Maddison Stewart

Wellbeing Practitioner

Maddison is a mum of 3 and an emotional wellbeing practitioner who delivers low level Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and listening services. She specialises in trauma-informed mindfulness and runs Dance for Wellbeing as well as other wellness services. She is highly passionate about improving people’s mental health and wellbeing, not only in the traditional 1-1 counselling format but also through various different activities. In some cases she looks at prevention over cure and thoroughly enjoys the work that she does.

Lizzie Palmer

Development Manager

Lizzie grew up in Bearwood and has spent the past 6 years working in the arts, social enterprise, charitable and transport sectors. She began her career in railway project management but decided to follow a passion for organising community arts events in 2020 producing VERVE Poetry Festival. She believes in the power of the arts to create social change and equity as well as to improve wellbeing.

Bashira Karokhil

Information, Advice & GUidance Officer

I enjoy working with and helping people. I have worked previously at Brushstrokes as a volunteer refugee & asylum seeker advisor. When I was in Afghanistan I worked as a General Councillor in the Afghan Embassy in Abu Dhabi supporting Afghan citizens with families, passports, business, visas, and other signposting and support for people. Outside of work I really love gardening and growing flowers (In the Summer my house is overflowing with flowers).

Sunitha Dwarakanath

Hub Administrator

Sunitha originally worked in IT in the corporate sector but has spent the last five years supporting community projects, charities and campaigns with Operational and project management support. Outside of her work at Bearwood Community Hub, she is a core member at Regularise where she campaigns and supports undocumented migrants to advocate for themselves and their rights.

Natasha Comfort

Hub Assistant

Rachel Lloyd

Finance Administrator

Elishah St Juste

Hub Administrator

Elishah St Juste is an actor and award-winning filmmaker with over 20 years of experience working with young people and as a creative arts practitioner in the UK, Europe and the Caribbean.
Focusing on ‘challenging mindsets through the arts', her work primarily utilises theatre and film as powerful social tools to create sustainable change. Elishah brings her organisational prowess and detailed-focused approach to the hub.

Jennie Sandford

Social Media Manager

TV Producer turned social entrepreneur - Jen co-founded Crafty Muthas and Bearwood Pantry right here in the ‘wood and was responsible for the regular Bearwood Handmade Fairs and Bearwood Food Festivals. Keen on pursuing ideas with the potential to solve community problems and create positive change, Jen currently freelances in Community Engagement and Social Media Management, helping small businesses, charities and community organisations with their online presence. She’s lived in Bearwood for twenty three years, with her husband, two kids, and more recently, a dog named Boo. 

Shahida Kauser

English For Everyday Teacher

Amy Campbell

Chair of the Board

Amy is a Creative Producer with over 15 years experience of devising and delivering innovative cross-arts programmes with children, young people and families.

She has collaborated with local and national organisations such as; Tate Liverpool, Creative Scotland, British Council, mac Birmingham, Centre for Research in Early Childhood, Capsule, New Economics Foundation, Wow Global, Warwick University, NHS, Library of Birmingham and Watershed, Bristol.

Amy is founder of #RadicalChildcare, an initiative seeks to explore ways to imagine and invest in bold new possibilities for the future of childcare, children and families. Amy is a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Ideas and Pioneers Award winner for The Parakeet.

Amy is currently Creative Producer for Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and Sandwell Cultural Education Partnership and is studying an MA in Education (Early Years) at Centre for Research in Early Childhood.

Pat Nimmo

Board Member

Jo Capper

Board member
 

Jo is a Collaborative Programme Curator at Grand Union Arts in central Birmingham and Bearwood resident. Founder of Bearwood Pantry, Jo is passionate about equitable food distribution and the power of the arts to bring people together and foster belonging. Jo brings a wealth of experience in involving excluded groups in her work, particularly those who have experienced homelessness.

Fatma Keskin

Board memeber
 

Fatma arrived to Bearwood from Turkey three years ago and set up her own business while looking after her young family, bringing with her a wealth of business development experience. Passionate about supporting fellow newly arrived families to feel settled and connected in Smethwick, Fatma is a great connector and convenor - supporting Mothership MARKit social enterprise project to fly locally.

Julie McKirdy MBE

Board Member
 

Julie is a stalwart of the Smethwick community! Julie has worked at or managed Thimblemill Library her whole life and as a result knows everyone. Inclusive to her core, and a Board member for many local organisations, Julie makes sure everyone is connected and working together. Julie brings her experience in making a building work for its community and to be sustainable.

Andrea Walters

Board Member

Andrea is a qualified teacher, NLP coach and local business owner. She has a breadth of knowledge and expertise in education, governance and entrepreneurship. She is passionate about supporting charities and giving back to her community and is an avid mental health advocate.