Introduction to the 2016 Team

Claire McDonnell

Hi my name is Claire and along with some other members of this years team I attend St Andrews Church, Biggleswade and will be travelling the  to South Africa.

I currently work as a music teacher at Northampton School for Boys.

This will be my second trip to South Africa with Hands at Work. Last years trip with 'The Room' was so rewarding and helped me to grow and develop my own faith as well as helping our young people along their journey of faith.

I wanted to do more to help, we became advocates of Hands within our church and the wide community. We also volunteered to Hands Uk to help spread the message of Hands in the UK, and were asked to join the Core Team.

This year I am excited to be embarking on this new adventure together with a new team and again sharing God's love with the communities that we will meet. I hope and pray that our team will again learn so much from these communities and that we can make a difference to there lives, even by the tiniest amount, by the care and compassion we are all prepared to give, and by the love that God has taught us.

Introduction to the 2016 Team

Chris Parker

Hi, this will be my 2nd trip to South Africa with Hands at Work. I am looking forward to returning with Claire and Alice and DJ and I am looking forward to returning to some of the African villages that we visited last year, in particular to the community of Siyathuthuka with whom St Andrew's have now established a partnership and hope to build closer links with. One thing that stuck with me from last year was the joy that these people have, especially when they are singing and praising God.

Before I went to Africa the first time, I thought that we in Britain were the fortunate ones, that we were going to 'give' something to the vulnerable people that we meet, and hopefully we will, but you very quickly come to realise that they have so much to teach us, they have so much of Gods love to give to us, I pray for our group going out to Africa in July, I pray that they will see God in everyone they meet, and that they will allow God to speak to each of them through the wonderful people of Africa.

Introduction to the 2016 Team

CHRIS WYCHERLEY

I have just retired from teaching maths to adult students in a college of further education in Wolverhampton. I have moved to Anglesey with my husband, Clive, so that we can enjoy the amazing countryside and coast line of North Wales.

My husband and I were also heavily involved in Scouting in Wolverhampton, working at first with cubs (age 8 to 10years) and then with Explorer Scouts (age 14 to 18 years). I am therefore used to working with young people and committing on a voluntary basis. I was also a member, for over twenty years, of the St. Chad’s bell ringers at my local church before moving to Wales.

I am really looking forward to working with a different group of people and experiencing a way of life completely different to my own. I hope that I can make a positive contribution to the work of Hands and show that ordinary people from different parts of the world care about the work that they are doing. Hopefully I will then be able to spread knowledge of this work within my own community and come home with a greater understanding and knowledge of another culture, with falls in with the scouting ethos, that we are all members of a worldwide family.

Introduction to the 2016 Team

MARK THOMAS

My name is Mark, I am married with two children. I volunteer  at one of St Andrews Church youth club's each week and have supported many children and young people over the past several years.

I am  school based Social Worker and Trainee Counsellor and work in a school in Bedford. It's a great environment to work in with some challenging children along with some fantastic and unique individuals.

I have volunteered over many years supporting vulnerable children and families, I have always wanted to develop this volunteering but in another country and this trip to South Africa gives me that opportunity. To have the opportunity to support the Care Workers, children and families within some of the communities I hope to gain a different insight to how others experience hardship. I have always strived to empower others to fully achieve their own potential and I hope to have the opportunity to do this whilst on this journey. I may even empower myself through the enrichment of others diversity and culture. This maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity for me so I have to make it worthwhile and embrace any challenges it brings.

With the support of my family and friends and the people I am making this journey with I hope to grow both spiritually and emotionally.

Introduction to the 2016 Team

CLIVE WYCHERLEY

I have just retired from for an engineering company in Wolverhampton, working as a software engineer. I have moved to Anglesey with my wife, Chris, so that we can enjoy the amazing countryside and coast line of North Wales.

My wife and I were also heavily involved in Scouting in Wolverhampton, working at first with cubs (age 8 to 10years) and then with Explorer Scouts (age 14 to 18 years). I am therefore used to working with young people and committing on a voluntary basis.

I am really looking forward to working with a different group of people and experiencing a way of life completely different to my own. I hope that I can make a positive contribution to the work of Hands and show that ordinary people, from different parts of the world, care about the work that they are doing. Hopefully I will then be able to spread knowledge of this work within my own community and come home with a greater understanding and knowledge of another culture, which falls in with the scouting ethos, that we are all members of a worldwide family.

Introduction to the 2016 Team

SUSAN ROWLEY

Hi my name is Susan Rowley I work as a Salon Manager/Hairstylist. I have a very busy life juggling work home and looking after my 3 amazing Grandchildren, I am also a qualified florist so I like to do this in my spare time.

I became very interested in the trip to South Africa last year so when the opportunity came along for me to be able to go this year I knew it was one not to be missed. For me this trip will mean stepping outside of my very comfortable comfort Zone, but a step I am prepared to make as I appreciate that I have and live a very blessed life and I felt this was my chance to give something back to the less blessed along with getting a better understanding of their lives and cultures. I hope with the guidance of Hands at Work I will be able to help in some small way. 

Also it is an opportunity to share a life changing experience with Claire one that we can treasure for years to come.  

Introduction to the 2016 Team

VIVIENNE GAYFER

My name is Vivienne and I have attended St Andrews Church, Biggleswade, my whole life.

I feel so fortunate in both my Church and my family life that I really welcome the opportunity to experience God's love and maybe make a contribution to His work (however small) in a completely different setting.

I enjoy being part of a team so am looking forward to that aspect of the trip also.

Introduction to the 2016 team

SARAH AKROYD

Hi, my name is Sarah and I live in Flitwick, Bedfordshire. I have three children aged 10, 8 and 6 and currently work as a Clerk in education.As a child I attended St Andrew’s Church and have fond memories of my time working through the various youth groups.I’m really looking forward to travelling to South Africa in the summer with the rest of the group. For me this will be a personal challenge as I will have to leave my own children behind, however, I feel that the experiences I gain will enable me to teach them about different cultures and, most importantly, the gift of ‘giving’ to others.  I am hoping that by being a parent myself I will be able to offer support to those caring for the vulnerable children we will have the privilege to meet.