Following completion of his degree in Environmental Science and Masters in Applied Hydrobiology, Tim started his working career with the National Rivers Authority as a Pollution Control Officer in mid Wales. The creation of the environment agency saw a move to the Thames Valley as a river catchment manager and this triggered his passion for better linking communities to their local environment. His catchment plans always contained a strong element of engaging people in practical conservation tasks, volunteering activities and environmental education programmes to improve environmental sustainability and learning new skills in the process.

This naturally led to work with Groundwork, a local environmental and social regeneration charity for the next 14 years initially in the Thames Valley area and then across the South of England. Key projects included transforming opens spaces, setting up new social enterprises, winning major public sector contracts running employment and National Citizen Service contracts and managing a variety of outdoor education and residential centres.

As the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer for Green Corridor Tim is keen to use his knowledge and experience to work in partnership with local businesses and funders to grow the trust, diversify it’s income streams and increase the charity’s impact to enable more young people improve their self confidence and increase their chances of longer term employment.

Sophie joined the team in December 2012 and came on board to support the recruitment of young people onto the Landbased Training Programmes.

Since then Sophie’s role has developed significantly, whilst she still recruits for our training programmes she also supports the young people throughout their time with Green Corridor. Sophie personalises the young peoples training programmes, ensuring their individual needs are met, she has regular 121 sessions with them and works with them when they are ready to move onto the next stage of their training or employment.

Sophie works closely with a range of services such Probation, Housing Support, Job Centres, Social Services, Drug and Alcohol support services, Child and Adolescent mental health service’s and other educational/training providers. This creates a holistic package of training for the young person ensuring they are fully supported.

Alongside this Sophie works on the marketing of programmes through newsletters, leaflets and events and when time permits, she supports the delivery of the programmes, and the organisation of volunteer events.

Prior to Sophie’s role at Green Corridor she trained as a Social Worker at the university of Portsmouth Graduating in summer 2012 with a BSC Hons degree. During her training she worked for The Princes Trust developing her interest of supporting young people. Sophie also spent some time in the Child Protection Team followed by a long-term placement with The Early Intervention Psychosis Team. Sophie has a keen interest in supporting positive mental health and working effectively with all other agencies involved in a young persons care to ensure the best range of support is given.

After studying Counselling and psychology at Roehampton, London Joanne was a volunteer in a range of different places including the local Inpatients Unit. She developed her love of working with young people as a LPF Youth Worker in Guildford, with Plantation and The Princes Trust and as an adolescent Mental Health support worker in Woking. Joanne had a year of being on the other side of the table, finding out what employers really wanted and now she’s back, working with the Green Corridor learners. 

Joanne was brought into Green Corridor as the Outreach and Transition Mentor, to help the young people progress to the next stage of their lives, moving forward into employment, education or training opportunities in the local area. Joanne will be involved in the projects, outreach and transition, as well as multi agency working including, social support services, housing support, youth centres and colleges.

Outside of work Joanne loves being creative, baking, sewing and hitting the gym. She is looking forward to getting involved with all at Green Corridor and getting her green fingers growing.

Mark spent over 10 years with the British forces as a depot instructor before returning to civilian life to work in sales over in Kent. In 2001 he became a stay at home dad, due to illness but in 2012 was fit and ready to work again.

From being a stay at home dad he went straight into work as a case worker, working alongside adults with learning difficulties, those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the unemployed and deaf young people. All this led Mark onto teaching again and a love of horticulture led him to Green Corridor. In Mark’s spare time he enjoys walking, gardening, competition fishing, cricket, golf and generally being kept very busy!

Mark’s role at Green Corridor will see him working alongside the rest of the team to teach and assess our young learners as they progress through their Horticulture qualifications.

After twelve years in the plumbing industry Collin decided a career change was necessary, so made the switch to study at Merrist Wood College. Collin gained a level 2 certificate in arboricultural theory and the change opened up a whole world of new opportunities.

Whilst studying Collin worked as an archery instructor with groups of varying age and ability, in schools, sports centres and the children’s charity Challengers to deliver soft archery sessions and also spent a few weeks volunteering for the National Trust.

Collin combined his qualifications with youth engagement, charity and volunteer work in his position as an Outdoor Education Worker at Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development; this allowed him to work more in the capacity of a mentor.

Collin spent the summer of 2015 with S.O.L.D working with NCS the Challenge in the company of some amazing young people from south London, he found this work incredibly rewarding so when he saw the Job working for Green Corridor he jumped at the chance.

Collin’s position as a Horticulture Tutor at Green Corridor sees him working with the other delivery staff to provide training and assessing the young people’s abilities in order to gain qualifications in conservation and horticulture.

After leaving formal education, Tracey travelled the world, cooking and catering in many diverse places including alpine resorts, fishing trawlers in Alaska and remote Icelandic outposts.

Tracey went on teach chalet management in Austria, before returning to the UK to take up a position as a Head Chef for a renowned London catering company, cooking at prestigious events and venues, from Royal Palaces to Downing street.

She then went on to set up her own successful London based catering business, before leaving London to set up “Thyme Lords” with her husband. This is a catering company working on events and product launches for companies including Woolworths, Coca Cola, Regus, Microsoft and Samsung in additional to private clients doing weddings and parties.

This led to taking on a local rundown pub and transforming it into the award-winning tavern that it is today, employing many local young people. The Tavern has been very community aware and has run many fundraising events, helping fund projects at a local hospital.

She is very excited about being part of the Green Corridor team having a positive impact on the future of our young people. With funding support from the Big Lottery, as part of the Pick, Cook and Serve project, Tracey will teach young people formal BTEC qualifications in hospitality. With the support of local hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars in and around  Heathrow airport, Tracey and the team will support their transition into sustained  employment.