Laura Lewis
CEO
Sarah L
Charlotte M
Administrator
Wendy
Service Team Leader
Tricia
Therapeutic Practitioner
Claire
Therapeutic Practitioner
Jo
Community Fundraiser
Zoe
Corporate Fundraiser
Vicky
Fundraising Manager
Mandie
Charlie
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Laura joined Daisy's Dream in the summer of 2022 and is committed to ensuring that Daisy’s Dream provides a wide range of help and guidance to as many families and professionals as possible. Having experienced the sudden death of her own father as a teenager, she is keen that our charity is able to be responsive and reassuring to children and young people during some of the toughest of times.
Laura brings with her a wealth of knowledge of both working with young people and charity leadership, having spent 18 years working across a range of settings and roles, including other voluntary organisations, schools and children's services. As CEO her job is to make sure that the charity can keep providing quality support whilst identifying opportunities to enhance what we can do.
Sarah has worked for Daisy’s Dream for over twenty years and has seen the charity grow and evolve over that time. Sarah has created and developed the finance department and has implemented many new systems and processes.
Before working for Daisy’s Dream Sarah worked in the corporate world and for the NHS.
In her spare time Sarah enjoys walking her dog and learning to play the ukulele.
Charlotte joined the team at Daisy’s Dream in October 2022, as the Administrator. Charlotte provides administrative support to the charity and is often the first person families and professionals will speak to over the phone or via email when contacting us. Prior to working for Daisy’s Dream, Charlotte has worked in administrative roles within other children’s charities, a nursery and a children's centre.
Outside of work, Charlotte enjoys spending time with her family and reading a good book with a cup of tea!
Wendy joined Daisy’s Dream 7 years ago and has had a long career working with children and families in different capacities as a nursery nurse, family centre manager, social worker, team manager and as a therapist with children who have been adopted. Wendy's extensive experience working with children means she really understands that bereavement and loss is really hard for them and their families.
Wendy was delighted to work for Daisy’s Dream, as she felt she could really make a difference to children’s lives and loves the fact that Daisy’s Dream is a small charity with a great ethos.
Wendy wants to help children lead a successful, albeit a different, life to the one they thought they might have. She believes that giving children time, space and a voice can really help and enable them to heal.
Wendy has published a book called ‘Its not fair’ ;a book for children and for those helping them after someone has died .
Tricia joined Daisy's Dream 11 years ago and has had a long career working with children and families in different capacities. Prior to training, and qualifying, as a social worker, during her children's pre-school years, she worked as a volunteer with the Samaritans and, together with her husband, provided foster care to teenagers.
Tricia has worked with children, young people and their families in a variety of social work roles, supporting vulnerable children and their families and adoption. A significant part of Tricia's work, in her adoption role, was providing therapy to adopted children. Tricia's experience of working with children in different capacities over a long period of time, and her own experience of having been adopted, she understands the challenges that bereavement and loss brings to children and their families.
Tricia finds working for Daisy's Dream very rewarding. She believes our small charity provides the opportunity for children and young people, who are bereaved or are facing bereavement, to have the time and space to enable them to begin the process of healing. Adjusting to a 'new normal' in their lives, when their worlds have been turned upside down is extremely difficult for them and Tricia never fails to be impressed by their resilience.
Claire has been working at Daisy's Dream as a Therapeutic Practitioner since October 2020. She provides bereavement support for children and young people and their families.
Claire enjoys meeting children and young people from across all areas of Berkshire, listening to their own personal experiences of grief and providing therapeutic support during tough, sad and difficult times.
Before joining Daisy's Dream, Claire worked as a senior social worker for Children Services in their child protection, fostering and adoption teams. Additionally, she has worked to support children and young people in respite care settings and within the community.
Jo has been with Daisy’s Dream since autumn 2021 and is our Community Fundraiser.
She really enjoys getting out and about, meeting people in the community and raising awareness of the work the charity does.
Jo has previously worked for Cancer Research UK as a Supplier Manager and as a Contract Manager for M&G, and her relationship skills and experience have really been put to good use, working with our volunteers and supporters, as well as fundraisers and the general public at local events across Berkshire.
Jo is also a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and arranges community litter picks in her spare time, as well as being a West Berkshire District Councillor, so she has plenty to keep her busy!
Zoe has been with Daisy’s Dream since 2014. Joining as an East Berkshire Fundraiser and in recent years moving on to being the first Corporate Fundraiser for the Charity. Zoe is responsible for working with local business to help financially support Daisy’s Dream.
Zoe came from many years of a Travel Industry background, but wanted to move from the corporate world to the charity sector to bring her sales skills in to help local children who are in need of support.
Outside of work and family life Zoe is most happiest with all things Disney and being on a walk with her Dog!
Vicky has been a member of the Fundraising Team since January 2018. Having started as a regional fundraiser covering West Berkshire, she then developed the Daisy's Dream events portfolio before taking on the role of Fundraising Manager in April 2023. As an adventurous and outdoor loving person herself, in 2022 Vicky took on the virtual London Marathon to raise funds for Daisy’s Dream.
Prior to joining Daisy’s Dream, Vicky’s background was in corporate sales and marketing, working for organisations such as Diageo and PepsiCo over a ten year period. Her application to join the Fundraising Team was as a result of seeing first-hand the positive impact the charity has with bereaved children and their families; Vicky is close friends with two families who have experienced a bereavement and found the services of Daisy’s Dream to be a lifeline.
A passionate and dedicated Therapeutic Practitioner with over thirty years of experience supporting children, young people, and families, Mandie has a solid educational background, holding a first degree in Sociology and Social Policy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Advice and Guidance. Mandie's journey with Daisys Dream began in May 2023, initially as a Family Worker and now as a Therapeutic Practitioner.
In her current role, Mandie provides 1:1 support, group work activities and tailored support to families dealing with serious illness, bereaved children and young people and families, as well as providing additional support and advice to associated professionals. Mandie is passionate about providing a compassionate, creative, empathetic, and trauma-informed approach to the individuals and families she works alongside.
With a strong professional foundation developed in early years, schools, colleges, leaving care and local authority and pastoral teams, Mandie has also led and managed teams of Intensive Personal Advisors across four London Boroughs, and managed a Connexions community centre supporting young people with a range of needs in Wokingham.
Mandie is committed to continuing her professional development and is currently embarking on her initial training to become a qualified counsellor. Beyond her professional endeavours, Mandie finds joy in open water swimming in chilly conditions and spending quality time with her family and dogs.
Charlie previously worked with children and young people with special educational needs for 9 years before moving to work with a Berkshire Safeguarding team. Whilst there she started studying to become a Therapeutic Counsellor. Since qualifying as an Integrative Counsellor in 2021, Charlie has been working therapeutically with people needing support with trauma.
In her spare time Charlie enjoys reading books and spending time with her dog who enjoys long walks in the countryside and swimming in ponds and lakes that he shouldn’t.
