the amaze team

Rachel Travers

I am responsible for the smooth running of Amaze: ensuring our strategy and plans meet the needs of local families with disabled children and for securing the organisation’s future. I attend many city-wide meetings championing the needs of parent carers and their children in order to improve services. I work part time Monday-Thursday. Direct Email

Ros Cook

I am the overall manager for Amaze’s advice, information and support services for parents and young people including the SENDIASS helplines and casework for Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, Independent Support, the DLA project, our Amazing Futures peer support project and Face2Face befriending scheme; also our publications and courses. My role is to help the Amaze team offer the best service they can to parents and young people, and keep things running smoothly. But I like to keep a direct link with parents so you may catch me on the helpline sometimes or meet me running a workshop or training course. I work part time usually Monday to Thursday.

Sally Polanski

I provide senior management support to the Compass Register and Card, Amazing Futures peer support project, and strategic and hosting support to the Brighton and Hove Parent Carers' Council, helping ensure a strong voice for parents carers and their families.  I lead on internal developments within Amaze and work with the management team to develop services, new projects and opportunities across Sussex.  I work part time usually Monday to Thursday. Direct email

Lizzie Batten

I manage the DLA volunteer team who offer parents one to one help with making claims for DLA and PIP. As well as being a bit of a disability guru, I am passionate about helping parents to get the support they deserve. I offer advice through our helpline and, as our longest standing member of staff, get involved in lots of different aspects of Amaze work. I work full time. Direct Email

Liam Ryan

I line manage the Independent Support teams in West Sussex and East Sussex. Independent Supporters work with families during the needs assessment that can lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). We put the family at the centre of our work and support them to get the EHCP that the child/young person needs to progress.

Sue Winter

I run the young people’s Amazing Futures Project. Amazing Futures offers one to one peer support to young people with SEND aged 14-25. I train and supervise a team of young people aged 18+ who are volunteer peer supporters. We run group peer support activity sessions for young people aged 14-26 as well as for young women 14-25. We also offer a self-advocacy group that we run jointly with Speak Out, for young people with learning disabilities aged 16-25 years. Young people aged 14+ with SEND can also help Amaze develop our work with young people. Young people or their parents can call me directly on 07483 111648 or email: sue@amazesussex.org.uk I usually work Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

Zoe Brinkworth

I am Finance Manager and Quality Controller for Amaze with responsibility for purchasing, invoicing, accounts and payroll. I work part time, usually Tuesday to Thursday. Direct Email

Charlotte Moroney

I manage this website and all our print publications. My work is very varied and includes writing, editing, design and layout, but I am most passionate about giving parents information that is clear, accessible and friendly. I work part-time, generally Tuesday to Thursday.

Nicky Bagilhole

I am the Amaze Fundraising Manager and I work Monday to Thursday. I would love to hear from you if you would like more information about getting involved as an individual, group or company. If you could you share an idea or contact, run a marathon, attend an event or volunteer to raise much needed funds and profile for our charity, please contact me. Direct Email

Aileen Welch

I am responsible for developing and managing relationships with trusts and foundations and other grant funders such as the Big Lottery Fund. This includes identifying and researching new funders, developing proposals for funding and completing applications and monitoring reports. I work part time Monday – Thursday.

Joanna van Rooyen

I work with Nicky Bagilhole and Aileen Welch to fundraise for Amaze throughout Sussex. I would love to hear from you, particularly if you are in East or West Sussex and would like more information on how to get involved as an individual, group or company to raise money and awareness for Amaze. If you could run a marathon, volunteer at an event or have an idea about how to raise funds for Amaze in the Sussex area please contact me on jov@amazesussex.org.uk.

Mo Courtney

I am administrator and communications Assistant at Amaze. I provide administrative support to members of the Amaze team, including the CEO, and run the busy Amaze office including co-ordinating events and training, internal and external communication and HR admin. I also support management committee meetings and co-ordinate our Info Fair. I work Mondays to Thursdays.

Nicola Keene

As Office Administrator, I work alongside Mo to help run our busy office. I also provide project admin support in particular for our DLA/PIP project and for our Independent Support project and I am the Office Volunteer co-ordinator for Amaze. Direct Email

Rose Fenge

I assist Charlotte Moroney with managing our website and print publications, and work with Sue Winter on the Amazing Futures Project, working to get information directly to young people with SEND in an accessible and approachable format. I also help maintain the Local Offer, ensuring the information provided to families with disabled children is accurate and up to date. My work is very varied, from writing and editing to photography and liaising with young people, but mostly I focus on providing information to parents and young people in a clear, understandable form. I usually work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Tina Brownbill

I look after the Compass Brighton & Hove and Compass West Sussex disability registers and also Amaze’s Charitylog database. From these I compile lots of data about children and young people with SEND, which is used to help plan local services and improve outcomes locally for children and young people with SEND. I work part time hours, Monday-Friday.

