Meet The Team
Sheppey Matters is an award winning charity working for better health on the Isle of Sheppey. Established twenty five years.
It provides over 12 health and well-being community services from the Sheppey Healthy Living Centre in Sheerness, two outreach locations and many other community venues around the Isle of Sheppey.
Many of our projects are household names; The Community Chef and Sheppey Wheels are our most established. Our projects cover a wide range of ages and abilities and are fully inclusive. Our dedicated, hard-working and passionate team of over 29 full and part time staff, ably assisted by over 70 volunteers and not forgetting a fully involved and community minded board of trustees, provides year-round activities, programmes, courses, trips and general advise and assistance.
Nigel Martin
CEO
Nigel’s career path has seen him in the travel and tourism industry, sales manager for Groups and Charters at the inception of the Eurostar story back in 1994.
Nigel is the Chief Executive Officer for our esteemed charity, a role he has embraced for the past 13 years. He leads a dynamic team of 29 individuals, all of whom share his unwavering commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of the Sheppey Community.
What Nigel loves about Sheppey Matters is the friendly, supportive and ‘can-do’ spirit that the entire team hold. It’s a workplace characterised by kindness, understanding, and a shared dedication to delivering impactful services.
Nigel’s journey is a testament to his enduring commitment to furthering the wellbeing of the Sheppey community. And the teams collaborative efforts to make a meaningful difference.
Rebecca Gebbie
Deputy CEO, Project Manager
Rebecca joined Sheppey Matters in 2010 as a part-time member of staff covering administration in the main office. She soon became the Community Transport Coordinator. She successfully raised 53k for a new minibus to join the fleet as well as finding funding to purchase a smaller bus to support getting primary school children to and from school. in 2014 she became the Manager for Sheppey Matters supporting staff and undertaking other managerial duties. After 12 years in this Charity, she leads a successful team after securing a large amount of funding from the Big Lottery – to the tune of £375k creating an entirely new project called Isle connect You, addressing isolation and loneliness in the over 65’s. Rebecca was promoted to Deputy CEO in 2022 where she continues to manage Sheppey Matters alongside her CEO.
Nicola Waghorne
Community Development Manage & Levelling Up Project Manager
Nicola has worn several hats before coming to Sheppey Matters, from working at an airline company to nurturing gardens and being a dedicated mum. Now, she’s deeply involved in various aspects of Sheppey Matters: Community Development Manager, Miles and Smiles Project Manager, Well Life Project Manager and Levelling up Project Manager. Nicolas Sheppey Matters journey involved many roles, Community Gardener where she established thriving allotments at Stanford Hill Prison which is still flourishing today. She has also supported the Healthy Living Centre Manager and managed One Foot in The Gravy.
What fuels her passion is the power to instigate positive change in our communities and the endless opportunities we provide not just for residents but also our remarkable staff. Every day brings new challenges and rewards.
Office Team
Tania Allen
Healthy Living Centre Administration
With a solid 20-year background in banking, Tania transitioned to her current role as Admin Assistant at Sheppey Matters, where she’s been contributing for a year now. Tania loves the spirit of teamwork at Sheppey Matters. We all unite with a common purpose: to make a positive impact to our community.
Sarah Baker
Finance Manager
Charlotte Webb
Accounts Assistant
Charlotte, with a years experience at Sheppey Matters, comes with a rich background of nine years at the children’s centre. Beyond the workplace, her passions include listening to music, attending concerts, and embarking on memorable holidays. Her heart lies in being a valued member of a passionate and dedicated team.
Gemma Hunt
Youth Engagement Coordinator, Community Gardener.
Gemma has held various roles, including Personal Assistant to a Finance Director at a paper company and secretary at a secondary school.
Her journey with Sheppey Matters has included positions in administrative support, Community Gardener, and Well Life Project Manager. Currently, as a Youth Engagement Coordinator, she is supporting 14-21 year olds in the Youth Action project, empowering the young people of the Island to express their voices. Additionally, Gemma serves as a Community Gardener on the Swale Borough Council Safer Streets project, engaging with the community to bring a sense of pride to our town and green spaces.
For Gemma, Sheppey Matters is more than just a job; it’s a family, and every day brings her a sense of fulfilment.
Kelly O'Connell
Sheppey Matters Shop
By day, Kelly is the Healthy Living Centre Project Manager, overseeing events that support Health and Wellbeing at the Sheppey HLC, hiring rooms to support local groups & services and general office support.
During Kelly’s 3 years with Sheppey Matters, she has also worked with Sheppey Wheels and Isle Connect you.
She loves working at Sheppey Matters because she gets to service the community she lives in and meet amazing people everyday, looking to make positive changes for those living on Sheppey!
