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Our Team

One of the things that makes ADD-vance special is that all our team members are parents of children affected by ADHD, Autism or other related conditions. We are unique in bringing a parent’s perspective and pragmatism to our work while all team members are qualified and trained in their specialist area, to ensure that all our services are provided to a high professional standard. Our team includes specialists from psychology, social work, teaching, nursing and more besides.

Our Trustees

Nick Dilworth

BA (Hons), ACA

Chair of Trustees

Nick was inspired to get into working with ADD-vance after hearing about their great work through a friend. His passion for working with charities runs in the family as his father has spent over 30 years advising and assisting not-for-profit organisations. Nick is a professional Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales having qualified with Deloitte LLP. Nick has spent over 15 years working in Banking and Capital Markets in Compliance and Audit roles, currently with Winterflood Securities, part of the Close Brothers Group. Nick lives in St. Albans with his wife, two children and a very excitable Hungarian Vizsla called Peggy. 

Laura Walker

HR Specialist

Trustee

Laura joined the board of ADD-vance in 2020 to offer her HR expertise and knowledge in order to help ADD-vance support and develop the team. She is a mum of two, a wife and the business owner of Fresh Solutions HR.

Laura is passionate about employee wellbeing and truly believes that if employers can create a healthy, loyal and empowered workforce, it will then be fundamental to their success. She loves HR, people, communicating and resolving problems.

Liz West

Trustee

Bio to follow

The Office Team

Debbie Wood

MBA(Exe), BA(Hons)

Chief Executive Officer
Debbie is a passionate believer in the importance of local charities and the benefits they provide to individuals and families. She has devoted her whole career to working in the Hertfordshire voluntary sector in agencies that support people to fulfill their potential. The work of ADD-vance and the impact it makes inspired her to join the Team in 2020, where she feels she has been given the privilege of leading the charity into its next phase of success. Outside work, Debbie is a busy mum to her two children and when she is not being their taxi driver, she loves to bake anything with chocolate in.
Mel Peeke - Specialist ASD & ADHD Trainer

Melanie Peeke

MA, Human Sciences

Specialist Autism and ADHD Lead, Facebook Admin

Mel has a background in corporate training and development and like so many of us went into motherhood thinking she had everything sussed. When life threw a few curve balls at her and she ended up finding parenting more difficult than expected, she found fantastic support from local schools and charities (including ADD-vance) to help her bring out the best in her autistic daughter and really enjoy family life. She is absolutely passionate about the positive impact of parenting courses in helping to build a sense of community, provide a supportive place to share ideas and allow time for reflection. Mel has been involved with ADD-vance since 2010 and is one of the founding members for our sister group – Spectrum Girls.

Jo Miller

Coaching and Training Administration Lead

Jo has joined the ADD-vance team with first-hand experience of using all of our services to help support her own children and as such knows just how much difference ADD-vance can make. She brings with her a solid background in administration and has also worked previously as a Learning Support Assistant for children with special needs. In her spare time, Jo enjoys being active, including dog walks with the family, and loves getting lost in a good book or film.

Andrea Horne

Training Administration
With two teenage children (and a cat!) keeping her on her toes, Andrea’s motivation to work with ADD-vance comes from her desire to see families like her own supported to thrive. Having joined ADD-vance in 2013, Andrea is determined to ensure that we get all our processes and systems in the best possible shape to help us efficiently and effectively support our members. Drawing on her experience of working in account management and keen eye for innovation, she is always on the lookout for new ways to improve our back office support to keep everything up to date.  When she is not knee deep in statistics and reports, Andrea loves to travel the world with her favourite adventures being in the U.S.

Lisa Worrell

Office Administration

Lisa lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and their five children. Together with her oldest son, and amazing team of volunteers, Lisa launched The Junior Reptile and Amphibian Club for Enthusiasts in 2016. The club invites children from all over the county and beyond to share their passion for everything reptilian. Opportunities to meet snakes, frogs, lizards, bugs and much more, the monthly free educational club welcomes over 80 children each month.  

With a calm and enthusiastic approach to whatever life throws at her, Lisa believes that honesty, compassion and self belief, (not forgetting a sprinkling of laughter), is key to achieving great things.

