Meet the Team

Would you like to join this wonderful team at Include.org? We are recruiting, find out more about the latest vacancies.

Claudia – Speech and Language Therapist

Claudia has a passion for practicing in a neuro-affirming way. This means that Claudia believes that difference is important and something to be celebrated. Before qualifying as a speech therapist, Claudia did a music degree and had a traditional Portuguese folk music band. Now, Claudia uses her passion for music and inclusion to facilitate our Champions Group.

Claudia’s work with the Champions Group includes using her language therapy knowledge to make difficult ideas like voting, civil liberties or wellbeing accessible, and using the group’s feedback and ideas to then make free Easy Read documents on those topics available to everyone. Claudia also uses language therapy strategies to help expand our member’s confidence in their expressive language skills. At the end of each Champion’s session, Claudia and the Champions sing a goodbye song together!

Claudia’s favourite Makaton sign is ‘same’ as she believes that everyone deserves the same opportunities!

Alix – CEO and Founder

After seeing the impact that communication difficulties had on members of her family, Alix worked for many years in the NHS as a speech and language therapist and safeguarding adults lead. She completed research into the best ways to help train people to support those with communication needs – which led to her setting up Include.

She is in charge of the overall running of Include, but can still be found singing and signing at the front of the choir and strolling and signing at the weekends! As her fantastic team grows, she will be spending more time focusing on her strategic role as the leader of the charity.

Being responsible for a charity and 2 young boys doesn’t leave much time for anything else, but if she gets the chance, Alix loves walking, running or riding her motorbike. If the weather’s not great, she likes to curl up with a good book and she also decorates a mean cake.

Alix’s favourite sign is ‘to understand’, because the magic moments at Include come when we have helped someone understand something, or when we have understood them.

Emily – Choir Director and Communications Officer

Emily is a musician and teacher with a particular interest in music as therapy. She has years of experience as an orchestral performer, instrument and vocal tutor, special educational needs assistant and a qualified classroom music teacher. Having moved to the local area in 2023, Emily joined Include shortly afterwards and currently leads the choir at the weekly Redhill sessions and public events, in addition to helping out in the Comms department!

When she’s not working, Emily looks after her two young daughters and enjoys playing music and walking her dog, Rosie.

Emily’s favourite Makaton sign is ‘Calm’.

Matthew – Epsom Choir Director

Matthew is an experienced musician and SEN teacher, with particular expertise in the field of autism. Having worked for almost 30 years in special schools and the SEN sector, he now works as a freelance musician and teaches at the Otakar Kraus Music Trust, a charity that provides music therapy and learning opportunities for young people with disabilities.

He also has many years experience playing keyboards in bands of different genres and performs regularly around the country. He joined Include in 2023 as a Trainee Choir Director and currently leads the weekly Epsom choir sessions, in addition to participating in public performances and events with the choir.

Matthew’s favourite Makaton sign is ‘Promise’.

Penny – Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead

Penny joined Include in 2019 to help coordinate The Include Choir, since then she has worn a lot of hats as the charity grows and diversifies! Her professional background and main focus for Include is marketing and communications.

She was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, but with help from her Mum and a talented and inspiring English teacher, Penny became the first person in her family to go to university. She went on to achieve a Masters in Public Communication, taught basic literacy in prisons, and led an editorial team in Westminster.

Her passion for promoting the understanding of neurodiversity was enhanced when she saw the difference the right educational environment and approach made for her eldest son.

Penny’s favourite Makaton sign is ‘Teacher’.

Charly – Speech and Language Therapist

Charly is a Speech and Language Therapist, PhD student and mum! She has been working with Include since the start of 2023 and loves seeing the impact that inclusive communication has on people’s lives.

Charly’s main focus in her work is helping people who have communication difficulties identify what they do best and where they might need support from others. Part of Charly’s role is to run Communication Corner once a month at both choirs – this is an opportunity for members and support workers/family members to ask anything they like about communication.

Her favourite sign is ‘Colour’.

