BASE National Executive Committee

BASE is governed by a National Executive Committee elected by its members within each of the seven regions. The role of the NEC is to provide support and scrutiny as well as linking the national organisation with grass roots members. The NEC meets several times a year, usually in Manchester, and you can find details of our annual reports, Treasurer's reports and AGM minutes here.

Matt Britt

Position: 
co-Chair
Region: 
South West
Agency: 
Freeways
Address: 
Freeways, Leigh Court Centre, Pill Road,Abbots Leigh, Bristol, BS8 3RA
Email: 
mattbritt@freeways.org.uk
Phone: 
01275 372109
Matt has over twenty years experience of working in social care and has worked within local authorities, colleges and, primarily, the third sector. He has a broad range of experiences from delivering vocational qualifications, project managing ESF-funded projects and developing social enterprises that employ people with learning disabilities. Alongside his current day job as Senior Manager of a charity in Bristol, he is also a Director of a CIC that offers sign posting, advice and guidance to disabled job seekers.

Laura Davis

Position: 
co-Chair
Region: 
South East
Agency: 
Ways into Work
Address: 
11 Courthouse Road, Maidenhead SL6 6JE
Email: 
laura@waysintowork.com
Phone: 
07876 577567
Laura Davis is the Managing Director of Ways into Work Community Interest Company based in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The organisation delivers Supported Employment services across Berkshire for individuals with a disability or disadvantage. Laura started her career in Supported Employment over 15 years ago as a Job Coach and has recently completed the Supported Employment Certificate to ensure that she continues to remain connected on the ground. She has led her service to win three national awards and is highly passionate about quality within the sector.

Rhys Toone

Position: 
Vice Chair
Region: 
North East
Agency: 
Pluss
Address: 
The Headrow, Leeds LS1 5JW
Email: 
rhys.toone@pluss.org.uk
Phone: 
0113 848 0993
Rhys is Head of Employment Services for Pluss. Rhys joined the industry over 10 years ago, after a long career in retail banking as part of the Royal Bank of Scotland group. Since joining the industry as an Employment Advisor for Work Directions (now Ingeus), Rhys has worked in many different roles across several contracts for Working Links, before joining Pluss in 2012. Rhys’ specialisms include the design and management of supply chains and he is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and a Fellow of the Institute of Employment Professionals.

Robert Elston

Position: 
Treasurer
Region: 
South East
Agency: 
Status Employment
Address: 
Status Employment, 6 West Way Gardens, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey CR0 8RA
Email: 
r.elston@statusemployment.org.uk
Phone: 
0208 655 3344

Dean Atkinson

Region: 
Midlands
Agency: 
Coventry City Council
Address: 
The Employment Support Service, Floor 12, Civic Centre 4, Much Park Street, Coventry, CV1 2PY
Email: 
dean.atkinson@coventry.gov.uk
Phone: 
024 7678 5600

Julia Green

Region: 
Midlands
Agency: 
Olympus Care Services Ltd
Address: 
Patrick Road Resource Centre, Patrick Road, Corby NN18 9NT
Email: 
julia.green@nass.uk.net
Phone: 
01604 361033
Julia has been working with the Employment and Disability Service - EADS (part of Olympus Care Services) for just over 12 years, initially as an Employment Development Officer, then as Team Leader and for the past year as Manager of both EADS and LIVE (learning, independence, volunteering and employment), Olympus’ new team, providing supported employment to people with complex needs and disabilities who are able to gain and sustain voluntary and paid employment for less than 16 hours. EADS has achieved numerous national awards and recognition and currently deliver Work Choice, SES (Specialist Employability Support) and Links to Work (ESF) across Northamptonshire. Julia is immensley proud of her teams and the support and services they provide to the people of Northamptonshire.

Rachel Jones

Region: 
North West
Email: 
rachel.jones@iamaspire.org.uk
Phone: 
07921 693484

Holly Kelleher

Region: 
North East
Agency: 
St Camillus Care Group
Email: 
holly.kelleher@stcamilluscaregroup.co.uk
Phone: 
0191 438 2750
I started my career as a store manager in the retail sector moving into Post 16 education, specifically Apprenticeships, in 2003. I managed a private training provider with a specialist interest in alternative education provision and a strong background in quality assurance. I was employed by Gateshead Council in 2009 to provide local people with employment related education programmes and was offered the post of manager of Gateshead Access to Employment Service, GATES in 2013,. In 2016 I moved to St Camillus Care Group to manage their employment support.

