Herts Aid Staff

Director: Suzanne Bannister

Suzanne joined Herts Aid in 2001, after moving back to the UK from South Africa. Initially employed as Services Co-ordinator, Suzanne brought with her a vast range of experience, and soon set about redesigning and expanding services. Suzanne was appointed as The Manager in 2003, and became Director in 2009. The charity has gone from strength to strength under her leadership. Suzanne is responsible for overall Management of the charity, and strategic development.

 
 
 
 

Communities Team:

 

Angela Peacock – Operations Manager

Angela joined Herts Aid in 2004, initially as Administrator, having worked in various fields, and with a lot of experience as the administrator at a busy GP practice. Angela has grown in her role, and was promoted to Deputy Manager in 2006 then Operations Manager in 2009. Angela manages the Communities Team in Herts Aid, which includes the Administrator, Young Person’s Sexual Health Worker, BME Communities Worker and the Volunteer Coordinator. Angela also manages the charities finances and fundraising events.

 
 

Stephanie Mawbey – Administrator

 

Stephanie joined the staff team in January 2009, having had previous experience in the probation service, and running a family business. Stephanie is often the first port of call for visitors either in person or by telephone, is responsible for the general administration of the organisation and assists with financial input and the organisation of fundraising events.

 
 

Juddy Otti –Black Minority Ethnic Communities Worker

 

Juddy joined the Herts Aid team at the beginning of November 2010. She has previously worked with The Stevenage World Forum for Ethnic Communities where she worked very closely with the ethnic community in Hertfordshire. Juddy has also worked with refugees and asylum seekers at a charity in London, and graduated from the University of Hertfordshire.

Juddy is passionate about publicising sexual health within BME communities. Her role mainly involves working with the BME community and other organisations to promote good sexual health and encourage more people to be tested for HIV.

 
 
 

Denise Blair – Young Person’s Sexual Health Worker

Denise joined Herts Aid in October 2011, having worked as a Training Intern and Client Support on a voluntary basis for NAZ Project London. Denise brings a wealth of experience to her role from both paid and voluntary positions. She has a Master’s in Public Health and has worked as a Teen Spirit Volunteer with Body and Soul and as a Biomedical Scientist throughout London.

 
 
 
 

Sharon Shearer – Volunteer Co-ordinator

Sharon became a Herts Aid volunteer at the end of 2010, and joined in her current role in August 2011. Sharon has a background of working within the NHS, also dealing with mental health and drug and alcohol services. She is currently working towards a college qualification in Health and Social care.

 

 
 
 

Marek Mironski – MSM Communities Worker

Marek Mironski joined the Herts Aid team on 16th April 2012. He is passionate about HIV and sexual health and has been working in this field for 12 years. He began his career in Poland as a volunteer in the hospital where people living with, and affected by, HIV/AIDS were supported. Marek worked as a project/outreach coordinator with male and female sex workers for The Association for Health, Promotion and Intervention of HIV and other STIs, in the North of Poland.

More recently, Marek has worked as an HIV Prevention Officer and Health Advisor Results Coordinator for the NHS in East Yorkshire and in East London. During that time he worked with sex workers, and both the MSM and BME communities, as well as delivering sexual health promotion regarding HIV and STI prevention. He also gained experience in Partner Notification and Point of Care HIV Testing. Marek has also worked very closely with East Yorkshire Body Positive Support Group.

 

HIV Support Team

Kadine James – HIV Support Lead

 

Kadine joined Herts Aid in October 2011 as Support Lead and is responsible for managing theSupport Team. She previously worked for a large charity in Lambeth providing outreach services to people living with HIV. Kadine has worked in the Health and Social care field for 15 years, during this time she has worked in a number of settings including Mental Health and Young People Services principally for domestic charities based in London. Kadine is passionate about improving sexual health and challenging stigma.

 

Elaine Shellie – HIV Support Worker

 

Elaine joined Herts Aid as a volunteer in 2010, helping out with transport and peer support groups, before being employed in her current role of HIV Support Worker. Elaine brings a wealth of experience to her role. She is a registered nurse and also holds a degree in sexual health.

 
 
 

Ellie Richmond – HIV Support Worker

 

Ellie originally joined Herts Aid in December 2009 as the Chlamydia Screening Outreach Worker, working with the PCT Chlamydia Screening Team to deliver Chlamydia Screening throughout various sites in Hertfordshire. Ellie now works as HIV Support Worker, supporting anyone living with or affected by, HIV/AIDS across the county. She has previously worked with Thames Valley Probation as a Court Administrator. Her career over 10 years has involved working in education, community care, floating housing support and housing for homeless young people. Ellie has a great deal of experience in working with people with various support needs in areas such as: substance misuse, mental health and learning disabilities.

 

Advice Service:

 

Angela Chapman – CAB Advisor

 

After a diverse career at senior management level in the hotel, hospitality, design,
manufacturing and business coaching sectors, Angela has spent the last few years sharing the knowledge and expertise gained during her employment with owners of small and mediumbusinesses as their Business Adviser.

In 2008, she decided that alongside her business interests, she was now in a position to fulfil her desire to give something back to the communityand joined East Herts Citizen Advice Service (EHCAS) as a volunteer where she trained to be a General Adviser and is now proficient in giving advice and taking on casework in numerous areas including benefits, debt, housing, employment, family and consumer affairs amongst others.

Angela set up the Citizens Advice Outreach service for Herts Aid in October 2010 to advise and conduct casework for their Service Users and relatives, under the supervision of EHCAS.

 

Stevenage Team (SCREAM Project)

Stevenage Project lead: Emma McLaven

 

Emma joined Herts Aids in June 2009 as Health Trainer, working on the Stevenage project (SCREAM) and across country delivering Sexual Health workshops. Emma is now focused solely on the SCREAM project. Emma has a lot of experience in developing and delivering training programmes for young people which focused on confidence, self-esteem, relationships, risk taking, drug and alcohol awareness and sexual health.

 

Young Persons Outreach Worker: Lindsey Marks

 
 

Lindsey joined Herts Aid in November 2009 and works with Emma Mclaven at our Stevenage office. Lindsey brings a range of skills to her role at Herts Aid and has worked in various roles, including teaching English to students with poor English skills. Lindsey was a young leader with 16th Enfield Guide Company, working with girls aged 11-16.