THE LIFE SHED - Key Persons
Ben has completed Level 3 in Outdoor Education Studies and also completed a higher national diploma (HND) in outdoor leadership. During his time on the courses, he has done a lot of work experience in primary and secondary schools. Focusing on working in the PE department and working with all ages. Which helped him realise that he wanted to work with children to support them physically and mentally.
Ben has always had an interest in working with children either in schools or in the outdoor industry, which helped him make the decision to go gain further experience at Camp America, where he taught children of all ages how to learn how to ride mountain bikes but also improve their personal skills.
Ben is a qualified Level 2 Mountain bike instructor. He was taken part in his mountain leader training and also water sports (kayaking, paddle boarding, kayaking) training. Ben wants to use all his skills in the outdoors to help improve skills of the younger generation and also help them take the correct pathways to success.
Job Titles:
- Services Manager
- Services Manager - 07359432633
Chloe is a methodical and motivated individual who has worked within the care sector for over the past 11 years. Previous roles have included Residential Support Worker, House Manager, Designated Safeguarding Officer and Deputy Head of Care and holds her NVQ level 5 in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.
She has an excellent understanding of the requirements of the service, audit processes and legislation. She is child centred, approachable and instrumental in the development of the service.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director - 07368883534
Craig's enthusiasm to support and positively impact the lives of young people was the driving force behind starting Life Shed. Over a decade of experience within the social care and education industry, Craig's expertise, commitment to the young people, and above all his ability to bring out the best in everyone, makes him the vital ingredient at Life Shed.
Previously Manager of an Alternative Education Provision, Mentor Coordinator, and House Manager of two residential care homes in a Special Educational Needs setting, Craig's experience and proactive approach to every young person is second to none. Continuously facilitating growth and development in the lives of young people, Craig's innovation and vision furthermore enables Life Shed to grow and fulfil the needs of the younger generation.
Dave has over twenty years' experience teaching science, maths, geography and outdoor education in special school settings (SEMH, ASD and LAC). In addition, he spent two years in the residential care setting working with extremely vulnerable children, mainly in the outdoor environment.
Dave spent over three years living and teaching in Botswana, and it is here that he developed a real passion for bushcraft and was lucky enough to hone his survival skills crossing both the Kalahari and Namib deserts.
He believes that a critical aspect of this work at Life Shed is building positive relationships, based on mutual respect and trust. For him the needs of the child are paramount. In a previous role he spent 5 years as a behaviour management, de-escalation, control and restraint instructor where de-escalation was always his focus and end goal.
Taran has completed a Level 3 in Outdoor Education Studies and is currently in the final year of his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Outdoor Leadership. During this time he has undertaken work experience placements in specialist settings for pupils with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties which is where he realised that he wanted to make a difference to young people who were finding mainstream school placements difficult.
Taran has always had an interest in special educational needs and has enjoyed supporting young people at an Outdoor Adventure Centre in his late teens, prior to becoming a Lifeguard at a local leisure centre and then in his latest role as physical education coach supporting young people in mainstream schools.
Taran is a qualified Level 2 Mountain Bike Instructor. He has taken part in training for both his paddle boarding and kayak instructing as well as his Mountain Leader Award. Taran is keen to pass on his passion for the outdoors and build positive relationships with young people to enable them to be as successful as they can be.
Trudi is a highly experienced GCSE level teacher and Bushcraft Instructor, specialising in educating young people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviors.
She was a leader in establishing Bushcraft lessons in her previous education setting, assessing young people's skills and engaging students in an alternative form of education.