Team
Senior Management Team
Jenny Haylock, MA, DSL
Founder & CEO
Founder, CEO, BAPT registered Play Therapist, Supervisor, VIG Practitioner and Therapeutic
Parenting Trainer with adoption support, attachment and developmental trauma specialism.
Jenny has worked locally for many years with extensive knowledge of problems families
face. She is a passionate advocate for children believing every child has the right to access
the help they need. Jenny enjoys long walks, photography and visiting remote Scottish
Islands, searching for puffins. Whilst exploring Shetland, contemplating puffins, the vision
for The Purple Elephant Project took shape!
Anita Sheehan
Acting COO
Anita comes from a background in finance and has been working within the charity sector for the
past eight years. Prior to this she worked in finance and facility management in a secondary school.
She is a retired personal trainer and fitness instructor and while her children were young, was a
childminder. In her spare time outside of the office, she is a keen walker, cyclist and climber and volunteers as a Triathlon coach. She also
helps train search & rescue technicians in London. Anita is passionate about making a difference to
young peoples lives, being a Pilot Officer in the RAF Air cadets she strives to educate and encourage
young people, helping them to become independent, confident, happy individuals
Katie Lyall
Head of Fundraising
Katie has worked in fundraising roles in various national charities for 17years, most recently as Head of Fundraising at NASS. Katie has a Diploma in Fundraising Management and full membership of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. As a local parent Katie is passionate about the work of the Purple Elephant Project, and hopes to assist in enabling the charity to reach more and more children in the future. Katie is an active member of the parent association of her local primary school. In rare time away from her children, Katie enjoys walking, travel and reading.
Trustees
We are delighted to be supported by a dedicated trustee team who oversee the running of The Purple Elephant Project and provide valuable advice and experience
Ed Duncan
Chair
Ed is Chair of Trustees at Purple Elephant Project, joining late in 2022. A brand and marketing expert by trade, Ed has over sixteen years experience working for a number of household name brands, including several large charities and not for profits. Most recently, he has specialised in the children's E-Learning and tutoring sector.
Having also spent time as a volunteer youth counsellor, Ed knows the impact organisations like the Purple Elephant Project can have on the lives of young people and their families, and is honoured to support the great work Jenny and the therapeutic team do.
In his spare time, Ed enjoys building trains with his four year old son, losing at chess to his seven year old daughter, and running distance races in pitifully slow times.
Alan Knowles
Treasurer
Alan is a Chartered Accountant and has worked extensively in senior management and executive positions in both finance and resources as an employee and as a consultant. He formerly worked as Director of Finance & Support at the Bank Workers Charity having previously spent 5 years as Director of Finance & Administration at Buttle UK, a charity helping disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people in the UK. This was Alan’s first move into the charity sector following a successful career in the commercial sector working for a number of fund management organisations including Gartmore, F&C Asset Management Plc, Old Mutual plc and Eden Rock Capital Management.
Andrew King
Safeguarding
Andrew is an education consultant and former headteacher of
two contrasting schools working with a diverse range of
communities. He has worked as a senior inspector and advisor
for local authorities, managing projects and supporting
headteachers and governors in a wide range of primary,
secondary and special schools. In addition, he has worked in
OfSTED teams inspecting schools. Andrew has a specialist
interest in primary school mathematics and has written and
edited series of books for publishers such as Cambridge
University Press. Music is a passion and in his spare time he
loves performing whenever and wherever he can!
Aysen Norton
Trustee
Aysen is a senior fundraising professional with over 20 years’ experience within the charity sector. She has a passion for health and disability causes having held positions at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) and the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) for 14 and seven years respectively. As a mother, Aysen is an advocate for the importance of children’s mental health. She believes passionately in the importance of addressing the emotional needs of children, giving them voice and space to be heard and supporting them to live happy, confident and healthy lives.
Therapists, Trainers & Staff
We are fortunate to have a wonderful team of therapists and other staff who are dedicated to delivering our services to the community
Gemma Kelly
Art Therapist
Gemma is a practising artist and qualified Art Psychotherapist, registered with BAAT and HCPC. She has worked in social care for over 2 decades, and brings a commitment and passion to improving people’s lives - providing a safe space for each unique child to explore and express their inner world and improve their mental wellbeing. As a sculptor herself, Gemma, understands the power of the creative process in helping people to uncover their deepest feelings and emotions, and to reveal what is not easy to put into words. She particularly enjoys helping children and young people to experience the freedom to explore their previously hidden world.
Sam Boyle
Play Therapist
A BAPT registered Play Therapist and MBACP. A practitioner in Child- Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) and DDP (L1). I am passionate about my work offering evidence-based therapeutic mental health support for children and young adults who struggle to communicate their problems with traditional types of therapy. I provide specialist support to families and schools utilising trauma informed approaches to build on attachments and relationships. I believe working in partnership is at the centre of supporting every child’s mental well-being and development.
Claire Mitchell
Play Therapist
Prior to achieving a Masters in Play Therapy, Claire was a Development Manager for the NSPCC working
with ChildLine and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) gaining insight into issues
impacting children today. She has a range of experience working therapeutically with children and families
who have experienced trauma, neglect, bereavement and loss, sexual abuse, behavioural concerns, and
those in foster care or looked after. She has experience in Therapeutic Life story work; Marschak
Interaction Method (child/parent relationship assessment) and Theraplay.
