Meet the team

Manager: Peter Cotton
Assistant Manager: Laura Skirrow
Rehabilitation Officers: Camilla McFadyen, John Cooke, Charlotte Frankham, Anita Sharma, Catherine Coleman
Finance Administration Officer: Sue Richings
Awareness Promoter: Anita Sharma
Volunteer Coordinator: Charlotte Frankham
Recreation and Education Officer: Camilla McFadyen
Volunteers: Frank Harrison, Jane Barber, Sara Taylor, Nick Dawson, David Pendreigh

Peter Cotton

I came to work as manager of Headway Southampton in August 2003. I have worked since 1983 in special education, adult education and in employment support and training schemes for adults with a range of disabilities. When i arrived, I had some experience of working with people with an acquired brain injury, but since then I think I have learned so much from the service users I have been fortunate to work with

Initially my role was to help re-establish and modernise Headway Southampton. Now that we have a committed, energetic and supportive staff team, I think that my role is more one of development and consolidation. In practice, this includes a great deal of first hand work with groups of service users as well as assessments and reviews, funding bids, financial planning and monitoring reports to trustees, and generally trying hard to keep pace with our young staff, not least on the basketball court!

Laura Skirrow

I started working at Headway just over 2 years ago. Born in East Sussex, I moved to Southampton 7 years ago to study Physics at the University of Southampton. Over the past 8 years I have gained a wide range of social care/development experience. I have worked with a wide range of client groups including children, young people and adults with varying needs. I have also been involved in several overseas development projects - the most recent of which involved working with children and families in Sri Lanka following the 2006 tsunami.

My time at Headway has been invaluable. I have been lucky enough to work alongside some amazing people - both service users and staff who have taught me a lot. My role at Headway is a varied one. I am involved in setting up placements for new service users, supporting service users to develop and work towards personalised rehabilitation action plans, and as much as possibly, supporting service users to develop and move on from the service.

I am in the process of completing an MSc Social Work course and look forward to my future time at Headway.

Sue Ritchings

I have worked for Headway Southampton since 1998. My position of Finance Administration Officer involves general upkeep of the bank accounts, financial reports, invoicing, purchasing of office and cleaning supplies and general shopping which thankfully can now be done online! There is also a good deal of admin work involved, filing, setting review dates for service users and keeping staff and service user files up to date.

More recently, I have taken on the post of Carer Support Officer. This is to give help and support for carers and their families. We try to hold meetings once or twice a month for carers to get together and share experiences of caring for a person with a brain injury and in some cases, make new friends.

When I'm not at Headway, I spend my time looking after my family, walking the dog, reading (mainly chick lit I'm afraid but also enjoy autobiographies) and gardening.

Camilla McFadyen

I came to work for Headway as a Rehabilitation Officer just over a year ago. Before coming to work here I worked closely with the Youth Volunteering Officer at the Hampshire Wildlife Trust on projects called 'Unlocking Potential' and also 'Breaking Down the Barriers'. During this time I worked closely with several other organisations such as Wessex Youth Offending Team, Fairbridge Solent and Headway! A small group of people from Headway came out once a week to cut down rhododendrons. It's from listening to their inspirational stories and many challenges that these individuals had overcome that I became interested in working for Headway.

Since joining Headway I have completed a number of courses relating to brain injury. At present, I am in the process of completing a long distance learning course on Cognitive Rehabilitation.

As the rehabilitation officer at Headway I get to see people making some of those achievements they have been striving for. It is truly a great thing to be a part of. Work as a rehabilitation officer at Headway is very varied. One day I can be assisting someone in using the buses or cooking a meal and the next running a group computer session. The different characters that I work with make every day different and a pretty amazing experience. I feel that there is a good team spirit amongst the staff at Headway and I enjoy working with them.

Anita Sharma

I started at Headway in January 2009 after completing a psychology degree. Previously I have done voluntary work with youth offenders as an Appropriate Adult, and I have also done some voluntary work as a receptionist for Relate Counselling Service.

Working at Headway is very fulfilling. One day you may be doing some language work and the next day you could be assisting with cooking.

Working here is a continuous learning curve, the staff and service users are all very supportive. We all work well together to ensure everyone's individual needs are met and that they continue to enjoy attending Headway.

Charlotte Frankham

I began my time at Headway in September 2008 after finishing my psychology degree. I started out as a volunteer on a Wednesday afternoon. Most often I would be roped into a variety of sporting events ranging from very energetic basketball to being beaten at badminton - all very competitive I might add!

I became a full time Rehabilitation Officer in February 2009. My previous job was in a busy retail healthcare environment where it was very hard to spend any worthwhile time with people. At Headway there is the time and staff available to work uninterrupted with service users on an individual basis and in small groups. This seems to provide actual benefits for service users and fulfilment for myself, both of which were lacking in my last job.

Having been at Headway just a short while, I'm looking forward to the challenges and experiences that lie ahead.