Meet The Team | Peeps HIE Charity
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Meet The Team

Team Peeps

Headshot of Sarah who is wearing glasses and a blue t-shirt with the Peeps' logo on. Sarah is smiling.

Sarah Land

Co-Founder & CEO

Sarah is the Co-Founder and CEO at Peeps, and mum to Heidi.

Along with her husband Steve (and thanks to the support of friends and family) she set up the charity to support others affected by HIE (Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy). The name “Peeps” actually comes from a nickname a friend gave Heidi when she was a baby, “Heidi-Peeps”. Sarah wanted a friendly feel to the charity name, and a link to Heidi, the driving force behind everything she does.

In any spare time she has, Sarah likes to blog (you can read her HIE journey here) and dream about how she would spend a lottery win (apparently the list is already quite long!).

Jess is smiling at the camera. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a black top.

Jess

Income & Engagement Officer

Hi everyone! I’m Jess and I am pleased to be joining PEEPS as an Income & Engagement Officer. I have three years’ experience in family support within another charity.

Previously I have supported children with complex needs and their families, as well as bereaved families. I have always enjoyed working with children and young people – I have learnt so much from them! I feel lucky that I am now able to bring my knowledge to the PEEPS team.

I have a keen interest in the “behind the scenes” of charities, mental health and helping families to overcome barriers to accessing support. I am looking forward to an exciting new challenge!

My favourite thing to do is explore new places and travel abroad. I also love going for Winter walks and trying new places to eat 😊

A lady with long blonde hair wearing a lilac t-shirt with the Peeps' logo on. She is smiling. The background shows grass and blue skies.

Laura

Volunteer Coordinator

Hi, I’m Laura. I live in Derbyshire and have been supporting volunteers for over 7 years, since graduating from university with a degree in Health and Social Well-being. I’m delighted to be part of the team at Peeps and get involved with all the exciting things my role brings.

After a long time wondering which path to take in life, I feel supporting volunteers at Peeps is really what I was made to do.

In my spare time I love to explore as much of the world as possible, from feeding kangaroos in Australia to crossing the Artic Circle in Lapland. I’m always looking for the next adventure and hope to see as much as I can, one country at a time!

A headshot of a lady with long hair wearing glasses and smiling at the camera.

Penny

Relationship Officer

Hi, I’m Penny, and I’m the Relationship Officer for Peeps.  I’ve been working in the NHS since I was 16 in various roles, and I’d been working in the NHS as a Pharmacy Technician for 13 years when we had our daughter Jessica in 2016 and started our HIE (level 3) journey.  At the time, Peeps didn’t exist, but they became a lifeline to our family once they were up and running, reminding us that we aren’t alone and offering support when needed.  Since then, we’ve become a family of 4 with the addition of our little boy Benjamin.

I’ve been a full-time carer since we had Jessica, when I saw this amazing opportunity with Peeps, and I’m really excited to be able to use my previous career experience within the NHS, and life experience as a HIE mum, to try to help other HIE families along their journeys.

In my spare time (not that there’s a lot of it), I love baking and cooking, all things Disney and Harry Potter, and we’re National Trust members and use their facilities as much as possible all year round.

Ivy, a gorgeous little girl who is wearing pink glasses and smiling, is sitting on her mum's knee. Her mum, Leah, has long dark hair and is also looking at the camera smiling.

Leah

Events Coordinator
Hi, I’m Leah! I’m the Events Coordinator for Peeps. I have worked for and with a variety of charities my entire working life but having used the services of Peeps after the birth of my daughter, it struck me how special and personal this charity is and I am thrilled to be able to now be part of the team that helped me so greatly through our H.I.E. journey.
I have two beautiful daughters. My kindhearted and wonderful 7 year old Riley and 3 year old Ivy. Ivy had a H.I.E. event at birth and subsequently has Cerebral Palsy. She is brilliant, funny, cheeky and oh so sassy! She’s got the Three-nager stage down.
My favourite thing to do is explore outside with the girls. We love all things nature and live our best lives outdoors.
In my spare time I love taking photos, writing, music, TV. I’m a huge nerd and my self care is to turn up Disney songs as loud as they’ll go and to sing and dance in the kitchen.
I’m incredibly excited to be part of the Peeps team and to have the opportunity to give back to the charity, the families and the community that helped us through our H.I.E. journey.
A headshot of a lady smiling at the camera. She has long hair and is wearing glasses.

Kirsty

Administration Assistant

A mum of 2 boys, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my nature loving family. I am originally from Yorkshire (always a Yorkshire girl at heart!) but have lived in Tameside for almost 20 years.

I enjoy being adventurous and trying new things, I have had a few “adrenaline” experiences, but I also love being snuggled up at home and cooking for my family.

My work background is varied, but a common thread is that have always enjoyed working with people, and had a keen interest in any work that offer me the opportunity to make a positive impact; however small.

