Our Staff 



Louise Wright    Chief Executive   020 8875 6725

Louise is our CEO and is responsible for leading our Back Up Team. Louise works with the Board of Trustees to ensure the organisation delivers its mission.

 



Indira Das-Gupta   PR and Communications Manager  020 8875 6744

Indira has overall responsibility for all internal and external communications. She supports the team on all communication issues to ensure we communicate as clearly and as effectively as possible and oversees the production of all our publications.

Carol Ann Sital-Singh   Finance and HR Director    020 8875 6724

Carol Ann manages all Back Up's accounting and reporting systems ensuring that we can report appropriately on the financial aspects of our sevices both internally and externally. She also has overall responsibility for overseeing our HR policies and procedures.

Leila works in the Finance Team and also takes care of the office administration. She makes sure all the monies donated are accounted for and attributed to the correct funding stream. She pays volunteer and staff expenses and office bills. She makes sure we are topped up with enough stationery, teabags and coffee as well as looking after all other admin matters that make the Back Up office hum happily and effectively. 

Services team 

Stef Cormack Services Manager  020 8875 6745
Stef oversees the development of all our services and is always keen to hear your feedback and ideas about  Back Up services.
                                                                                                                                     

Sean McCallion*  Outreach and Support Manager    020 8875 6747  
Sean is our longest serving staff member. He oversees all contact with spinal centres and our wheelchair skills services.  Sean likes to get on the phone to our participants too. 

Melissa Swinkels*   Outreach and Support Co-ordinator   020 8875 6723
 
Melissa works with Stuart and Michael liasing with the 11 spinal centres to ensure inpatients and staff have access to Back Up services.  They stay in touch with those new to Back Up. Mel was in a car accident in 2000 resulting in a complete injury at C7. After initially being reluctant, she did a ski course with Back Up. She then stayed involved as a volunteer group leader and mentor and joined the staff team in 2008. “Working at Back Up has given me the opportunity to meet so many new and wonderful people”. When she’s not working Mel loves to travel. Mel is on sabbatical until October 2011.

Stuart Wheeler* Outreach and Support Co-ordinator  020 8875 6740 

Stuart works with Melissa and Michael liasing with the 11 spinal centres to ensure  inpatients and staff have access to Back Up services.  They stay in touch with those new to Back Up. 
Stuart has a T5/6 injury from a car accident in 1993. “For the first 6 years after my accident I didn’t really do anything until someone from Back Up talked me into doing a course and I haven’t looked back".  Stuart later got involved with Back Up as a volunteer wheelchair skills trainer before joining the staff team in 2006. He is now married and enjoys playing basketball and getting out on his handbike.

Michael Hipwell* Outreach and Support Co-ordinator  020 8875 6742

Michael  works with Melissa and Stuart liasing with the 11 spinal centres to ensure inpatients and staff have access to Back Up services.  They stay in touch with those new to Back Up.  Michael broke his neck at C6 playing rugby in 2000. After this he toured the world playing Wheelchair Rugby for Great Britain. Later he had a son and settled down to family life. He was keen to get back to work and started volunteering. He joined the Back Up staff team in 2008. “When I first got involved with Back Up, I learnt loads of new skills and it’s great to be able to pass this knowledge on to others”.

 
Kyra Noblet   Mentoring Service Manager  020 8875 6728

Kyra manages our mentoring service for both adults and young people and is responsible for developing the service to further include family members.

                                                                                                                                     
 



Ally Ward   Courses Manager   020 8875 6729

Ally is responsible for overseeing the co-ordination of all our adult and children's courses and looking after our Nurses, PAs and Group Leaders. 

Catherine Hopkins Services and Volunteer Administrator   020 8875 6741

Catherine assists Ally with the smooth running of all the courses and with the administration of all volunteering in Back Up services. She is the main point of contact for all our general course volunteers ('buddies') and is happy to help in any way she can.

Beth Scrimshaw   Schools and Family Inclusion Co-ordinator  0208 875 6721

Beth is responsible for ensuring that children and young people are fully included back into their schools after injury. She links up with a wide range of people involved in supporting children and families, and is working with the education sector to raise the profile of young people with spinal cord injury.

                                                                                                                                     



Hannah Tozer  Under 18's Service Manager  0208 875 1805

Hannah works across Outreach, Mentoring, Courses and the Schools Project to provide great services to children and young people with spinal cord injuries. She is also coordinating the new participation work at Back Up to get children and young people more involved in decision making.

Fundraising team 

Joan Smith   Fundraising Manager   020 8875 6727

Joan heads up the Fundraising team and has responsibility for developing major donors, legacy and payroll giving initiatives. Joan also ensures that Back Up’s supporters are happy and committed members of the team! 
  

Helen Marsh Major Events Manager 020 8875 6722

Helen is responsible for all our major events. She ensures all the events run smoothly, raise lots of money and that everyone has a great time.

Becky Newham Trust Fundraiser  020 8875 6743 

Becky secures all of Back Up's trust income from grant making bodies. 

 
Natalie Wood   Community Fundraiser 020 8875 6726

Natalie looks after all our wonderful runners, skydivers, triathletes and individual supporters. 

Micah Jorrisch   Corporate Fundraiser    020 8875 6746

Micah manages and develops Back Up's corporate partnerships and makes sure that all our corporate supporters are active and happy!

                                                                                                       

 

Jon Stanton    Fundraising Administrator      020 8875 6722

Jon supports the Fundraising team with administration and project work.

* Denotes spinal cord injured staff member.