Ann Blackburn

Ann oversees the development of the Compass Card in Brighton and Hove and West Sussex and  the Carers’ Card in Brighton and Hove.

Katie McCusker

I work as part of the Compass Card Team to ensure the Compass Card is working efficiently and I play a key role in communicating with Compass families.

Marie Baker

Marie is out in the field negotiating offers for the Compass Card and engaging with families and young people to ensure we’re getting the right offers.

Danelle Shoulder

I primarily process all the new Compass Card applications which come into the office and send out everyone’s Compass Cards. I fill up the rest of my time with various other data entry work for the Compass and other Amaze teams.

Anne D

I work within the Compass Team and with Amaze’s main database, focusing on Compass applications and data quality/reporting. I also used to work for Amaze as an Independent Supporter in West Sussex, so have experience of supporting families both directly and indirectly. I work part-time, Mon, Tues, Weds and Fridays.

Julia Donaldson

"Since moving back to the Sussex area, I was keen to support a local charity that works with children and families and I was impressed with all the things Amaze does to help families with children with additional needs." Julia Donaldson, Children’s Laureate 2012-13, is a much-loved and universally renowned children's writer of such classics as The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale and The Singing Mermaid. Julia heard about Amaze from a good friend who has been one of our trustees for many years.

Annabel Giles

"I don’t know where I would be without Amaze. There is plenty of help available for our children with special needs, but virtually nothing for those who look after them. Many’s the time I’ve got into a panic about something or another, and Amaze have calmly helped me through. We are so fortunate to have this charity in Brighton; I will do anything I can to help keep it going. And if we can have fun in the process – well, all the better!" Annabel is an author and TV presenter, as well as a fully qualified counsellor/psychotherapist.

Angela Pell

"I have used Amaze many times since our son was diagnosed as being autistic, so I felt very honoured to be asked to be a patron of the charity. We continue even now to go on courses (excellent art classes) run by Amaze and see and hear from my own special needs community, time and time again, how people have been helped, lifted and supported by their services. I help Nicky with fundraising events and am mainly involved in The Big Cheer which I always find to be hilarious. It is the highlight of my year!" Angela is a screenwriter, with credits that the feature film Snow Cake.

Henry Normal

"My wife and I were approached to become patrons of Amaze and we were both delighted to accept. We had used their services and taken advice from them in the past when our autism journey (with our son) first began. They are such a positive and supportive organization. We help with the annual comedy fundraiser, The Big Cheer." Henry is an award-winning and BAFTA-nominated writer, producer and poet. He founded Baby Cow Productions Ltd together with comedy superstar, Steve Coogan.

Hugh Clench

Being a parent or carer of a child with special needs brings many challenges and rewards. Whether or not you are a parent, being a trustee of a highly valued and respected organisation such as Amaze is a privilege which enriches the lives of all those involved. The role carries a number of set responsibilities, but also provides the freedom to contribute as and when best fits with your own busy life.

Debby Norris

I joined Amaze because I have an autistic daughter and also a background in Accounting. This charity has been a great support to my daughter and my whole family. Its a pleasure to be in a position to give back and support Amaze.

Sue McMillan

Dealing with the shock of my son’s autism diagnosis aged three, and trying to get my head around everything that came with it was really tough. Support from local organisations has been invaluable to my family and, as a writer and editor, I wanted to use my skills to help other families in a similar position. Since then I have worked on a number of projects with Reaching Families and through them I met the Amaze team. I am so impressed by the organisation and the incredible information and support that they offer to families. When I found out they wanted to recruit a trustee based in West Sussex, it felt like the ideal match. I hope that by working as a trustee to support the Amaze team and the fantastic work they do, I can help parents to feel informed and empowered on every step of their journey after diagnosis.

Shelley Bennett

Amaze has been incredibly supportive to my family and helped us to navigate the new world we find ourselves in with a daughter with special needs. Amaze’s provision for so many families, like mine, across the region is invaluable and therefore I wanted to give back to this incredible organisation by giving time and sharing my communications expertise to promote their vital work.

Ray Knight

I was familiar with the excellent work that Amaze does in supporting parents of children with special needs during my 30 year career as a teacher and headteacher in mainstream and special schools in Sussex. Having recently retired, I decided to become an Amaze trustee because it would enable me to use my interests, skills and experience to make a contribution to the strategic direction of the organisation. I am also a trustee of Autism Sussex.

