Our Team

 

Beth Gevell

Founder / Director

 
 
Born to support and create, I am hugely passionate about enabling young people to cope with the real and diverse challenges of life. Using kindness, compassion, empathy, honesty, gentleness, sensitivity, humility and fun to enhance the quality of their personal lives and show there is joy in living.

To head Arts for Life Project and to make a difference to young people is my passion and joy and one that I couldn’t do without my incredible team.

 
Sam Harvey

Wellbeing Practitioner

With over 12 years working with young people, supported by a PG Diploma in Applied Art Room Practice, I believe that Art as a therapy, especially in the safe, supportive space we have at AFLP, supports wellbeing, develops resilience, alleviates anxiety and helps young people build their self-confidence and independence. AFLP is an ideal place to practice what I preach and nothing makes me happier.

Amanda Blake

Family Support

I am passionate about enabling young people to be their authentic selves and to supporting their families. Personal experience with ASD has given me a wealth of knowledge and understanding. Patience and kindness are my best attributes along with a love of colour and creativity.

Luke Gevell

Team Leader

Three words to describe me are empathetic, free-spirited and adventurer. My passion in life is to be able to support and encourage young people, so my work at Arts for Life Project is my dream job. With a previous history of mental health and challenges I feel in a good place to offer my wisdom, knowledge and most of all my support.

Veronica Dolling

Wellbeing Practitioner

With over 20 years experience of supporting children with their individual and unique challenges, largely in school settings, I feel privileged to now be part of the wonderful AFLP family. I believe providing a safe and accepting environment that allows for freedom of expression helps young people build confidence, develop resilience, and learn to love themselves.

Lucy Heywood Jones

Project Manager

I found AFLP after many years as an area manager for a children’s drama school. I know, first hand, the importance and power of The Arts and I am a passionate about promoting confidence, self-esteem and development in young people. On a personal note, my brother has learning challenges and I wish our family had had access to this amazing project.

Jacqui Strubel

Specialist Teacher

Recognising the importance of play and creativity to enable children and young people to unlock their emotions and regain their confidence is core to my work. I am passionate about supporting young people, especially those whose learning journey is compromised by difficulties accessing the curriculum. Using a multi-sensory approach, I welcome the opportunity to get out paint and glitter!

With over 10 years in specialist teaching as a Volunteer Children’s Counsellor for Place2Be and a SENCO I am honoured to be associated with Arts For Life Project and the ethos they represent.

Zoe Miranda

Clinician

Creative, kind and fun are the words which best describe me. I have a gentle approach to therapy and include sand, play and puppet therapies to create a safe environment which allows our young people to express emotional issues that they find difficult to put into words. AFLP combines Therapy and Fun.

Debbie Sharp UKCP MBACP

Clinical Lead

Empathic, warm and kind, I try to be innovative in my approach; to include a sense of fun and the joy of discovery; adapting my approach to each individual’s needs. I hope to increase young people’s emotional robustness by providing tools which allow then to realise that it is ok to feel and to have emotions that may seem overwhelming and all-engulfing.

A highly qualified Integrative Child Adolescent Psychotherapist and Adult Counsellor, I am keen to ensure that all my CPD is up-to-date. My qualifications include: Level 6 Supervision, level 2 Working On-Line and Remotely, Diploma in Dyslexia, Autism and Mindfulness, Level 3 Autism, Level 2 Adverse Childhood Experiences, Diploma in Cognitive, Behavioural Therapy.

Seth Gillman

Outreach Clinician

Offering a safe, accepting, non-judgemental space to the young people I work with, I use my creativity to engage and support them to explore their inner selves and the physical and emotional world they inhabit.

As AFLP’s Outreach Counsellor, I am based at the Southbank International School. For the past 15 years I have worked with a variety of people of all ages in my private practice and in a wide variety of settings and agencies in both voluntarily and paid-for roles. I hold a PG Diploma in Counselling and am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Adriana Simcock

Wellbeing Practitioner

I have a warm-hearted, caring and compassionate nature. I truly believe in the power of the arts and the provision of emotional support to facilitate positive outlooks in the lives of children, young adults and their families. I am very excited about being a member of the AFLP family and able to contribute to its remarkable ethos.

Maisie Balkin

Community Youth Worker

Motivated, passionate and creative, I first came into contact with AFLP as a service user in 2022. I am driven to empower others through engagement with the Arts. At AFLP I am able to use my experience and compassion to really listen and give space to each child and young person.

Yasmine Simcock

Community Youth Worker

I joined AFLP not long after it started as a member of the Creative Crew. Now, as a member of the Youth Worker Team, my personal experience enables me to be an empathetic, creative and honest mentor and wellbeing practitioner and to help our young people to achieve their own self-confidence and independence.

Sophie Mattes

Community Youth Worker

Thoughtful, determined, soft and funny are all words to describe me.  Being hard of hearing and coping with multiple health issues, my passion in life is supporting others who find life challenging.  I am calm, understanding and feel blessed to be part of the Arts for Life Project family.

Brandon Canning

Community Youth Worker

At AFLP I am able to combine my experience of working as a primary school PE with my grounding as a teenage, semi-professional football player and coach, to help young people grow and learn. Using each child’s uniqueness an creative ideas I coach them to reach their goals and become ambitious young adults.

Our Trustees

Penny Ericson

Chair

I am a mum, career market researcher, and a passionate advocate for any activity that engages young people whether through sports, arts or other community group, in order to boost mental health.
AFLP has provided so much support to my child and others I really want to help it to flourish in the future.

Ruth Howe

Treasurer

I run my own financial services business from home with my husband.
My family has seen on a personal level the power of the arts and the positive outcome that it can have on an individual’s life and personal self-esteem and I am passionate about sharing this with others.

Emma Matthews

Secretary

I live in Pinner with my husband Russel, and two lovely young people, who have a mix of autism, PDA and ADHD, which keeps life interesting! AFLP has offered our family a wonderfully supportive and safe place to be, a place to socialise and express themselves where they feel accepted, included and encouraged - even when it’s hard for them to join in.

Dahlia Basrawi-Deeno

Trustee

I was blown away by the real benefits AFLP brings to young people’s everyday lives. The ethos of 'putting their arms around the whole family' really resonates, so often the network around a young person is forgotten. I bring over 15 years' experience in corporate learning and development to assist with all aspects of the training and learning.

Join us ! it only takes a minute …

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Arts for Life Project. You can support us in many ways, a variety of voluntary roles are vital to the day to day running of the charity. Have a look at the ways you can help and complete the Volunteer Registration Form.

 

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