CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY HOUSE - Key Persons
A Cambridge hometown local, Amy started at the Cambridge Community House in July 2021. After working in management at The Warehouse for 20 years, Amy has wealth of people centered customer service experience. Together with her calm and empathetic nature Amy is a supportive and experienced welcomer and administrator.
Anna joined the team at Cambridge Community House in August 2022. After graduating from Otago University with a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting Major she initially gained work experience in New Zealand and membership of CAANZ, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Anna then travelled overseas and gained extensive experience abroad. She is responsible for the entire accounting function and reports to the Board. She loves being part of the professional friendly team at Cambridge Community House and in a role where she can add value to an organisation that adds value to the Community.
Job Titles:
- Violence Free Waipā Coordinator
Anne has over 20 years' experience working in public health, is a skilled facilitator, networker, and connector, and is passionate about preventing violence and abuse in our Waipā communities. With a focus on prevention, Anne co-ordinates and facilitates the ‘Loves Me Not' programme in secondary schools. This programme focuses on promoting healthy relationships and preventing abusive behaviour in relationships. She also works alongside other community agencies to support local family violence prevention activities throughout Waipā, that improve outcomes for families/whānau. She believes that working together is key - with the ever-changing environment we live in, we need to be more knowledgeable, feel more aligned and supported, think smarter, and work together for the better good.
Annette provides social work support to people and their families. Her skills mean she can walk you through whatever is going on for you, to minimise the overwhelming feelings. She is gifted at keeping everyone calm in a crisis and will be there when you need her support. She is a strong calm presence, providing advocacy, support and guidance to meet your goals.
Carolynn joined our team in January 2024. She is a qualified general counsellor, working mostly with youth here at Cambridge Community House. Carolynn has a background in teaching, and Child Centred Play Therapy. She has the ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, valuing every person's diversity and uniqueness. In her counselling work Carolynn uses a person centred approach, believing that each individual has the innate drive towards being the best version of themselves - but that challenges in life can sometimes get in the way. Counselling provides an opportunity to work through these challenges in a safe and confidential space, with no pressure or expectations. Carolynn aims to ensure her clients feel seen, heard and supported on their journey, offering tools or ideas where appropriate.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Counsellor
- Counsellor, Family Harm Whānau Worker
Dianne has been a counsellor for 22 years and has been a part of the Community House team since 2013. Dianne works three days a week as a Counsellor and Family Whānau Worker, specialising in Family Violence support and intervention along with general counselling and couples work.
Dianne works with individuals, couples and whānau affected by family violence, and works alongside other agencies to ensure that the best level of support, care and safety planning are provided.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Francis has been involved in the charity sector since 2018 and joined the team here in April 2022. He worked for a London charity running wellbeing and transport projects and managed the response to the first UK Covid related lockdown. Francis is the Community Connector for Cambridge and its local area. The Community Connector Service tries to link people with the appropriate local social service. If the pandemic has affected getting back to normal life, Francis may be able to assist with finding some help, or at least point in the right direction. He is kind, caring and very approachable. The service is free and available to anyone who makes contact, and a plan can be made to meet face to face or by phone.
Gabby became part of the team in March 2022, in the position of General Manager.With previous management experience through working in Waikato Public Health, Sport Waikato and the National Autistic Society (UK) Gabby brings a wealth of both people leadership skills and practical understanding of delivering health and social services into and with communities. Her empathetic leadership style means she loves to see the whole team at the Cambridge Community House flourish, enabling skilled compassionate support and services for the community.
Gabby, a proud New Zealander, together with her whānau have lived in Cambridge for more than 20 years. She enjoys the beautiful outdoor spaces Cambridge and the Waikato offer and values opportunities to keep active and well.
Gina has a background in mental wellness and is a great networker. These skills and experience help her link her clients and their families to the services they need. She combines her networking skills with advocacy, to get the best results for the people and families she works with.
James joined the team in July 2020. He is a general counsellor. James is experienced with working with youth and adults. James has experience working a range of issues including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and trauma. James also works two days a week at Counselling Worx in Hamilton. James is very caring about his clients and works to the best of his ability to help clients achieve solutions that work best for them. James uses a variety of counselling approaches with clients including working towards helping change unhelpful thoughts, emotions, behavior and beliefs in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Solution-Focused Therapy to enable clients work towards their 'desired outcomes', and trauma informed approaches such as 'Polyvagal Theory' to enable clients to learn how to manage their nervous system better.
James' favourite quote is: "There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality." (Anthony Robbins)
Job Titles:
- Whānau Support Team Leader
Jamie joined the team at Cambridge Community House in February 2023.
Jamie brings into the role a wealth of experience and expertise meaning he is a highly regarded Team Leader. Jamie is motivated by his desire to really make a difference for whānau who are facing life challenges. He brings an array of support and advocacy skills and is able walk alongside whānau in a kind and empathic way. Jamie lives locally with his whānau and really enjoys being part of both the local community and the Community House team.
Joining Cambridge Community House in 2019, Katie is an experienced Whānau Support Worker who provides Cambridge people and their whānau with calm support and guidance. Katie is empathetic and understanding of situations, walking alongside you to meet your goals in a confidential and kind manner. She brings experience in providing advocacy where needed with organisations such as ACC and Work & Income. Katie is a mum of young tamariki and understands the trials of juggling a busy life and would love to support you. There is no charge for appointments
Lucy started at Cambridge Community House in September 2021, having emigrated to Aotearoa in 1999 from England. Lucy works as a general counsellor who is passionate about upholding the principles of partnership, protection and participation in line with Te Tiriti O Waitangi. Lucy works from a narratively informed counselling approach which is based on the idea that throughout life people create narratives or stories to interpret and understand their experiences. Lucy works with tangata wahiora/clients to strengthen and highlight their unique abilities for overcoming problems.
Marilyn is a well-qualified AOD Practitioner/Counsellor - Bachelor of Applied Social Science Counselling and Graduate Certificate in Health Science, Addictions Pathway.
Marilyn has been working in alcohol and drug field for six years and is now also working in general counselling. Marilyn is caring, compassionate and has an optimistic outlook. Marilyn is passionate about health and wellbeing and works alongside clients supporting them to achieve their counselling goals.
Nicky is a qualified financial mentor at the Community House, joining the team in February 2021. She is caring and compassionate towards the people she helps to work through their finances. Providing advocacy with creditors and organisations like Work & Income, she will walk alongside you to reach financial stability.
If it's just having a chat about your finances or putting a money plan in place, please see Nicky. There is no charge for appointments.
Nicky is also a facilitator for our MoneyMates program.
Sandra is a trained and qualified financial mentor, with over 15 years' experience in the financial mentoring sector. While she is highly skilled and very knowledgeable about setting financial priorities and managing personal finances, she also has a compassionate approach to assisting with these. Sandra is well practiced with insolvency procedures and has a separate role as a Debt Repayment Order Supervisor working for the NZ Insolvency and Trustee Service.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee