Meet the Team
The CA team are all committed to helping its members achieve their potential and create a meaningful life. This is something we feel strongly about, from our trustees, to our CA team, Activity Leaders and volunteers helping at our activities, we all strive to achieve the best for our community.
Meet our Staff
Jenny Allcock
Jenny founded Creating Adventures in 2016 after working in the voluntary sector for a children’s charity for 11 years. Jenny was made aware of the heartbreaking gap in society for adults with autism and learning disabilities and decided to do something about it.
Jenny has a real passion for wanting to make a difference to people’s lives and for wanting to make the world a better place. With her knowledge of fundraising and working with children with additional needs, Jenny is taking Creating Adventures to the greatest heights with huge plans for unique activities and has her vision set at Creating Adventures having it’s own physical space in the community.
Susan Totton
My name is Susan Totton, and I am the Community Engagement Coordinator. I have been fortunate to have lived in South East Asia for 15 years. While I was there, I worked for the British International School. This has enabled me to gain a wealth of experience in project management, activities, and sporting events.
I am delighted to be part of the Creating Adventures team and I look forward to being part of the future.
Denise O’Hare
My name is Denise O’Hare. I’m a volunteer at Creating Adventures. Our daughter Jenny is the founder of the charity. Jenny has created a haven for adults with autism and learning difficulties. I see them developing with new skills and confidence and be so happy. I’m so proud to be part of a wonderful charity that we call our big family. To see their happy faces everyday is a joy and makes everything worthwhile.
I volunteer with admin, book keeping, recruiting and coordinating volunteers, cookery sessions and occasionally have a sing along and a dance with the choir. I also provide tea, coffee and make cakes for our guys on a Wednesday between brass and choir sessions.
I wouldn’t be anywhere else but with these wonderful adults who brighten my day.
Jacky Keating
I’m Jacky Keating, I run the Beautiful Noise Choir here at Creating Adventures I am a peripatetic piano and brass music teacher. I have been doing this for the past 15 years in numerous schools in Cheshire. I have played in music groups since being a teenager. I have had some fabulous experiences doing this, from numerous tours in America and across Europe and many memorable concerts including arenas and playing for Lady Diana.
As well as the choir I run several school and community bands.
As a teacher and group leader it is my aim that my pupils and group members get the same enjoyment and experiences that I have had as a performer.
Leanne Salisbury
Leanne has been a choreographer and teacher for over 20 years, working in both public and private settings. She prides herself on her innovative and creative choreographic approach, and loves inspiring others with her energy and passion for dance.
Leanne has extensive experience across a wide range of dance styles, but counts Contemporary and Musical Theatre amongst her favourites. She has led, developed and created work in a variety of settings, from community platforms to professional theatre, small-scale events to large-scale productions, and is super excited to be bringing her skills and enthusiasm to the Creating Adventures team.
Alison Summersfield
Alison is a trained Chocolatier with her small business Chocolate Gems. Alison loves all things chocolate and creates some wonderful treats that even Willy Wonka would be proud of!
It made complete sense when Alison first met Jenny that they launch a chocolate making project for adults with additional needs. Making chocolate can be a very therapeutic activity and one which also requires a great amount of patience and skill.
However as expected, our members have done her proud and are loving licking the chocolate off the spoon at the end of each class.
Liz Jones
I’m incredibly proud of what the members of Creating Adventures are achieving I’m Liz, the Art Leader, who joins the Creative Crew on Monday mornings, getting everyone’s creative juices flowing to start the week. We do a huge range of arts & crafts during our sessions which are always accessible to everyone and allow all members to share the joy of creating together, whilst making individual and unique art work.
Each class, Jo & I provide opportunities for all members to try new things and practice skills in a relaxed and encouraging environment.
I have taught Art for over 15 years, with my role as Art Leader in Primary Schools across Cheshire & Warrington and more recently running my own Art School called The Himos Hub. The principal reason for setting up the Hub was to provide as many people as possible with as many creative opportunities as possible, for well-being, joy and happiness.
Art can have such a positive impact on mental health, neurodiversity and general outlook, and we certainly see the many benefits in this class! Everyone is so expressive and confident, we just love seeing the creations each week from all the wonderful members.
