Flying Start Team & Contact Details

Address:

Flying Start Children's Centre

Kingfisher House, Western Way, Exeter EX1 2DE 

General Enquiries: 01392 666 224

or email: helen@eci.org.uk or becci@eci.org.uk

Flying Start Staff Details -

Gentian Curle - Manager (gentian@eci.org.uk)

Gentian has worked in the field of health and social care for 12 years. Gentian’s first job was as Support Worker for adults with learning disabilities in a community centre setting. There she worked for two years before leaving to study Social Work. She had intended to return to work with this client group post qualifying. However throughout her training Gentian was drawn to study family work interventions and art therapies. She then went to work as a Children and Families Social Worker working in Torbay and Plymouth assessment teams. Gentian has completed a degree in Health and Social Care Management and a PGC in Integrated Centre Leadership. Gentian began managing Flying Start Children’s Centre in May 2007 and since that date has developed a staff team who work across the city centre offering an extensive range of services. Gentian enjoys the ever changing nature of Children’s Centre work and flexibility of working for a local charity. 

Helen Murphy - Administrator (helen@eci.org.uk)

Before joining us Helen was employed by WORKWAYS, an NHS Mental Health Service providing employment advice and practical support. On Friday evenings Helen and her husband run a social opportunities group, ‘SOCOPS’, for children with Asperger’s and their families. Helen is dedicated to providing quality advice and information to our children and families. She is currently studying for an NVQ 3 in Advice and Guidance.

Clare Edmonds - Family Support Co-ordinator (clare@eci.org.uk)

Clare is a registered Social Worker with experience of supporting children, young people and their families within a Youth Offending Team, Children’s home, Children with Disabilities Team and Children’s Services Assessment Team. The two main aspects of Clare’s role are to supervise and support the Family Support Workers and to manage the referrals that come into the Centre.  Clare is committed to developing the family support service and to ensuring it meets the needs of the children and families who use the Centre.  Clare works part-time and has a little boy.

Lorna Braithwaite - Qualified Teacher (lorna@eci.org.uk)

Lorna has worked with young children and their families for a number of years as an Early Years Teacher, as a Parent Support Worker and as a Foundation Stage Consultant. Recently Lorna has had more experience of multi agency working and of supporting a number of Childrens Centres in Sandwell in the Midlands. She is currently supporting several early years settings and childminders in the area, to help ensure good quality provision.  Lorna has two young children herself.

Kristin Cain - Family Support Worker (kristin@eci.org.uk)

Kristin has been working with families and children for nearly twenty years.  She is a qualified Primary School Teacher, a Montessori teacher and has been a HomeStart Volunteer.
At the moment she is running the Incredible Years parenting course with a colleague, Emma, and is also trained to run Mellow Parenting, HENRY (Health, Exercise, Nutrition for the Really Young) and Here’s Looking at You Baby.
Kristin’s primary interest is in family dynamics and the experience of parenting, especially dealing with behavioural issues in children and depression in parents.
She has three children herself: twins (boy and girl) and a younger girl.

Emma Doulin - Family Support Worker (emma@eci.org.uk)

Emma's main background has been in supported housing for adults with mental health issues, homeless families and young parents but has predominantly been in work related to domestic violence. Emma's main interest has been the impact of domestic violence on children's development and she had the opportunity to concentrate on this whilst studying a Health and Social Care Management degree at Plymouth University. Emma has 2 young children herself.

Amy Batchelor - Family Support Worker (amy@eci.org.uk)

 Amy is one of our family support workers. She joined us in June 2008. She has a degree in Psychology and has had many jobs working with children and young people such as; youth work, Teaching Assistant and Educational Welfare Officer. She has also had previous experience of working in a school for children with special needs. She is now trained to run a variety of parenting courses including Incredible Years, Here’s Looking at You Baby, HENRY (Health, Exercise and Nutrition for the Really Young) and Strengthening Families. She is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her first child.

Becci Daniels -Admin and Outreach Assistant (becci@eci.org.uk)

Becci started work with Flying Start in June 2008.She has had previous experience in youth work at Exminster's Westbank Centre organizing an exam stress free day and healthy eating events and has worked with the Young Carers Group as well as mentoring young people for NCH. She is currently also working for Exwick Youth Inclusion Programme working with vulnerable young people aged between 8 and 16. In her spare time she is currently running a fundraising project for Hospiscare. 

 Alex Mountford - Family Support Worker (alex@eci.org.uk)

Alex started working for Flying Start in November 2009. He has a degree in Drama Education and Deaf Studies and he is a qualified Basic Skills tutor for adults. He has worked for a number of supported living projects for adults with learning difficulties and in his previous job, worked as an Austism Specialist for children with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour. He runs Baby Start, Discovery Play and Young Parents sessions and is passionate about working with vulnerable people. In his spare time he enjoys writing/performing comedy and anything drama related.