Julie Calder
Everyday Active Champion
With over 33 years as an Exercise Referral Instructor and 9 years of dedicated service in the NHS, Julie has had the privilege of working for the NHS as a Health Trainer and Referral instructor.
In her current role at Sheppey Matters as an Everyday Active Champion, she embraces the diversity of her responsibilities, which involves collaborating with groups and individuals to promote physical activity.
Her focus is on empowering older individuals with health conditions, striving to discover innovative ways to keep them engaged in an active lifestyle. She is truly passionate about Sheppey Matters, a community within a community, and the invaluable support it offers.
Sheppey Wheels Team
Anna Maley
Sheppey Wheels and Miles and Smiles Project Manager
Vince Zborowski
Sheppey Wheels Driver
Vince, with nearly two decades of dedicated service, his role being the key driver of our excursions in Kent and beyond.
Vince plays a vital role in ensuring that the residents of the Island stay socially active and mobile. Vince’s commitment to keeping the community engaged and connected is truly commendable.
Jacky Fiandermole
Sheppey Wheels Driver
Jacky, before coming to Sheppey Matters was a lorry driver. She is now a driver supporting children getting to and from school safely, but and also gets involved in various Sheppey Matters activities.
Jacky loves the care and community feel at Sheppey Matters, and she also loves that Sheppey Matters is having a huge positive impact on peoples lives with all the help it provides.
John Stock
Sheppey Wheels Driver
John has been a dedicated minibus driver for Sheppey Matters for 2 years.
What John loves about Sheppey Matters is the dynamic nature of his job, making each day a new and exciting opportunity to contribute to the community.
Young People Matter
Jaime Giddings
Young People Matter Project Manager
Joining us in 2024, Jaime is one of our newest team members, she is not a stranger to our services though as has been a frequent visitor during her previous role at MenCap. Jaime has a background caring for people particularly young people with SEN. She is excited to now be the project manager for our new youth and SEN project “Young People Matter”.
Jaime said she is keen to support the youth community to not only have a voice, but to heard! Jaime hopes to inspire others and work alongside the community, to enhance existing services and build new ones.
Elaine Christopher
Young People Matter Youth Support Worker
Elaine joined Sheppey Matters in 2008. Her passion for empowering young minds had already taken root during her decade-long tenure at Greenwich Children’s Young People Services. She began as dedicated youth worker and steadily rose to the esteemed position of Youth Work Project manager.
Elaine’s role was as the Rural Youth Project manager. Tailored to children and young people aged 8 to 25, with a focus on learning difficulties and additional needs. But, she has chosen to take a step back and is now supporting the new and very similar Young People Matter Project.
ADHD Family Support, 1,2,3 ADHD & Me
Beverley Nolker
Special Needs Project Manager
Before her role at Sheppey Matters, Beverley was the Regional Learning Manager for the Prison Officers’ Association; managing nearly thirty learning centres in the Southeast of England. Beverley is a teacher with QTLS status and specialises in curriculum design, creating courses which focus on Neurodivergent Conditions. She is also a certified ADHD and Executive Function Coach as well as a qualified Anna Freud National Autism trainer which is paramount when supporting children and families.
Beverley now serves as the Neurodiversity Projects Manager. Her dedicated focus revolves around providing unwavering support to families of children who may have ADHD and Autism.
Her passion for learning is evident as she is currently studying her Masters’ degree in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Conditions.
Beverley loves the diversity of support offered to the community. It’s the team effort, the varied services, and the impact made on the lives of individuals and families that continue to fuel her dedication.
Miles and Smiles Team
Helen Vieru
Miles and Smiles Administration Support
Helen used to work at a students’ union at a London art university, where she provided support and advice for students. Now proudly serving as the Administration Assistant for Miles and Smiles.
She’s loves that everyone is passionate about supporting our local community, and that, here at Sheppey Matters, we all bring diverse life experiences to the table, making it a truly unique and enriching environment.
Debbie Kennedy
Miles and Smiles Driver, Grub Hub Cook, Inspire Me Engagement officer.
Debbie joined Sheppey Matters in 2022, her main role is as a driver and passenger assistant with Miles and Smiles. Debbie also runs the Grub Hub with Patricia and they make 70 meals a week that are given to the local community. Her previous jobs before coming to Sheppey Matters included running an Enquine taxi service and she was a Level 3 Nursery Practitioner for 6 years, she is also a qualified hairdresser. She loves animals & reading.
Kay Gooch
Miles and Smiles Driver
Previously worked as a painter and decorator for 8 years, now a dedicated driver for Miles and Smiles and a diligent cleaner at Eastchurch Community Hub. Volunteered at Sheppey Matters for 4 years, totalling 10 years at Sheppey Matters!