Petra Kennedy

Region: 
Wales
Agency: 
Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind
Address: 
Unit 4, Triangle Business Park, Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 4TQ
Email: 
petrakennedy@mtib.co.uk
Phone: 
01685 370072
Petra represents Welsh members on the National Executive Committee and is the Secretary of BASE Wales. Petra has been involved with Disability Employment Services and Supported Employment since 2002 and is keen to develop the involvement of Welsh members.

Alistair Kerr

Region: 
Scotland
Agency: 
Shaw Trust
Email: 
alistair.kerr@base-uk.org
Phone: 
0141 333 0567
Alistair represents Scottish members on the National Executive Council and chairs BASE Scotland. Since 2009, Alistair has also been an avid supporter of the Scottish Government's Procurement Directorate in their endeavours to maximise the opportunities that Article 19 / 20 of the European Procurement Directive can deliver for Scottish Supported Businesses.

Kathy Melling

Position: 
Co-opted member
Agency: 
Melling Training and Consultancy
Email: 
kathy.melling@base-uk.org
Kathy has worked in the supported employment sector since the late 1970s in both the USA and UK, and was a very lucky person to be trained by Marc Gold. She has been involved with BASE since its inception. She now works as a consultant and trainer after a longer career in public services. In her spare time, Kathy supports a range of community and voluntary sector organisations in Kent as well as Charlton Athletic.

Nerise Oldfield-Thompson

Position: 
Co-opted member
Agency: 
Oldfield's Consultancy Ltd
Address: 
16 Eden Terrace, Stanley, Co. Durham DH9 7LW
Email: 
nerise@oldfieldsconsultancyltd.co.uk
I spent 15 years within local authority and voluntary sector delivering and managing supported employment before taking the leap into self-employment. Currently I am the Secretary for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber region for BASE as well as being co-opted onto the NEC for Workforce Development and funding opportunities. When I have a few minutes to myself I spend time in my allotment and being a typical 'Geordie' show leeks at a local leek show.

Alison Thwaite

Region: 
North West
Agency: 
Down's Syndrome Association
Email: 
alison.thwaite@downs-syndrome.org.uk
Phone: 
07973 612720
Since April 2015, I have been an Employment Development Officer for the Down's Syndrome Association’s WorkFit programme. I develop employment opportunities for people with Down's syndrome and I find this role to be the most rewarding and profoundly positive of my career to date. I have received two awards in 2016 for my success to date.

Melanie Walls

Position: 
Co-opted member
Agency: 
Shaw Trust
Address: 
1st Floor Boulton House, Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HY
Email: 
melanie.walls@shaw-trust.org.uk
Phone: 
07908 639 528
Melanie Walls is the Supported Business Manager at Shaw Trust. Mel’s responsibilities include working with 32 Supported Businesses across Shaw Trust’s 16 Work Choice Contract Package Areas. Mel also manages a national Intermediate Labour Market programme called RiSE – ‘Routes into Sustainable Employment’. Mel provides a link to the Supported Business Alliance, a group formed in 2014 that acts as a voice for Supported Businesses across the country.

Vikki Walters

Region: 
South West
Agency: 
Gloucestershire County Council
Address: 
Shire Hall, Westgate, Gloucester GL1 2TR
Email: 
vikki.walters@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Phone: 
01452 328645
Vikki worked for DWP for 29 years, 15 of which were spent in various roles connected to disability employment including DEA and Disability Partnership Manager. Vikki has experience of setting up and delivering programmes including NDDP and Pathways to Work and has spent the last 5 years as Disability Employment Commissioner for Gloucestershire County Council where she has developed their Disability Employment Strategy. This has included the development of the internally delivered Forwards Supported Employment Service, Work Clubs and Supported Internships.

Huw Davies

Position: 
Chief Executive
Address: 
Unit 4, 200 Bury Road, Tottington, Bury BL8 3DX
Email: 
huw.davies@base-uk.org
Phone: 
01204 880733
Huw has been the chief executive of the BASE since 2008. He previously chaired the association from its formation in 2006 and chaired one of its predecessor associations, AfSE, from 2002 to 2006. Huw was previously the Regional Employment Team Coordinator for North West Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP). This strategic role supported the regional implementation of Government policy on mental health and employment. From 1993 to 2007, Huw was manager of Bury EST, a local authority supported employment agency that provided employment support for disabled jobseekers, care leavers, recovering drug misusers, minority ethnic communities and job retention projects.

Gillian Parker

Position: 
Social media
Agency: 
BASE
Address: 
Unit 4, 200 Bury Road, Tottington, Bury BL8 3DX
Email: 
gillian.parker@base-uk.org
Phone: 
01204 880733