I started at CCS in 2016, initially as a Social Work Team Manager, then as Head of Adoption and now as CEO. I feel privileged to lead such an enthusiastic team of staff who care passionately about adoptive families. Over that time, I’ve worked closely with the Social Work Service, Therapeutic Service and The Centre and seen growth and change. I have completed various leadership courses, a level 5 Management qualification, a Social Work diploma and an Architecture degree. I feel driven to help children find their forever family and home; to find staff and services that will help these children and to help their dedicated new parents find a way through childhood where happy memories can be made, whilst addressing the trauma that came before.

I qualified as a social worker in 2002 after working in residential settings with adults with Learning difficulties. I spent many years working in safeguarding teams with a number of Local Authorities, working with birth families and placing children for adoption. I left the Local Authority in 2015 to work in the voluntary adoption sector, before coming to CCS in 2017 as a Practice Manager and as Head of Adoption from 2022. People inspire me and intrigue me.

I am always encouraged by the resilience of the human race; especially children who have experienced adversity, trauma and loss, yet still manage to get up and get on with their lives. What an absolute privilege to be part of that journey!

I have worked in a Project Support and Finance role since graduating in 2009 with a Computer Science degree. I joined the team in June 2015 as Finance Manager for CCS. I have an AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting and CIPP Payroll Technician Certification. I love spreadsheets and use them to ensure that CCS remains financially secure so that CCS can continue to build a positive future for children for many more years to come. I’m also a keen runner and often fundraise for CCS.

I joined CCS in 2021 with over 30 years of experience working in Children’s Services. Originally beginning in the London Borough of Lewisham Early Years and Social Care and Health sectors then returned to Bristol to deliver local community childcare services both for the local authority, community projects and Surestart. Most recently I have spent 6 years working as a childcare manager for the YMCA where I discovered my motivation and passion for being part of a charitable organisation.
I am thrilled to be part of the CCS team as PAS Manager and feel privileged to become part of a valuable and life-changing journey for children and families.

Before my training officer role, I spent four years working as an adoption adviser for CCS. I have a birth son and twins who joined our family through adoption in 2007, so I have lots of real-life experience to draw on when training our prospective adopters.
I have worked as a midwife at the RUH in Bath, running antenatal classes and training student midwives. After a period of study, I went on to manage the RUH press and communications office before leaving to focus on our newly adopted twins.
My previous work and home life experiences along with our highly experienced and knowledgeable CCS team have been key in helping me to develop the skills and empathy to engage, train and support our prospective adopters through our adoption process and beyond.

I started working for CCS Adoption in 2021. I have several years of experience working in the voluntary sector before joining CCS, prior to that worked in the private sector as a Senior Coaching & Development Manager and Project Delivery Manager, working on people projects including transformation programmes, leadership development and operational improvements. I am Level 7 CIPD qualified and a chartered member of the CIPD. I love working with such a passionate and talented group of people who care deeply about their work with families.

I joined CCS Adoption in 2021 as an adoption advisor. Before this, I worked for a National Fostering Agency. I have been through the adoption process twice and am a mum of two adopted children who are 12 and 10 years old. I am very fortunate that adoption and Special Guardianship are woven into my extended family, so I have lots of experience to share.

I love my role and being able to connect with and share information about the adoption process and our life experiences with prospective adopters. When wanting to learn more about what your adoption journey could be, I am the person at the end of the phone or email. Remember, there are no silly questions, so don’t wait to contact us. I am here looking forward to speaking with you.

I have worked in the community, voluntary and social care sector (VCSE) for 30 years, passionate about creating thriving equitable communities and putting people first. I have many years of experience in grant-making, philanthropic giving, strategic partnerships and impact measurement. I love being part of systemic and social change in our communities and, as an adopter, it is a pleasure to work here as CCS Adoption supporting the organisation’s sustainability and growth.

I joined CCS in September 2021 as the Therapeutic Services Team administrator. I have a background in not-for-profit organisations, with events management and administration experience. I am a mum of 2 adopted children, and our family was created with the help of CCS, and I’m thrilled to be able to work among such a passionate and experienced team. I am the friendly voice at the end of the phone or email, always happy to help with any query or issue.

I joined CCS in 2021 first as Marketing Assistant, which allowed me to broaden my knowledge both regarding adoption and working in a Marketing team. Since 2022 I’ve been working as Marketing Officer and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this organisation.
Before this, I was working as a freelancer in digital marketing, managing social media accounts of small businesses. I specialised in Digital Marketing in 2020 at UWE, Bristol, where I’ve lived since 2018 after moving from Italy.
Working in an adoption centre like CCS really inspires my work and makes me feel good knowing that I can help prospective adopters build their forever families.

