days easily, but always take second place to spending time with our three grandchildren.

NAPA Ambassador

Annie Stevenson

Annie is a NAPA Ambassador with a lifelong career in care and a passion for the arts.

Having started working with older people aged 8, collecting the sixpences on my mother’s meals on wheels round, I spent my entire career working in the care sector and advocating for those who are marginalised to increase their quality of life.

NAPA is all about this, and when I met its Founder, Margaret Butterworth, in the 80s, a true visionary, I was hooked. I see the arts as a key way to create meaningful engagement and am thrilled to witness NAPA embracing this.

My own passions are dance, music and tennis, and the conviviality they create.

NAPA Ambassadors

Jennifer Dudley

Jennifer is a NAPA Ambassador and former Director with a background in occupational therapy and dementia care.

I began my career in the Health and Social Care industry as an Occupational Therapist, specialising in care of people with dementia. I have held many positions in social care, including Day Care Manager, Care Home Manager, Director of Care for a care home provider, and latterly Director at NAPA.

I am a qualified Trainer, Assessor and Internal Verifier, utilising my skills throughout much of my working life. I have been a committed Brownie and Guide Leader for over forty years.

I have always believed that everyone should have meaningful engagement, and live a full and enriched life, regardless of their circumstances. I am delighted to be able to continue contributing to the wonderful work that NAPA does.

Consultants & Advisors

NAPA’s team of Consultants and Advisors bring specialist expertise to support our research projects, national campaigns, training, and qualification delivery. With strong frontline and sector experience, they help ensure our programmes are practical, evidence-based, and relevant to care settings.

NAPA Advisor

Debbie Carroll

Debbie is a garden designer specialising in person-centred gardens for care settings.

I am a garden designer passionate about gardens being well used and well-loved long after I have left. With 20+ years’ experience designing both domestic and care related gardens I undertook a research project in 2013 with fellow designer Mark Rendell to understand what it takes to create actively used care setting gardens. NAPA were there at the beginning of this journey and led to our intended small self-funded project growing to work with 24 dementia care homes.

This project changed me as a designer as it identified the key role of Person-Centred care in successful garden use. This led to the formation of Step Change Design and our ‘Why Don’t We Go Into The Garden?’ series of books and tools. Our work aims to support care teams to enable residents to continue to enjoy the garden, doing what they love there, as and when they choose.

I am a huge fan of NAPA, their values and practical ways of supporting all who try to improve the lives of residents so they can live full and meaningful lives. Their support and encouragement over the years has been invaluable and have felt part of an important and truly ‘can do’ community through their efforts.

Personally, it won’t surprise people to know, I love gardening, though it is often a surprise that I don’t have a pristine garden like in the glossy mags. Instead, my own garden is driven by my love of food, so lots of fruit and veg, and a passion for wildlife with homes for hedgehogs, birds and insects high on my list. I am a person who is ever curious with an ever-changing range of interests alongside walking the dog and spending time with family.

NAPA Advisor for Research and Development

Professor Julienne Meyer CBE PhD

Julienne is a leading researcher in care for older people and NAPA’s Advisor for Research and Development.

I retired in September 2019 and now hold an Emeritus position. I am a former registered nurse and qualified teacher, who led Research and Development in Care for Older People at City, University of London for 23 years. My research into care for older people uses collaborative approaches to bring about whole systems change and reflect on the lessons learnt from attempts to improve practice. My style of working is evidence informed, relationship centred, appreciative, and action oriented.

I enjoy working in a variety of different settings, including health and social care, general and mental health, and across primary, secondary, and tertiary care. I am best known for my work in care homes and in 2006 was one of the co founders of My Home Life, an international initiative to promote quality of life in care homes.

Since retirement in 2019, I have been working in a variety of roles including Professor Emerita of Nursing at City, University of London, Visiting Professor at the University of Hertfordshire, Research and Development Advisor for the National Care Forum, and Non Executive Director for Elizabeth Finn Homes.

In 2015, I was awarded CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours for services to Nursing and Care for Older People.

NAPA Advisor for Learning Disability Inclusion & Technology in Care

Anna C. Park

Anna is a Care and Education Consultant specialising in learning disability inclusion and sensory technology.

I’m a Care and Education Consultant with a background in Day Service Activity Provision and Training, as well as pioneering the use of sensory technology.

My life has shown me the significant role activities and cultural experiences can play in opening up channels for self expression and stimulating creativity. I fully support NAPA’s core values: respecting the uniqueness of every individual whilst aiming to improve the quality of daily interactions, ensuring they are engaging, life enhancing, and provide real moments of connection.

I’m a huge advocate of the arts and music. I particularly enjoy teaching piano, calling barn dances and performing with my tap dance group at folk festivals.

NAPA Advisor and Associate Trainer

Mike Phillips

Mike is NAPA’s Advisor on LGBT+ Inclusion and an Associate Trainer, supporting inclusive practice in care.

I am NAPA’s Advisor on LGBT+ Inclusion and a NAPA Associate Trainer. I am a freelance trainer, facilitator, consultant and coach who is passionate about releasing potential through learning and development and improving the lives of those receiving care.

I have been involved in LGBT+ and HIV activism for over 30 years, including delivering the first LGBT+ awareness training for South Wales Police. I was an independent evaluator for the Age UK LGBT+ project Opening Doors, developed a course on Meeting the Care Needs of Older LGBT+ People, and facilitated the Rainbow Café for LGBT+ people with dementia and their carers.

I am a former actor, and my hobbies include the theatre and arts, travel, reading, DIY and gardening, and trying to get my two cocker spaniels to remain calm.