WHO WE ARE
Gina
Director
As Director, Gina is responsible for running the Parent House and ensuring that it stays true to what makes it unique. Day to day, that means raising funds and liaising with stakeholders and trustees, all the while staying connected to the parents and the charity's operations. The vision hasn’t changed in 20 years: “We wanted all parents to have access to these opportunities, no matter what their background was, what school their children went to, or what skills they had”. Gina was a social worker before helping set up the Parent House and has always been passionate about equal opportunity and its impact on the next generation.
Anita
Premises & Operations Manager
Anita’s job title hints at just some of the hats she wears at the Parent House. As Premises and Operations Manager she not only makes sure that everyone is safe on site but also organises events, inducts new teachers and is resident tech expert. It was IT that brought her here in the first place, after a computer course led to a course in childcare. When it came to needing a placement in 2001, her daughter’s primary school pointed her next door and she has never left. For Anita, “it’s about high standards and a good working environment. It’s amazing to see people doing so many things for themselves.”
Aki
Parent Support Lead
A former mentee and mentor herself, Aki knows what it takes and what it means to be a mentor for local parents. She now applies that experience by helping other new recruits through the system, supporting and advising them on the way. Having an approach that is fed by the experiences of the parents it has helped, is part of what makes the Parent House unique and what keeps it relevant. Aki is very proud to be part of that system, and so are we.
Sara
Project Support Leader
Sara started here as a volunteer parent mentor and loved it so much she never left! She is now a Project Support Leader. She helps parents train to be Outreach Ambassadors and go out into the community to spread the word about all the amazing free services advice and signposting we offer to Islington parents. Sara finds the parents we work with inspirational because they are always looking towards new and brighter things ahead. She is delighted to be part of their journey. She is known for never giving up and is always trying to find resources and support for parents who need it!
Christine
Admin Support & Finance
Christine is in charge of the day-to-day smooth running of the Parent House in her role looking after all things admin. She was one of our very first volunteers, and was involved in setting up the Parent House. It was taking some computer courses here that led to her employment in the first place, courses that also enabled her to successfully complete her ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence). Having previously worked for over 10 years as a teaching assistant in a local primary school, Christine really feels the positive impact the Parent House has in the borough: “it’s a unique place to meet other people and it’s always improving”.
Momtaj
Parent Support
Momtaj started with The Parent House as a crèche worker, looking after children while their parents took part in groups . Now she supports parents with the same care and attention she would give to children. Parents who come to the house can have one to one support with any issue that is important to them.
Momtaj returned to education herself as a young mother to gain the qualifications she needed for her working life, so she understands the benefit of courses that help parents to fulfil their hopes and ambitions.
Michelle
Admin/Project Support
Michelle supports the parents at The Parent House by listening to their concerns and responding to their ideas..
As well as welcoming parents into our services at the house, she also sign posts to partner organisations and keeps the house organised and happy.
Michelle started her journey with The Parent House as a parent. She completed courses, became a mentor and then began her job shared role in 2023. She chose to work at The Parent House because its a friendly and welcoming place. She gets stuck in with all sorts of tasks, including applying for foodbanks and organising trips. She wants to be there for the happy times as well as the tough ones.
‘I enjoy working at the Parent House because now I am able to give back to other Islington parents’
Natasha
Tutor and Group Facilitator
Natasha facilitates and leads a number of courses and workshops at The Parent House. She plans sessions and facilitates groups so that courses run smoothly.
Her job is so much more than the teaching, she gets involved in all the nuts and bolts of our work, including supporting parents in accessing the services they need. ‘no two days are the same here, there is never a dull moment, I’m glad to be involved in fighting for people’s corner’.
Natasha finds the parents and the staff supportive and kind, and enjoys being in a place where the work is appreciated.
Lucy
Senior Operations Manager
Managing the operations for the Trust involves supporting the team in all their work, creating and maintaining systems and connecting The Parent House with partners, friends and associates.
Lucy is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for The Parent House. She is involved in the business of the house at every level so she can understand and respond to the needs of parents and staff.
The parents are the people who set the agenda for The Parent House. They know what they need and are able to support each other to achieve their goals and work through concerns. Lucy believes in the positive affects of this approach ‘There is a diverse community of parents here, who learn from each other, and help to change and improve their own lives and those of their fellow parents. It’s a calm and happy place, where all Islington parents are welcomed.’
Joanne
Admin/Project Support
Joanne supports the parents who are taking part in courses and projects. She knows how to do this because she has completed in one of our mentoring courses. She then began volunteering for Parent House and now she supports parent with their journeys through the house.
Joanne makes sure that all the information that we share with parents is up to date and relevant for their needs. She gets stuck in with whatever is needed - applying for free school meals, helping parents find the services they need and listening to parents when they have something to share.
Seren
Tutor and Group Facilitator
Seren facilitates courses at The Parent House, such as Mentoring, Outreach, and Presentation Skills. She is a HCPC-registered music therapist with nearly a decade of experience in facilitating groups. She believes in the potential of peer-led groups in sharing of experience and knowledge, and in supporting members’ self-awareness, confidence, and growth. Incorporating elements of mindfulness and creative arts – sometimes picture books – in the sessions, she seeks to create learning experiences involving our head, heart, and hands. She is a qualified Master of Music Therapy,
It gives her joy and satisfaction when parents are supporting each other empathetically, co-creating knowledge, and there is a less need of a facilitator!
Barbara
Training and Development Manager
Barbara has worked in community involvement for over 30 years, her background is Community and Youth work. For more than 20 years Barbara has worked alongside parents in various settings, including Sure Start, where she set up Parent Forums and Camden Parent Council.
In The Parent House she has set up groups in partnership with parents, and now offers support to the facilitators of these groups, especially around training in Participative Appraisal Community Research. She helps our new tutors 'get to grips' with the accredited training we offer, and supports them in lesson planning and ideas for delivery.
Watching parents grow makes Barbara’s heart sing and gets her up for work in the morning! Over the years she has leaned that 'to believe in people without judgement can be transformative'.