Ailbhe Howard
Play Therapist
Ailbhe has ten years' experience working with children providing Play Therapy for those with a range of
communication and emotional needs in a variety of settings. She has a master’s degree in Play Therapy
from Roehampton University and is a registered member of BAPT. Ailbhe is passionate about her work and
says she particularly enjoys giving every child and family the opportunity for space, expression and support.
She believes that "every child is wonderful in their uniqueness and that Play Therapy allows for the
celebration of this through a child-centred approach".
Charlotte Cowley
Play Therapist
Charlotte has over 10 years of experience working with children and young people in a variety of roles. Completing her Bachelors in Education with Psychology at the University of Bath, where she engaged in a placement at a Creative therapeutic centre, she became passionate about working therapeutically with children and supporting their families. Charlotte completed an MA in Play Therapy at the University of Roehampton, qualifying as a registered BAPT Play Therapist. ‘I find it a privilege to enter a child’s world through play and be alongside them as they work to understand and navigate their experiences in a space where they can innately express themselves
Tracey Harrison
Play Therapist
Archana Chatterjee
Play Therapist
A BAPT-registered Play Therapist, passionate about emotionally supporting children and families
through adoption, trauma, neglect, abuse, ASD and anxiety. Previous human rights work for global
charities meeting vulnerable communities led to wanting to support families to thrive, rather than
cope. She has worked in local and specialist schools, leading interventions, providing 1:1 support and
mentoring refugee students. 'For me, the beauty of Play Therapy is connecting with a child in many
ways; play, draw, music and dance to explore feelings and feel better about who they are."
Gráinne Nash Farrai
Play Therapist
A BAPT registered Play Therapist with an interest in children’s care and
development. Her commitment to helping children achieve their potential led to 15
years’ experience in primary teaching reinforcing her belief in the importance and
therapeutic value of play. Understanding the significance of play in social and
emotional well-being prompted a Masters in Play Therapy. Her new career enables
her to support children and families holistically as she works with those experiencing
anxiety, low self-esteem, loss, attachment difficulties, domestic abuse and
developmental trauma.
Kate Farrow
Play Therapist
Having worked with children in educational settings over the last 8 years, Kate is passionate about supporting the emotional wellbeing of children and helping them to reach their full potential. Kate has worked with children with varying levels of verbal communication in both Special Educational Needs and mainstream schools. This has helped her to recognise the importance of play as a way for every child to explore their emotions and to communicate their needs. Kate has a master’s degree in Play Therapy from Roehampton University and is a BAPT registered Play Therapist.
Tracy Evans
Play Therapist
Tracy is a BAPT registered Play Therapist with over ten years’ experience of working with children. As a teaching assistant, Tracy experienced a high level of need in children struggling with their emotions and feelings. These experiences led to a deeper interest in supporting children with their mental health. After gaining a degree in Psychology, Tracy trained as a Play Therapist at Roehampton University. Tracy feels it is a unique privilege to join each child throughout their play therapy journey, which provides the optimum therapeutic space and time they need.
Laura Reader
Play Therapist
Laura has completed a Masters in Play Therapy from the University of Roehampton and is a registered member of BAPT. Laura has an undergraduate degree in Social Policy from the University of Bristol which relates to social issues including human wellbeing. During her play therapy training, she spent two years at a large primary school where she completed her placement. She worked with children who experienced anxiety, school difficulties, low self-esteem, and had witnessed domestic abuse. Laura says, ‘play therapy is such a rewarding career and enables children to access a safe space to share their inner worlds and process their difficult life experiences.’ Prior to her Masters, Laura has experience working with children with autism at a charity providing early years support for pre-schoolers and their families.
Claire Crosby
Art Therapist
Claire, a registered Art Therapist with BAAT and HCPC, considers being trusted to hear peoples stories a huge privilege. She is passionate about supporting young people, working in schools with those experiencing trauma, anger, bereavement, low self-esteem and ASD. Her passion is rooted within creativity, strongly believing in the strength art can bring to help with communication. Claire is excited to use various art materials that speak most clearly and are most satisfying in the moment. As we are surrounded by images, colour and shape; it is interesting to consider how we orientate ourselves amongst that, and how we use and feel about it. Art therapy is allowing the art process to unravel and the medium to support and challenge or help reveal thoughts
Rebecca Mills
Centre Coordinator
Rebecca has worked in various roles within retail buying and licensing at a number of leading brands and more recently she set up her own lifestyle business. She obtained a Psychology degree at University and has always been interested in the positive impact different therapies can have, which has led her to go on and study counselling.
She hopes to be able to support the Purple Elephant Project to enable it to grow and benefit even more children.
In her spare time, Rebecca loves to practice yoga and pilates and enjoys long walks with family and friends.
Charlene Fernandes
Play Therapist
A BAPT registered play therapist with experience in working therapeutically with children and families who have experienced trauma, bereavement and loss, abuse, self-harm and suicidal ideation. She has experience working with children who have profound and multiple complex needs, and is very aware that children need to be listened to and heard in both their verbal and nonverbal communications. ‘I love that play can transcend barriers and I am so passionate about being with children through some of their difficult experiences, and nurturing that sense of self belief, self-worth, autonomy and empowerment’.