Sarah Edun

Office Administration - Volunteer

After her young energetic and vibrant son received a diagnosis of Autism, Sarah’s passion (calling) is now at the heart of helping other parents and children in any way that she can and volunteering helps her to do that. 
She is a team leader in her local Children’s Church where she also volunteers by teaching children aged 5-7. 
With a professional background in the Beauty industry Sarah is always happy to share beauty tips. Helping people gives her satisfaction.

The Training & Coaching Team

Dan Adams

BA (Hons), Level 3 Teaching Qualification

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach, EHCP Specialist

Dan is a Dad to 3 awesome, neurodiverse young people who all have a diagnosis of Autism and/or ADHD. Dan himself has a diagnosis of ADHD and is happy to bring his real-world experience to the table. Over the past decade, he has developed substantial understanding and appreciation of these conditions and how to relate them to different families on differing journeys and brings his experience and expertise in his role as Specialist Autism/ADHD Coach and Trainer. Dan is a clear and down to earth communicator, is also a full-time lecturer at a local College and brings care and compassion to his role.

Dan also has significant expertise in the EHCP process and maintenance, being part of the team (alongside Bridget) that transitioned them from Statements of SEN to Education, Health and Care plans as an Independent SEN Adviser. With his experience as both a parent and teacher, he is able to bring these together when supporting with EHCP applications.

Catherine Ainsworth - Specialist ASD & ADHD Trainer

Catherine Ainsworth

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer, Website Admin

Catherine was first inspired to volunteer when she attended the 6 week parent Time Out course and the rest, as they say, is history. Catherine’s background in digital marketing and being Yorkshire in no way prepared her for the trials and tribulations of life as the parent of kids with ADHD and Autism but like so many others has found that you become an expert pretty quickly! Catherine provides parent training and also works behind the scenes on website improvements and other marketing projects.

Helen Collins

Specialist Autism and ADHD Coach

Helen discovered ADD-vance almost 10 years ago when she was searching for help and advice to support her family. So inspired by the amazing team at ADD-vance, she was keen to be more involved, and subsequently trained to become a specialist coach. Helen really enjoys supporting parents by working on strategies around their specific needs, and helping to build their confidence to improve family life.

Joanna Daw

B.Ed (Hons)

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach

Jo first came to ADD-vance after both her children were diagnosed with a combination of ADHD and Autism, having previously worked as a primary school teacher.  She expressed interest in joining the team as a coach and trainer and hasn’t looked back! Jo is passionate about all things ADHD and Autism.  She is very open and honest about the delights and challenges that come with living in a neuro-diverse family.  She loves working with families along their journey, and helping them to feel confident and empowered, alongside working with schools to improve awareness and understanding.

Jeanette Farrow

Specialist Autism and ADHD Coach

Jeanette is a mum of twins and feels very lucky to have a boy and a girl! When she discovered her daughter had a neuro-diverse condition, Jeanette found ADD-vance and had coaching to help manage and understand her daughter’s behaviour. The coaching completely changed their relationship and Jeanette gained new insight into what her daughter was going through. She felt so privileged to  have received this help and now wants to help others in a similar situation.

Jeanette also works part time for an adult hospice running a project helping lonely and socially isolated vulnerable people, but before having the twins she was a social worker with various roles including managing children’s homes, running a child protection team in London and being the Children’s Service Manager for a children’s hospice. Jeanette thoroughly enjoys working with people, no matter what age or situation.

Karen Hannan

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach

With a background in education, advocacy and mental health, Karen is passionate about ADD-vance training and coaching after its phenomenal impact on her own amazing, neurodiverse family.  She focuses on identifying the strengths and passions of neurodiverse individuals and families, to enable healthier and happier outcomes. 

Karen is diagnosed with ASD and ADHD herself.  The combination of lived experience, reflective skills and extensive knowledge regarding neurodiversity provides a unique perspective.  Her ability to relate theory to relevant real life practice, enables families to move from helplessness to understanding, acceptance and hope.