Fungi Woolnough-Murau

I enjoy seeing children smile and laugh. Every child has the ability to contribute to the community they live in. Children of limited abilities need support and encouragement to reach their potential. Amaze offers the platform for parents to navigate services to allow special needs children to lead a fully inclusive life, and it makes me proud to be able to contribute to such an inspirational organisation. An organisation that has supported me as a parent raising a wonderful daughter with special needs.

Sally Howell

I am a parent of two children with special needs. I have experience in securing various services for both children over the years and have experience of special needs in mainstream, special and more recently residential schools. I am a trustee for Amaze because I believe in all the work they do to raise the awareness of issues relating to special needs children and in the direct help they offer to parent’s to negotiate the obstacles presented.

Siobhan Cox

I joined the Board of Trustees in January 2011 and really enjoy making a contribution to the great work of Amaze. I am a Partner in a local firm of Solicitors.

Emma Parker

I co-ordinate the Brighton & Hove and East Sussex helplines and the busy team of advisors who run the helplines.  I also co-ordinate the one to one education casework with the Information Advice and Support / Independent Support workers.  I really enjoy my role at Amaze working directly with parents whether this is on the helpline, casework, a training course or a workshop.

Debbie Collins

I have responsibility for allocating independent support cases to the team and supervising the work of the Independent Supporter for Young People. I also provide independent support and liaise with the local authority and schools to promote the service. Direct Email

Ruhiya Yousuf

I am an IAS Caseworker/Independent Support worker for Brighton. I offer advice and support on any issues that parent carers may have. As an Independent Supporter, I support parents as they go through the process of transferring from Statements to EHCPs. I help them understand the process, to support them and to enable them to have a voice. I work part-time and my working hours are flexible to work around parents and their needs. As a parent carer myself I can understand the confusion and difficulties parents face so I am passionate about empowering them.

Gillian Kitchener

Diane Challinor

I have been working for Amaze since February 2017. I offer Information Advice and Support for parents of children/young people with education issues. I also provide Independent Support for parents requesting an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and support them through the process. I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Amanda Law

I am part of the Independent Support team, working to support families whose children and young people are going through the EHCP process. I am very often out and about making home visits, which help to keep things simple and convenient for the families I work with, though I also offer support on the phone and via email.

Shirley Sutton

I am a parent carer of a child with special needs. I am also an active member of the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum.

Sally Cristin

I am an Independent Supporter for young people in Sussex. I support young people (aged 16 -25) as they go through the process of requesting, or transferring to an Education, Health and Care Plan. I help them to understand the process and support them with their paperwork and meetings so that they can feel their views are important and contribute to the content of their Education, Health and Care Plan.

Diana H

I very much enjoy helping parents and their children and young people to feel confident and supported as they follow the EHC assessment process through its course. I have a grown up son who has Down’s Syndrome and was one of the first people to have a Statement back in the 1980s. I worked in the area of special needs for 15 years until I moved to Sussex with my partner in December 2014. My usual working days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays but I can be flexible to accommodate meetings on other weekdays if necessary.

Paolo Boldrini

I work with Amaze and PaCC to enable parent carers to be more involved on the way services for families with children and young people with additional needs and disabilities are commissioned and delivered across Brighton & Hove. I run coffee mornings for parent carers and organise consultations on different topics. I am not a parent carer but have extensive experience of supporting various groups to access mainstream and specialist services. Direct email.

Diana Boyd

As Vice-Chair of PaCC, I support the Chair and work as a parent rep. Rep work involves consulting with parent carers and then feeding back their views to professionals at the local authority and in health services. I am also responsible for the Partnership Charter and the development of a co-production policy to help embed partnership working at all levels.

Fiona England

I am very interested in the parent carers voice in Brighton and Hove. The new government guidelines stress the importance of parent partnership, which was a motivating factor in applying for this role.

Jo Levi

I work at the Parent and Carers Council supporting the team with administration and communications. This ever changing job can mean anything from organising PaCC events, posting news and information on social media, designing flyers and most importantly keeping Parent Carers informed and to date and involved with all the latest information and news that may effect them. As a parent carer myself I appreciate the need to have a voice supporting the parent carer community and ensuring that our needs are addressed, enabling the best outcomes for ourselves and our children.

Amanda Mortensen

I co-ordinate our Face 2 Face Befriending Service which offers emotional support to parent carers at difficult times such as diagnosis. I train and manage a team of volunteer befrienders, who are parent carers themselves.

Hannah Osborne-Dowle

Lyra Edmonds

Sav Kanagasundaram