Kerry Barlow
Kerry is an Food Technology teacher and caterer by trade. She strives to cook good wholesome, healthy food using fresh fruit and vegetables to show just how tasty dishes can be when these ingredients are used creatively. Kerry said ‘I am driven by a desire to support my students in fulfilling their potential by making the best possible progress in every aspect of their learning.’
Jo Buteux
My name is Jo and I’m a primary school teacher by profession, but also work at The Himos Hub with Liz. I have been an art leader for the last 20 years at different schools and am passionate about encouraging creativity through art and crafts, both as a process and for wellbeing. I particularly love the fact that art and craft is accessible to all ages and abilities. I started working with Creating Adventures in the autumn of 2023 and am thoroughly enjoying working with the fabulous creative crew!
Janine
With over 15 years of experience as a Secondary School Food Technology teacher and 20 years in New Product Development within the Food Manufacturing industry, I bring a wealth of expertise and a deep passion for all things food. My career spans from creating innovative food products in the commercial sector to inspiring students with essential culinary skills in the classroom.
I am dedicated, enthusiastic, and committed to helping others connect with food in a meaningful way. Through teaching practical cooking techniques, enhancing an understanding of ingredients and flavours, and empowering individuals to create healthy, budget-friendly meals from scratch, I aim to foster a deeper appreciation for food. My goal is to guide learners in building confidence and independence in the kitchen, enabling them to develop lifelong skills and a love for cooking.
Meet our Trustees
Tom Neill
Tom has gained plenty of management experience Working at a high level in IT for over 35 years in various industries including finance, retail and national government. He also previously took on the role of Chair of Governors for a primary school.
He approaches life with a high degree of pragmatism and his own brand of common sense. Tom is passionate about all forms of social justice.
A regular long distance runner, Tom is always keen to take on new challenges and gain new life experiences.
Interesting fact – Tom is planning to sail to Uruguay in 2023 on an ocean going yacht, having never done any sailing before!
Sarah Steel
Sarah is owner and Director of Longmires Accountants in Timperley, Altrincham alongside her husband Dathan. Sarah is passionate about running her business and working with so many interesting entrepreneurs and business owners. In her spare time, Sarah is also a parent governor for her children’s school which has given her great insight into the challenges many families face. She loves travelling having travelling around the world in her twenties with her husband and is looking forward to introducing her children to places they enjoyed together.
Roz Healey
Roz’s career in online marketing started in the 1990s when she led a studio based in Leeds and worked for clients such as Lowe Alpine, Oxford University Press and IBM.
Running her own business for 10+ years has taught Roz the importance of effective teamwork, personal resilience and giving something back to the local community.
She approaches everything she does with commitment and a strong set of values and has recently achieved a Digital Marketing MSc qualification at Distinction level from Chester University.
Interesting facts – after a heart attack in 2018, Roz has run a half marathon, jumped out of a plane twice, climbed mountains and is looking forward to supporting Creating Adventures on a walking trek in 2025.
Kellie Gray
Kellie is the Practice Manager of Barrington Hulse Tax & Advisory in Warrington. Through her role at Barrington Hulse, she became a friend of Creating Adventures, thoroughly enjoyed supporting the charity and being a Creating Adventures cheerleader whenever possible.
Kellie is a mum of two boys and a netball fanatic, playing as much as her knees and ankles will allow.
Sharon Harris
Hello – my name is Sharon. I am passionate about enriching the lives of adults with disabilities. Providing equal opportunities for learning life skills, employment, socialising (having fun) and making sure that we make society as inclusive as possible. I have had experience in working with adults with learning and physical disabilities and loved every minute. That experience taught me to value the here and now and to appreciate that it is often the small things in life that matter most – joy can be found everywhere. I have a wealth of experience in local politics and work towards fostering positive relationships with people to make good thing happen.
Anne Jackson
Anne Jackson has worked in the charity sector for 22 years and is passionate about making a difference. She is owner/director of Gingerbread Communications and Director of Warrington based CIC, Treasure Your Wellbeing.
Anne is married with a son who has complex learning disabilities, Autism and Epilepsy and is only too aware of the challenges that adults with additional needs face on a daily basis. She has a strong belief that everyone deserves to live a full and happy life with no barriers – it’s about ability, not disability.
In her spare time Anne loves to spend time with her family, travel and read.