Bridget Livsey

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach
EHCP Specialist

Bridget is mother to three amazing, unique young men who all have diagnostic combinations of autism and ADHD. Over the past two decades, Bridget has developed substantial understanding and appreciation of these conditions, and brings her experience and expertise to bear in her role as Specialist Autism/ADHD Coach and Trainer. Bridget is a clear and empathic communicator, born from her first career in journalism, and brings compassion and care to her work with both parents and professionals. Bridget is particularly passionate about supporting parents in building on their skills, understanding and ability to support their children through the use of proven and well-tested strategies.

Bridget has a particular interest in SEN law. She is a trained IPSEA adviser and helped launch the government’s Independent Support programme in Hertfordshire in 2014, at the time of the SEN law reforms. This programme helped parents navigate the introduction of Education, Health and Care (EHCP) processes. Since the closure of the programme in 2018, Bridget brings her EHCP knowledge and expertise to parents as an Independent SEN Adviser, drawing on her extensive SEN legal training and also her own personal experiences as a parent of children with an EHCP.

Susanna Mateu

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach

Susanna, who is originally from Spain, has a wealth of experience teaching Spanish to adults and children in Hertfordshire for over 10 years. She came across ADD-vance when her son was 6 years old and has had a soft spot for the charity ever since. Susanna is a very caring person who is always keen to support the most vulnerable in the community. She also helps run a fantastic award-winning charity, Potential Kids, which supports neurodiverse children and their families in Hertfordshire. 

She loves learning new things and is always prepared to help anyone that needs any support. Susanna is also a Mental Health First Aider and Trainer. She actively promotes the importance of self-care, practising yoga, tai chi and meditation. She loves travelling the world, having afternoon teas with her girlfriends in London and photographing sunrises and wildlife.

Tracie Mullin

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer

Bio to follow

Amanda O'Gorman

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach

Amanda’s first introduction to ADD-vance was following her son’s diagnosis of ASD and ADHD in 2013.  Via our courses and workshops, Amanda armed herself with as much information as possible and has been a keen supporter of ADD-vance ever since.  Amanda is passionate about her work in supporting and celebrating the differences of adults with ADHD and/or Autism in the work place and works closely with Potential Kids (a Hertfordshire based charity delivering social activities for children and young people with a learning difference).  Amanda combines all of this with her role as a busy Mum to two beautiful, impeccably behaved children! 

Annette O'Toole

MA Education, PGCE

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer

With a background in education and a passion for early years development, Annette brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area. She originally came to ADD-vance after her son was diagnosed with ASD, and now combines her knowledge of education with her first-hand experience to help and support other families. 

Frances Parsons - Specialist ASD & ADHD Trainer

Frances Parsons

BA (Hons)

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach

Bio to follow

Vicki Whent

BA (Hons), PG Dip CG

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach

Vicki joined ADD-vance in 2015. Her professional post graduate career includes Journalism, Training and Guidance. She has previously held the position of Trustee for Tracks Autism for seven years, established a local autism/ADHD support group called Rainbows and has studied autism at university level. Vicki has a teenage son with a diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

Robin Wilding - Specialist ASD & ADHD Trainer & Coach

Robin Wilding

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach

Robin is one of our original team of specialist coaches. She is also a busy Mum to four beautiful children. Her eldest child was diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD at the age of 8yrs, leading her to train as a specialist coach with ADD-vance. She recognises the challenges parents face with their children and aims to offer strategies that work for individual families and children, to improve family life as a whole, offering a fresh perspective without judging. Everyone can feel as though they’ve run out of ideas and sometimes may simply need a little support to regain the confidence in their own resourcefulness.

Julie Williams

Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer

Julie first came across ADD-vance when attending one of our sensory courses and immediately decided it was a charity she would love to work with. With a corporate background in training and development and having carried out support work for other charities, she wanted to bring that experience to a charity which had made such a difference to her family. She is passionate about embracing differences in society and creating a culture in which young people can thrive and be themselves.

Julie has two fabulous neurodiverse children, a boy and a girl, who definitely keep her on her toes but also surprise and amaze her every day. When she’s not taking them from one activity to the next, she likes to get out on her bike or to run (and chat) with friends. 

Lisa Worrell

Specialist Autism and ADHD Coach