Meet the Team
-
Amanda Palmer-Roye: CEO
Amanda is the CEO of Eco-Actif Services and one of the exciting new entrepreneurs to emerge in recent years on the social enterprise scene. A born and bred Sutton resident she was involved in regeneration projects and work with prisoners families locally before going on to work for Sutton Council. It was from here that she was able to launch Eco-Actif Services, with the blessing and support of Sutton Council, and ignite the level of support offered to some of the most marginalised groups in the area, particularly ex-offenders. Her resourcefulness and leadership have been recognised with an array of awards and fellowships. She has been a recipient of the UnLtd Level 2 award and is one of the founding fellows for Ogunte, an organisation which promotes and supports dynamic female entrepreneurs. At this reading she is also currently the champion for social enterprises in the borough of Sutton.
-
Anna Burke: Managing Director
Anna is the Managing Director of Eco-Actif Services. Her background is in training and education, areas in which she has considerable experience delivering adult education programmes. She develops and leads key target areas of training and development in addition to putting together impressive bids. One of the founding members of Eco-Actif Services, her energy and drive have been a key contributory factor in helping Eco-Actif Services continue to thrive and deliver at the highest levels during these challenging times. Her agile wit and good humour make her an excellent and disarming negotiator which has been a key factor in enabling us to forge some of the partnerships we have.
-
Steve Farrow: Head of Performance and Business Development
Steve has an impressive and eclectic range of work related experiences from which to draw as well as over 20 years experience working within the welfare-to-work sector. Before joining this industry Steve worked for central and local government as an executive overseeing and implementing government policy across a range of concerns inside the coal, oil and electricity divisions. Since then his skills as an innovator and creator of programmes as well as a performance enhancer have been widely sought. He has been responsible for the conception, design and delivery of a range of programmes across South London such as the Executive Plus Programme which has been adopted by a number of local authorities across the country and recognized by the Times and Evening Standard. Steve has also been extremely effective at developing relationships and establishing partnerships with government offices, local business, the voluntary sector and mental health trusts to name just a few of the industries his path has crossed. His expertise has further bolstered the sustainability of Eco-Actif Services as a social enterprise and continues to deliver new opportunities every day.
-
Carol-Ann McCardle: Programmes Manager
Carol-Ann is the Programmes Manager for Eco-Actif with a portfolio requiring her to contribute wherever she sees an opportunity to improve performance across the board. She oversees a range of programmes and ensures that they are on track and in line with our contractual obligations. She has worked with homeless charities and within the criminal justice system as a manager of educational programmes. An extra string to her bow is her expertise delivering a variety of training courses to staff and clients alike. This has seen her in high demand as a consultant and trainer for other bodies and organisations. She has particular expertise organising and delivering Advice and Guidance training which as we speak is being delivered for a number of our partners. Fortunately for Eco-Actif Services she has decided to make her home here rather than exploit the lucrative freelance industry where her talents would be in high demand. A rather tragic story in her tale is that she loves to listen and dance to music, but is completely tone deaf and has no rhythm. C’est la vie.
-
Elaine Day: Finance Manager
Elaine is the Finance Manager at Eco-Actif Services and brings with her a wealth of experience acquired in the private banking industry and as Finance Officer with Surrey County Council and the Borough of Sutton. She is responsible for the books at Eco-Actif Services, as well as managing the financial relationships with our funders and partners. Funders are advised to be prompt in payment or suffer her wrath. You have been warned.
-
Lynn Atkins: Finance Assistant
Lynn supports our Finance Manager balancing the books and mucks in with other administrative duties when required. Her efficiency helps reduce the work load of the team significantly and keeps our systems ticking over nicely. A woman of extravagant tastes Lynn enjoys the finer things in life, but with lemonade money she may have to wait for her lottery ticket to come in before she can fully satisfy her voracious appetite for luxury.
-
Sarah Holgate: Guilford Office Manager
Sarah is the Manager at our Guilford Office. She coordinates the Next Step programme, amongst other initiatives, being delivered from that office. A great deal of her work involves providing support to ex-offenders looking to get back on their feet and find employment in a competitive employment market. A proud Scouser and Liverpool fan, visitors are advised not to mention other teams in her presence.