I’m thrilled to be part of the Peeps team, I know the work they do here is absolutely vital and I hope to be able to bring a positive contribution to the team, and all the families we work with.

 

Stacey Attaway

Trustee

Hi I’m Stacey, I am delighted to join Peeps as a Trustee and contribute to the amazing work this charity does. I have been qualified as a solicitor for over 15 years and I specialise in company, commercial and corporate law. My main skills are in contract drafting and negotiation, ad-hoc legal advice, intellectual property matters and ensuring regulatory compliance of a company.

I bring to the role a deeply personal experience of H.I.E. My son, Frank, was born in July 2020 with severe H.I.E. and had complex medical needs as a result of his condition. Sadly, he passed away at 16 weeks old. Prior to having Frank I had never heard of H.I.E., and I was naïve to the challenges that parents of children with additional needs face. This is why the work of Peeps is so important and a cause very close to my heart.

Originally from Hampshire, I’ve been living in and around London since attending law school. I have two daughters, aged 6 and 2, they keep me on my toes and always provide some form of laughter throughout the day with their crazy antics. As a family we like to explore new places and activities, baking delicious treats and getting creative with arts and crafts. I have a special fondness for Italian food and wine, developed after visiting the country several times (and getting engaged there) and falling in love with the architecture and Italian culture.

Dr Ela Chakkarapani

Trustee

Dr Ela Chakkarapani is a consultant neonatologist at St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol, and a senior lecturer in neonatal neuroscience at the University of Bristol.

He has been undertaking research in the field of Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) since 2006. He has been involved in developing interventions to reduce brain injury following HIE, understanding brain development following cooling for HIE, and developing interventions that will improve parent-infant bonding in families with babies who were cooled for HIE.

He looks after families and children who had HIE in his clinic and is looking forward to contributing to the Peeps’ community as a Trustee.

A lady in a red cardigan wearing a necklace. Her is in a bob with a fringe and she is smiling at the camera.

Erika Lucas

Trustee

Hello, I’m Erika and I’m delighted to be joining Peeps as a trustee.

I am nanny to beautiful baby Arthur, who was born in Feb 2023 to my eldest son Jack and his partner Christina. We are early in our HIE (level 3) journey, but Peeps has already been an enormous support to my family as they have navigated challenging and bewildering times.

My professional life is in communications – as a writer/editor, PR consultant and facilitator.  I work part-time for a business school and also run my own independent consultancy.   I hope I will be able to put this experience to good use on the Board of Trustees, and am excited to be involved with a growing charity that does such fantastic work!

Outside of work, I enjoy music, theatre and art, and in my spare time can usually be found curled up with a good book or scouring the charity shops for vintage jewellery.

Mum Jen is holding her daughter Ada as she smiles at the camera. Jen has blonde hair and is wearing a turquoise t-shirt with the Peeps logo volunteer on. Ada is wearing white baby grow.

Jenny Clough

Trustee
Hi, I’m Jenny, I work from home in Human Resources for a global manufacturing firm, and mum to Ada born in November 2021 who suffered a severe H.I.E event at birth.  We live in South Yorkshire with Ada’s Daddy, Alastair who is an Engineer, and our cat Leo.
We found Peeps by accident after Alastair was informed about them at work, and since then we have never looked back. Peeps have been the lifeline we never knew we needed.
I feel my background in HR, and trustee experience in a previous role will give me the skills I need to support Peeps as a trustee.  Alongside this I am also a Peer Support Volunteer and a Community Connect Volunteer.
When I can squeeze in the time for hobbies, I enjoy baking.  Iced sugar biscuits is my new venture, I’m sure there will be opportunities to try them at local meets at some point, i really need to hand them out more instead of eating them!
A man in a green sweater and white shirt, smiling at the camera.

Martin Bell

Trustee

Hi, I am Martin. I am an experienced residential and disability RIBA Architect, proudly serving as the Managing Director of my practice for the last 19 years, and I have a profound love for all things architecture.

The transformative power of design inspires me, and I firmly believe in creating inclusive spaces that enhance the lives of individuals, especially those in need.

I have honed my leadership skills and cultivated a keen understanding of the intricate balance between functionality and aesthetics, and I am committed to utilising my knowledge and creativity to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Outside the realm of architecture, I find joy in exploring innovative design concepts, staying updated with architectural trends, and spending time with my family.

I am excited to be part of the Peeps’ community as a Trustee.

Jade & Christian

We’re super proud to say our Ambassadors are Jade and Christian from Sign Along With Us.

Christian experienced a HIE event at birth, but despite the challenges, he has exceeded all expectations – communicating, walking and being the smiliest boy you could meet!

Jade taught Christian sign language from an early age, to help him communicate, and started to share this with others. Sign Along With Us was formed, and you may just recognise them as Golden Buzzer winners from Britain’s Got Talent!