What does your job involve?   

Managing the team, advising the trustees, providing, promoting and supervising volunteering activities for young people.

 

When and why did you join AYA?   

I joined in June 2005 because I enjoy working with young people and think that AYA is a fantastic organisation.

 

What do you like to do when you’re not at AYA?     

Sleep, watch Arsenal,  play guitar and sing in the band at church

 

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A border terrier, then I could hang out with Billy (my little border terrier) all day.

Simon Garwood

Project Manager

Sara Butler

Project Development Worker

What does your job involve? 

Developing new projects, applying for funding and monitoring grants and special projects. Supporting volunteers on projects and helping young people to develop new projects.

 

What has been your favourite AYA project EVER?

Sense—it is an amazing accomplishment to create the sensory garden and so many young people were involved throughout the course of the project. 

 

What would be your dream project?

A ‘faith action’ project, working with young people from a variety of faiths, listening to each other, sharing common goals and putting their faith into action in community projects.

 

What is your most embarrassing moment?
Having to ask the window cleaner to ‘break in’ to my flat when I locked myself out.

What does your job involve? 

Working with young people to help older or disabled people with gardening problems. Also more recently with the Grove to establish their sensory garden for young people with severe physical and learning disabilities.

 

What would be your dream project?

To be given the vale park to work on, & transform it from the dull, featureless desert it has been made into.

 

What is your most embarrassing moment?
Shattering a client’s large patio window with a stone from the AYA strimmer—luckily for me she was very understanding!

 

If you were an object, what would you be and why?

I’d like to be classy and elegant, racy and poised, slightly challenging and extremely well looked after when I'm old—an Aston Martin DB9 I think

Meet the Team

Philippa Taylor

Volunteer Development Worker

What does your job involve? 

Recruiting and supporting volunteers throughout their volunteering and personal development.  Promoting volunteering activities for young people and helping to plan and develop projects.

 

When and why did you join AYA?   

I joined AYA in November 2007 because I volunteered with Wycombe Youth Action when I was at school and wanted to work for an organisation that could offer young people similar opportunities to develop and get involved in their community that I enjoyed. 

 

What has been your favourite AYA project EVER?

There are so many I keep changing my mind, but at the moment it has to be the Youth Action Team.  It’s great to be able to support the team develop and organise so many exciting, fun and varied projects.

 

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A dolphin because they always look like they’re having fun!

Paul Robinson

Gardening Project Supervisor

Registered charity no. 285088