THE TEAM
Laura Smyth
General Manager
Laura has been working with children and young people with disabilities for the last ten years. She started by volunteering for her local special needs play scheme as a teenager. Throughout University she ran Saturday projects for young people with disabilities and after finishing her degree in Communication and Culture decided to pursue a career working with children and young people. Her previous roles include Deputy Manager of Family Support for the Team for Disabled Children in Social Services.
As well as gaining experience in operational duties such as co-ordinating staff in large team's and running play schemes for this service Laura learnt about the severity of need amongst the families that Yorda Adventures was set up to help.
Laura oversees the operation of all our projects as well as still being involved in the direct work. She has recently finished her 'Train to Train' qualification which allow Yorda Adventures to offer a variety of outreach services to the local community.
Matthew Naylor
Management Team
Matthew brings a holistic approach to supporting our young people, drawing on his current roles within Dysart School as a 'Speach and Language Therapy Assistant' and 'Higher Level Teaching Assistant' as well as his studies for his degree in 'Childrens SEN and Inclusive Education'.
His skills in behaviour management and the range of strategies he brings in terms of aiding and developing communication are invaluable.
Rick Smyth
Company Secretary and Treasurer
From school Richard pursued a career in accountancy and spent most of his working life in the computer industry, his last position being the Director of Finance for a subsidiary company of a major UK insurance group, which provided hardware and software computer solutions and support to businesses. For the last 15 years Richard and his wife have owned and managed a small residential care home for the elderly.
Six years ago wishing to help his daughter Laura's devotion and enthusiasm towards helping disadvantaged children with disabilities Richard was able to draw on his financial and commercial experience and together they formed Yorda Adventures CIC.
As company secretary, Richard provides commercial advice and guidance to Laura and
her team.
General Manager
Laura has been working with children and young people with disabilities for the last ten years. She started by volunteering for her local special needs play scheme as a teenager. Throughout University she ran Saturday projects for young people with disabilities and after finishing her degree in Communication and Culture decided to pursue a career working with children and young people. Her previous roles include Deputy Manager of Family Support for the Team for Disabled Children in Social Services.
As well as gaining experience in operational duties such as co-ordinating staff in large team's and running play schemes for this service Laura learnt about the severity of need amongst the families that Yorda Adventures was set up to help.
Laura oversees the operation of all our projects as well as still being involved in the direct work. She has recently finished her 'Train to Train' qualification which allow Yorda Adventures to offer a variety of outreach services to the local community.
Matthew Naylor
Management Team
Matthew brings a holistic approach to supporting our young people, drawing on his current roles within Dysart School as a 'Speach and Language Therapy Assistant' and 'Higher Level Teaching Assistant' as well as his studies for his degree in 'Childrens SEN and Inclusive Education'.
His skills in behaviour management and the range of strategies he brings in terms of aiding and developing communication are invaluable.
Rick Smyth
Company Secretary and Treasurer
From school Richard pursued a career in accountancy and spent most of his working life in the computer industry, his last position being the Director of Finance for a subsidiary company of a major UK insurance group, which provided hardware and software computer solutions and support to businesses. For the last 15 years Richard and his wife have owned and managed a small residential care home for the elderly.
Six years ago wishing to help his daughter Laura's devotion and enthusiasm towards helping disadvantaged children with disabilities Richard was able to draw on his financial and commercial experience and together they formed Yorda Adventures CIC.
As company secretary, Richard provides commercial advice and guidance to Laura and
her team.
THE LEGAL BIT
POLICIES
Like any organisation, Yorda Adventures must have 'policies and procedures' to make sure things happen the way they should. Basically, these are documents that state how we are committing to do certain things.
Write to us at:
Yorda Adventures, 47 Windmill Lane,
Surbiton. KT6 5JT
Email:
laura@yordaadventures.co.uk
megan@yordaadventures.co.uk
charlotte@yordaadventures.co.uk
Phone:
07939 844978 (Laura)
07590 622437 (Megan)
07545 974734 (Charlotte & ASC)
Below are a selection of our 'policies and procedures', which you are welcome to download and read. If you have any questions about what you read or how we do things you are more than welcome to contact us. Please click on the links below to download.