She loves that Sheppey Matters feels like a family! The Best! Love working for them!
Legacy and Inspire Me Team
Angela Cox
Legacy an Inspire Me Admin and Volunteer Co-ordinator
Angela is a local lady from Sheppey with over 15 years of experience working in customer services, who previously enjoyed supporting the community as a GP’s receptionist.
Angela is super excited to be involved with Sheppey Matters, as admin for the New Legacy and Inspire Me Projects combating Loneliness and Isolation on our island. I have also taken on a new role as Volunteer co-ordinator which, I am very passionate about. We have some wonderful volunteers here who do so much to help our community being their voice in an honour.
Mikaela Langthorne
Legacy and Inspire Me Community Engagement Officer
After 8 years of working as Project Management Support and Project Coordinator for Isle Connect You with Sheppey Matters . Mikaela stepped away for a short time and gained skills and knowledge working in employability across Swale. There was an opportunity with Sheppey Matters for her to reignite her passion working for with the local community which is where Mikaela says her heart is. Mikaela has now joined two new exciting projects, Legacy, and Inspire Me as a Community Engagement Officer with Sheppey Matters supporting isolation and loneliness across Sheppey.
Samantha Bricknell
Legacy Community Engagement Officer
Samantha started February 2024 on the new project Legacy for over 60s helping with isolation and loneliness. It’s still early days but along with the rest of the team she has been learning and gaining knowledge so they can provide the very best service for our clients. Before all the above Samantha worked in different areas of retail at all levels, she then went into volunteering helping to deliver meals to vulnerable people in the community, Samantha took the opportunity to become a home support worker and her passion to help people be more confident and be heard took shape. In this time, she had also told people about Sheppey Matters and the fantastic work they do. So, it was perfect when this job opportunity came along and she could continue working to help even more people in her community.
Sheppey Community Media Centre
Julie Nicholls
Sheppey FM Project Manager
Julie worked in the marketing and communitcation sector before coming to Sheppey Matters.
Now working as Project Manager for Sheppey Community Media Centre & Manager of the Island’s Tourist Information Centre.
Julie ensures the smooth running of the community radio station ‘Sheppey FM’ and maintains the well-being of volunteers. She loves the teamwork and amazing benefits that they bring to the local community.
Sadie Cordwell
Arts and Youth Lead at Sheppey FM
Before Sadie’s journey at Sheppey Matters, alongside caring for her own children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) she worked as a teacher, specialising in English and Drama & home tutor, covering all core subjects.
What she loves about Sheppey Matters is it’s unwavering commitment to the community’s welfare, ability to identify support gaps and needs, stepping in to fill them.
Wayne Cordwell
Programme manager at Sheppey FM
Wayne proudly serves as the Studio and Programme Manager at Sheppey FM. He presents the breakfast show three times a week and hosts the lively ‘Club Sheppey’ on Saturday nights.
What Wayne loves about Sheppey Matters is it’s innovative ideas that have a profound impact on the community. Also the ability to provide essential services when they are most needed is a testament to its commitment to the community’s well-being.
Board Members
Mike Brown
Chair of Board
Mike was a member of a group that formed Sheppey Matters, 29 yers ago and very much part of its development ever since.
From a small beginning with no permanent staff or office, we sought charitable status and were then asked to form the first Healthy Living centre in Sheerness. He is very proud to have seen the project grow and achieve so much for the local community.
Ken Pugh
Board Member
Paul Murray
Board Member
Paul has been a teacher on the Isle of Sheppey since 1975. Born in Bishop Auckland County Durham. Attended college of the Venerable Bee, Durham University. Married to Margaret who also taught on the Island for 40 years. They have bought only ever taught on the Isle of Sheppey and have always been very proud to work here. He loves cricket and is a member of the Kent County Cricket Club. He supports Sunderland much to the delight of Mike Brown. Sheppey Matters is important to the Island, as it says, Sheppey Matters.
Joe Rook
Board Member
Joe joined the prison service in 1988 as an officer on the Island and has lived in Eastchurch since then. Around 1995, he became involved with a project that sent prisoners out into the community on temporary release to assist local charities and this is where he first came across Sheppey Matters.
He was able to work with the Community Chef, Eastchurch allotments, the cafe at Stanford Hill and the Air Museum in Eastchurch, all of which has close links with Sheppey Matters.
The more he saw of the Charity, the more he wanted to become involved with the work we do. In 2018 he became a trustee and has loved doing so ever since!
He has remained involved with the Resettlement of Prisoners on Sheppey & Reducing Reoffending strand of Prison Service which has enabled him to work even closer with Sheppey Matters and other worthwhile groups in our area. This has culminated in him being awarded an MBE in 2022.
Christine White
Board Member