-
Jay Lawal: Families Programme Coordinator
Jay is the Coordinator for the Families programme being delivered in partnership with Reed in Partnership in the Sutton and Merton Boroughs. The Families Programme is a new nationwide government initiative designed to support families with a history of unemployment in a way that will bring them closer to the job market. In addition to this responsibility he sits on the Priority Prolific Offenders Board. As his roles indicate, Jay has a strong knowledge of the challenges faced by the long-term unemployed and ex-offenders. His expertise has been instrumental in ensuring Eco-Actif’s work in these areas continues to be of the highest standards. Jay is a natural communicator who has a talent for relaying information to clients who struggle to understand convoluted processes. In this regard he sees himself as a light for an individual’s dark road. A music buff and self-declared philosopher of sorts, Jay takes inspiration from the song line, ‘Life is what you make it and chance is like a picture, it would be nice if you would take it’.
-
Charmaine Sewell: Support Officer
Charmaine is a Support Officer who works closely with the Probation and the Safer Sutton Partnership Services both of which endeavour to keep recidivism and crime rates down locally. Her unique and attentive approach has been effective at encouraging clients in this risk category to come to Eco-Actif and use our services to help them take that next step towards a life without crime. She coordinates Eco-Actif’s involvement with the Safer Sutton Partnership and also hosts our hub days on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the London Probation Trust when we can directly attend to the needs of this particular client base. Charmaine enjoys attending political rallies and can often be seen at such events cataloguing the moment with her camera. Big Brother had best be on its best behaviour.
-
Sue Palmer: Work Programme Coordinator
Sue is one of our Coordinators on the Work Programme initiative introduced by the government in 2011. She provides advice, guidance and practical help to those looking to get back into work. She achieves results but with a human touch and genuine concern for the clients brought before her. A natural organiser, she knows how to keep a ship in order, which is no mean task given the challenges of the Work Programme. Sue loves Vampires and travelling. Yes, you read that right.
-
Carol Trusty: Work Programme Coordinator
Carol is a Coordinator on the Work Programme and does a great job keeping her clients focused on the task of finding work. Her uncommon ability to relate to others and listen to the concerns and challenges of her clients provides a positive experience for those on the Work Programme and has been effective at encouraging them to get the most out of the support offered here. Carol is also a talented singer and dancer whose modesty never prevents her from being the first on the dance floor and karaoke machine. Beyonce who?
-
Leonora Whittall: Work Programme Coordinator
Leonora is another of our Work Programme Coordinators. She succeeds at working closely with employers to give our clients the best chance of getting that all important job. After leaving the army Leonora worked for over a decade as a Resettlement Officer in the prison service where she helped prepare offenders for release. These disciplined environments have equipped her with the ability to motivate some of our most challenging clients. Rumour has it that Chuck Norris once asked for her advice on motivational techniques. Google ‘Chuck Norris facts’ if you don’t get it.
-
Collette Welsh: Receptionist
Collette is the receptionist at Eco-Actif Services but this title does not do justice to the length and breadth of her work. Ever cheerful and welcoming, in addition to her responsibilities welcoming visitors, managing the schedules of the staff and taking care of the administrative tasks she is a dab hand at writing policies. Her distinctive style can be seen across a range of Eco-Actif’s policies and procedures. Her latest tomb is the detailed Staff Handbook which word has it is being considered by the Man Booker Prize Committee. She also takes minutes like no other; the term magna opera springs to mind. She clearly passed her brains on to her daughter who recently achieved a first class degree from Oxford.
-
Zamira Murati: Programmes Assistant
Zamira is the Programmes Assistant at Eco-Actif Services. Her versatility enables her to provide assistance and support as and when it is needed for any of the programmes we run. Although much of her work is administrative, her background in film, media and design provide a pool of knowledge on matters concerning the design and presentation of our marketing material.
-
Seth Akomfrah: Volunteer Support Officer
Seth is one of our Support Officer volunteers at the Guildford Office. His humour and commitment to supporting disenfranchised groups illustrates the important and wonderful work many volunteers across the country do to help keep charities in business and delivering. A self-declared hedonist in the cleanest sense of the term he brings his good cheer to the office and provides exceptional support to the clients he deals with