Gareth grew up in Wales and studied at the Welsh National School of Medicine. He was a cancer specialist in Bristol and Bath, retiring in 2015. He was married to Corinne, who was a highly dedicated and influential community paediatrician in Bristol for over 25 years, specialising in adoption. A brother and sister she looked after once said ‘We love Dr Corinne, we love it when we go and see her. We tell our friends about her.’
Corinne held CCS Adoption in the highest regard, so after she died in 2020 Gareth wanted to become involved in her memory. He has two children and three grandchildren, all living in Bristol.

Jenny’s bold and contemporary paintings reflect her lifelong love affair with Bristol and the South West. Largely working from memory, she experiments with acrylic, collage, ink and digital mediums to create contemporary and colourful images of her favourite places!
Jenny’s work has been exhibited in galleries all over the South West of England, including The Royal West of England Academy.
Originally from a scientific background, Jenny studied Biology at Oxford University and then went on to teach secondary science for ten years. In 2011, she gave it all up and decided to follow her dream of being an artist.

I have enjoyed a long and varied career in Social Work and Counselling serving in the public, commercial and voluntary sectors. My early years were in Northants working in child care and specialising in family placement. In 1990 I relocated to Bristol and moved to the commercial sector in the position of Staff Counsellor for a large retail company. In 1996, I moved to the voluntary sector where I managed a local organisation which supported individuals and families affected by stroke, until my retirement in 2010. In 2000 I returned to Bristol University where I gained an MSc. I have had several articles published on the psychosocial effects of stroke on the family.
Since 2010, I have been a Trustee of CCS and am a member of the Adoption Panel.

I have many years of experience as a primary school teacher in a challenging area of a large city and have been a trustee and volunteer fundraiser and more latterly Panel Member, at CCS since 2014.
Before training as a teacher, in my early forties, I supported small businesses with HR and Marketing for a number of years.
I am committed to achieving positive outcomes for CCS adopters. I also believe that post-adoption support is crucial to helping those families thrive. I am keen to support the work of CCS through various fundraising activities.
Married and living in South Gloucestershire, I have two adult daughters.

I have been a Chartered Accountant for 25 years and worked in the professional services, manufacturing, retail and financial services industries. Most recently I was Finance Director for a UK subsidiary of a US multinational in the electronic security industry, before moving on to a General Manager role in the same organisation.

I have many years of experience working within the financial services sector, having held a number of senior roles, including the management of a variety of community engagement programmes. Having lived in Bristol all of my life, I am in a civil partnership, where my partner and I live with our adopted son.

I am a practicing solicitor with a firm based in Clifton Bristol which provides legal advice and assistance to private, charitable and business clients based both locally and overseas. I came to Bristol as a student, completed my training and qualified in 1988. My involvement as a trustee with CCS Adoption extends over 20 years. I strongly believe in the fundamental importance of giving children and young people the opportunity to grow up in a stable loving family.

I am a Regional Director, for Business Doctors, covering the Avon and Somerset area of the national network. I have a wealth of experience of supporting and guiding small and medium sized businesses. CCS is close to my heart as I was adopted at birth. I have experienced the impact a loving family can make and I am passionate about achieving this for other young people.

I qualified with an MA in Social Work in 1985 and have worked in children’s services ever since. I have worked as a Social Work practitioner in Safeguarding, fostering and adoption and Looked After Children’s services. I have been a Team Manager and Service Manager and worked in both Local Authority and Voluntary settings; for the last 30 years primarily in Adoption, Permanence and Adoption Support services. I joined CCS in 2013 and have been part of developing agency services and I am very proud and supportive of what has been achieved; specifically finding families for those children who wait the longest for their forever home and developing Adoption Support Services. Along the way, I have met many incredible children and families and have been truly inspired by their journeys and commitment to each other. I retired in March 2023 from my post as Social Work team Practice Manager and remain active in the adoption world. I hold various qualifications including; a level 5 management qualification, the Post Qualifying Child Care Award, the Practice Teaching award and a degree in Sociology and Politics and I remain ever passionate about the empathic and high-quality work CCS does and maintaining and developing this for the future.

I am a HR professional with over 20 years experience in the financial services sector. Within my current role I lead on both strategic and cultural change, as well as cyclical HR activity, in partnership with senior executives. I became involved with CCS as a post adoption support user, having adopted alongside my husband in April 2022. I am passionate about supporting CCS and the fantastic work it does in creating positive futures for children by building loving families and enabling them to thrive.