Child Protection Policy and ProceduresComments, Suggestions and Complaints PolicyEqual Opportunities Statement
Write to us at:
Yorda Adventures, 47 Windmill Lane,
Surbiton. KT6 5JT
Email:
laura@yordaadventures.co.uk
megan@yordaadventures.co.uk
charlotte@yordaadventures.co.uk
Phone:
07939 844978 (Laura)
07590 622437 (Megan)
07545 974734 (Charlotte & ASC)
WEBSITE BY STUDIO C DESIGN
CIC 5762334 Registered in England and Wales. Ofsted EY 403587
Megan Naylor
Marketing and Development Manager
Megan started work as a relational youth worker, based in secondary schools across North Surrey. As part of this role she managed a team of 20 volunteers. She has experience managing large scale residential camps as well as providing intense emotional support to young people, with the aim of keeping them engaged in education and training.
Subsequently she managed a fundraising and donor care team at an international child advocacy charity, after which became the Parent Partnership Officer for Kingston-upon-Thames.
This role, based at the Disabled Children's Information Service allowed her to provide support to families with disabled children when making decisions about their child's education.
Her role within Yorda Adventures is extensive, ranging from all marketing and promotional information, the website, operational planning and fundraising responsibilities as well as direct work with the children and young people.
Charlotte Amison
Project Manager
Charlotte's role as Project Manager covers all the detailed planning of our play projects as well as being the main contact for all our staff recruitment and HR.
Charlotte works closely with the General Manager regarding any sensitive HR issues or in any dealing with members of the public in which the most senior member of staff is required.
She supports the deputy Play Leaders in delivering the direct work and is responsible for ensuring that all relevant risk assesments, the venue, activities, transport and food are all organised.
Charlotte is also responsible for our family liaison including personal care plans and letters to parents/carers.
She holds a Level 3 Playwork Diploma and has extensive experience of leading play projectsin mainstream settings before joining Yorda Adventures originally as a playworker in 2006 whilst studying Art at Kingston University.
She is currently looking to take higher education courses in Makaton and Challenging Behaviour Management.
Marketing and Development Manager
Megan started work as a relational youth worker, based in secondary schools across North Surrey. As part of this role she managed a team of 20 volunteers. She has experience managing large scale residential camps as well as providing intense emotional support to young people, with the aim of keeping them engaged in education and training.
Subsequently she managed a fundraising and donor care team at an international child advocacy charity, after which became the Parent Partnership Officer for Kingston-upon-Thames.
This role, based at the Disabled Children's Information Service allowed her to provide support to families with disabled children when making decisions about their child's education.
Her role within Yorda Adventures is extensive, ranging from all marketing and promotional information, the website, operational planning and fundraising responsibilities as well as direct work with the children and young people.
Charlotte Amison
Project Manager
Charlotte's role as Project Manager covers all the detailed planning of our play projects as well as being the main contact for all our staff recruitment and HR.
Charlotte works closely with the General Manager regarding any sensitive HR issues or in any dealing with members of the public in which the most senior member of staff is required.
She supports the deputy Play Leaders in delivering the direct work and is responsible for ensuring that all relevant risk assesments, the venue, activities, transport and food are all organised.
Charlotte is also responsible for our family liaison including personal care plans and letters to parents/carers.
She holds a Level 3 Playwork Diploma and has extensive experience of leading play projectsin mainstream settings before joining Yorda Adventures originally as a playworker in 2006 whilst studying Art at Kingston University.
She is currently looking to take higher education courses in Makaton and Challenging Behaviour Management.
Yorda Adventures is a form of social enterprise called a 'community interest company'. This form of company is limited by guarantee, and was introduced by the government in 2005.
We have been registered with 'community interest status' with Companies House and have pledged that the purpose of the company is to create play and leisure opportunities for children and young people with disabilities on a not for profit basis.
In order to be approved for 'community interest status' we had to agree to an asset lock, which ensures that all money within the company must be used to support the aims and purpose of the company without exception.
Our CIC number is 5762334.
Ofsted EY 403587
For more information about 'community interest' companies please look at the
CIC Regulator website.
We have been registered with 'community interest status' with Companies House and have pledged that the purpose of the company is to create play and leisure opportunities for children and young people with disabilities on a not for profit basis.
In order to be approved for 'community interest status' we had to agree to an asset lock, which ensures that all money within the company must be used to support the aims and purpose of the company without exception.
Our CIC number is 5762334.
Ofsted EY 403587
For more information about 'community interest' companies please look at the
CIC Regulator website.