Claire – Finance and Data Lead

Claire is the Finance and Data Lead for Include. She manages donations and expenditure, ensuring money is spent appropriately on running services and allowing the charity to grow. She also has a great love of spreadsheets!

When Claire is not at her desk, you’ll find her in the woods walking her dog Rusty and teaching her 2 children how to forage mushrooms.

Claire’s favourite Makaton sign is ‘sit’- the only one that her dog knows (but doesn’t always obey)…

Sue – Pianist and Songwriter

Sue is an experienced musician on the piano and a composer since childhood. Her professional background is varied, including theatre, bands, pop music recordings, gigs and residences over many decades!

She initially discovered the Include Choir through bringing her daughter, Louise, along to rehearsals and tinkling on the piano at the break. When there became a vacancy on keyboard at Include, she joined and has remained their accompanist since, continuing to have a close relationship with the choir (who sang at her wedding).

Sue says: “It is very important to me to be able to express oneself through music and the arts… it creates a peace of mind and fulfilment. The Include Choir- the music, the people, the belonging- is very important to me, and it is the highlight of my week.”

Outside of Include, Sue enjoys being by the sea, wildlife, spending time with her loving and supportive family, and her garden. She says “if you haven’t got 15 minutes to sit in a garden, spend an hour!”

Sue’s favourite Makaton sign is ‘together’, because that’s what we are when we meet to sing.

Louise – Lived Experience and Volunteer Coordinator

This is Louise Walmsley – Lived Experience and Volunteer Coordinator. Louise has worked in Social Care for many years and has seen first hand how important accessible communication is to support people with diverse needs.

Louise is responsible for making sure that the Lived Experience Trustees are supported to carry out their Trustee roles successfully. She also supports our volunteer team. Louise can be found regularly at Redhill Choir and Stroll and Sign and occasionally at Epsom Choir.

As Louise’s three children are now in their 20’s – she is able to commit her time to Includes’ aims and goals so that more people can benefit from individualised communications.

In her spare time she loves walking with her dog and also lunching with friends and family. Louise also enjoys a bit of DIY when she has the time.

Louise’s favourite Makaton sign is ‘Tea’ as this is her favourite drink and can solve a lot of problems when shared with others.

Anna – Stroll and Sign Project Coordinator

Anna has worked in outdoor fitness and training groups in the community for 10 years and has a love for all things health, fitness, wellbeing and being outside in nature whatever the weather, including swimming in freezing cold lakes when the opportunity arises.

Anna is responsible for organising and coordinating the Stroll and Sign events and working with local partners to enhance the experience as much as possible and to learn about the natural environment and wildlife in the areas we are walking in. Anna also works in a local school supporting children with their learning and also works in the HR office.

Anna has 2 boys aged 14 and 17 years old and loves spending time with them and also helping others in the community and making safe, accessible spaces where people feel comfortable and can thrive and feel the best they can.

In her spare time she loves spending time with family and friends, exercising, travelling, especially being by the sea and also learning new things. She is about to embark on a counselling course at college.

Anna’s favourite Makaton sign is “Love”. Love, kindness and friendship are so important and should be shared wherever possible. Love and social bounds have a profound impact on our physical and mental health.

Jill – Administrator

Jill has worked with a number of charities in the past, mainly helping to raise much needed funds to help charities continue their vital work.

Jill loves organising and is responsible for all things admin. You will see her at the front desk at the Redhill Choir every week and at Epsom Choir some weeks signing everyone in. She finds working for Include to be a very rewarding experience, knowing she is helping to support people with diverse needs. She loves to see and hear the joy the Choir brings every week.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking and generally keeping fit. She is never happier than being close to the sea, either in the water or walking near it.

Jill’s favourite Makaton sign is “Smile” because when you smile, things feel so much better!

Nigel Leach – Treasurer

Nigel combines a love of singing and helping people with a flair for a spreadsheet in his work for Include.org. He has worked in a range of fields, currently as a Reinsurance Analyst for Unum. When he isn’t singing, volunteering or balancing the books, he loves spending time with his children, grandchildren and wonderful wife, Lynette

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